Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd" Compare Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Rottweiler. Which is better: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or Rottweiler or German Shepherd?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Greater Swiss Mountain Dog	Rottweiler	German Shepherd
Origins	Switzerland	Germany	Germany
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Working Dogs	Working Dogs	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	75	8	2
Reviews	1	5	4
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Other Names	Great Swiss Mountain Dog, Swissy	Rottie, Rott	Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.
Breed Recognition	No set	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 Colonial Rottweiler Club Deutscher Rottweiler Klub International Rottweiler Club	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
Price	$2000-$2500	$1200-$2000	$800-$2000

General Appearance - Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd

Size	Large	Large Giant	Large
Weight	130-135 pounds (59-61 kg)	Male: 95-130 pounds (43-59 kg), Female: 85-115 pounds (38-52 kg)	Male: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg), Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)
Avg. Weight	132.5 pounds (60 kg)	Male: 112.5 pounds (51 kg), Female: 100 pounds (45 kg)	Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)
Height	23.5-28.5 (60-72 cm)	Male: 24-27 inches (61-69 cm), Female: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm)	Male: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm), Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)
Avg. Height	23.5-28.5 (66 cm)	Male: 25.5 inches (65 cm), Female: 23.5 inches (59.5 cm)	Male: 25 inches (62.5 cm), Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd

Coat	Dense	Dense	Fuzzy
Colors	White Red Black	Mahogany Tan Rust Black	Silver Tan Red Black
Grooming	Effortless: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The Rottweiler requires minimal grooming.	Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs shed none to minimal.	Rottweilers shed moderately.	German Shepherds are heavy shedders.

Characteristics - Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd

Temperament	Alert Fearless Protective Devoted Good-natured Selfish Confidence	Alert Fearless Independent Loyal Courageous Good-natured Intelligent Protective	Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful
Intelligent Rank	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one.	Outstanding: Rottweiler is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are quite easy to train.	Rottweilers are easy to train.	German Shepherds are easy to train.
Playfulness	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.	Rottweilers, like any other dog breed, like playing.	German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	German Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are highly affectionate dogs.	Rottweilers are average dogs regarding their affection level.	German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are a social breed.	Rottweilers need a lot of social interaction.	German Shepherds need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Low to Average: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog rarely barks.	Low: The Rottweiler barks none to minimal.	Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are one of the best watchdogs.	Rottweilers are one of the best watchdogs.	German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are extremely protective guard dogs.	Rottweilers are extremely protective guard dogs.	German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has a low chance of biting somebody.	High The Rottweiler has a high chance of biting somebody.	High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Rottweilers have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	German Shepherds have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have average wanderlust potential.	Rottweilers tend to escape less than other breeds.	German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers.
Prey Drive	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Rottweilers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	German Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.
Apartment Friendly	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Rottweilers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	German Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Rottweilers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	German Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Rottweilers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd

Stranger Friendly	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards strangers.	Rottweilers are not stranger friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are kid-friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are not the most kid-friendly dogs.	German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are average friendly towards cats.	Rottweilers are average friendly towards cats.	German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are dog-friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are not dog-friendly.	German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Rottweiler is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are usually recommended for elderly people.	Rottweilers are not the best breed for elderly people.	German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are generally with other pets.	Rottweilers are generally with other pets.	German Shepherds are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Rottweilers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No German Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Rottweiler breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd

Health Issues	The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Rottweiler is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	German