German Shepherd has average obesity risk, needs balanced diet, daily walks, and weight monitoring.

Shih Tzu has high obesity risk, needs regular exercise and food control to maintain healthy weight.

Unfortunately, the German Shepherd is not hypoallergenic, making it not a good choice for a dog lover who suffers from pet allergies.

While no dogs are truly 100% hypoallergenic, Shih Tzus are about as close as it gets, making them an ideal pet if you are an allergy sufferer.

Alert
Courageous
Intelligent
Obedient
Confident
Curious
Loyal
Watchful

Active
Friendly
Happy
Lively
Playful
Courageous
Gentle
Intelligent
Outgoing

German Shepherds shed a lot of hair each year, so frequent brushing is essential for reducing shedding and maintaining coat health.

Shih Tzus shed very little hair, making them a great choice for those who dislike excess hair in the house.

Choose a German Shepherd if you want a top-notch watchdog. This breed takes guarding seriously, and may not require much training, though obedience or guard dog training can improve their skills.

Shih Tzus are decent watchdogs - they'll alert their owner if something seems amiss.

Germany

Tibet
China

Shepherding Dog, Wolf-type Dog

Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Tibetan Mountain Dog

American Canine Registry
American Kennel Club
America's Pet Registry
Canadian Kennel Club
Dog Registry of America Inc.
Federation Cynologique Internationale
Kennel Club of Great Britain
North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
American Canine Association, Inc.
Australian National Kennel Council
Continental Kennel Club
National Kennel Club
New Zealand Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
German Shepherd Dog Club Of America

American Canine Registry
American Kennel Club
America's Pet Registry
Canadian Kennel Club
Dog Registry of America Inc.
Federation Cynologique Internationale
Kennel Club of Great Britain
North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
American Canine Association, Inc.
Australian National Kennel Council
Continental Kennel Club
National Kennel Club
New Zealand Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
Canadian Canine Registry

1800s

Ancient Times

Herding (AKC:1908, UKC)

Toy (AKC:1969)
Companion Dog (UKC)

Brown

Brown

Black

Black
Brown

Black
Gray
Red
Silver
Sable
Fawn

Black
Gray
Brown
Red
Silver
White
Brindle

German Shepherds have coats that can be either short or medium in length.

Shih Tzus are known for their coat length.

A German Shepherd can have a litter of 10-13 puppies on average. However, it's worth noting that the size of the litters can vary greatly. Factors that can influence litter size include the health of the mother, breeding history, and genetics.

A Shih Tzu can have a litter of 10-16 puppies on average. However, it's worth noting that the size of the litters can vary greatly. Factors that can influence litter size include the health of the mother, breeding history, and genetics.

German Shepherds typically have low vet costs due to their good health, but it's important to monitor their health and seek vet care when necessary.

While the Shih Tzu breed is generally healthy, occasional vet check-ups are still necessary to address any health concerns.

Hip Dysplasia
Degenerative Myelopathy
Congenital Heart Defect

Intervertebral Disc Disease
Eye Problems
Brachycephalic Syndrome

Panosteitis
Pannus
Perianal Fistulas
Hemophilia
Von Willebrand's Disease
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Otitis Externa
Urolithiasis
Eye Disease
Cleft Lip or Palate

Cardiac
Hip
Blood Test
Dna For Vwd
X-Rays
Eye Examination
Physical Examination

Eye
Blood And Urine Protein Screens
Skeletal
X-Rays
Eye Examination
Physical Examination

German Shepherds thrive on an active lifestyle due to their high-energy nature.

Shih Tzus are a good choice for a low-key lifestyle due to their low energy levels.

German Shepherd has average social needs and is less independent than other breeds.

Shih Tzu has very high social needs and requires regular mental and physical stimulation, a job or purpose, and companionship.

German Shepherds require significant physical activity and suit those with an active lifestyle.

Shih Tzus need only a small amount of physical activity, ideal for busy or elderly people or those with limited space.

German Shepherds are active and require sufficient sleep to stay healthy.

Shih Tzus are known for their relaxed and calm nature and enjoy long periods of sleep.

German Shepherd dogs are generally less vocal than other breeds and only bark when necessary, such as to alert their owner or communicate.

Shih Tzu dogs bark and howl frequently and are not recommended for quiet homes.

German Shepherd dogs are highly protective and make excellent guard dogs due to their strong instinct to defend their territory and owners, and their high level of vigilance.

Shih Tzu dogs have a strong protective nature and territorial instinct. They are highly vigilant and will fiercely defend their home and family.

Tug-of-war, Walks, Fetch, Hike, Walk, Catch treats, Running, Frisbee, Mind games, Walking, Sniffing, Petting, Run, Nap, Hunt, Tracking, Hide & Seek, Head scratches, Go to Park, Playdate, Dog Parks, Back scratches, Exploring, Playing outside, Cuddles, Nose work, Observing, Barking, Chase, Eating Snacks

Walk, Bike ride, Brushing, Running, Sleeping, Resting, Short walks, Play, Play with lea, Sniffing, Dog Parks, Go to Park, Being pet, Sit, Eating Snacks, Fetch, Walking, Snuggling, Run, Treats, Petting, Scenting, Marking, Runnig, Watching tv, Playing, Cuddling, Trick training, Shopping, Training

There's really no limit to how far you walk your dog as long as they're comfortable. For German Shepherd, it's at least 10 miles / week. Just remember to build distance and stamina gradually over time.

There's really no limit to how far you walk your dog as long as they're comfortable. For Shih Tzu, it's at least 6 miles / week. Just remember to build distance and stamina gradually over time.

In general most German Shepherds usually need at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing.

In general most Shih Tzus usually need at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing.

The German Shepherd requires an average amount of grooming compared to other breeds.

Shih Tzus have high grooming needs, requiring regular trims and professional grooming assistance to keep their coat healthy.

German Shepherd should be brushed at least once a week. Of course you can give them more frequent brushes if you find that they are still shedding a lot

Ideally, Shih Tzu should be brushed at least 2 or 3 times a week (preferably daily) improve shedding.

Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Nail Clipper

Pin Brush
Comb
Nail Clipper

For an average 65-90 pound (29 - 41 kg) German Shepherd feed 3 cups daily. But, keep in mind, the amount you feed is going to be dependent on the quality of the food you are feeding.

For an average 9-16 pound (4 - 7 kg) Shih Tzu feed 1 cups daily. But, keep in mind, the amount you feed is going to be dependent on the quality of the food you are feeding.

The average cost of a German Shepherd is somewhere $2.10 - $2.70 per day.

The average cost of a Shih Tzu is somewhere $1.10 - $1.40 per day.

The average per month expenses of a German Shepherd is between $55 - $77. This makes an average of $660 - $924 per year. It will be on the higher side when the dog is still small because it will need more frequent visits to the vet, shots.

The average per month expenses of a Shih Tzu is between $28 - $42. This makes an average of $336 - $504 per year. It will be on the higher side when the dog is still small because it will need more frequent visits to the vet, shots.

German Shepherd is highly intelligent and very trainable.

Shih Tzu is an independent and stubborn breed with low obedience intelligence, making training a test of patience.

This breed is sensitive to its environment and best suited for patient and understanding families with a consistent routine.

Shih Tzus have average emotions and adapt well to different situations.

German Shepherds are good apartment dogs as long as they get enough exercise and stimulation outside of the apartment.

Shih Tzus make excellent apartment dogs, being fairly active indoors and not requiring a yard.

German Shepherds make excellent family pets for kids due to their gentle, protective nature and calm temperament.

Shih Tzus are not the best choice for families with kids.

German Shepherds are average in their friendliness toward cats and tend to do well with them, especially if raised together.

Shih Tzus are very friendly with cats and make great companions for them.

German Shepherds are less friendly towards other dogs, but can improve with socialization.

Shih Tzus are generally very friendly towards other dogs, with a happy and affectionate temperament.

German Shepherds are friendly but may bark at strangers, and training is easy due to their intelligence.

Shih Tzus are averagely friendly around strangers but benefit from early socialisation.

German Shepherds have an average level of playfulness, enjoying playtime like most dogs but not excessively so.

Shih Tzus are not known for being a highly playful breed.

German Shepherds are popular for their ease of training and quick learning ability.

Shih Tzus are usually easy to train but require consistency to fully obey commands.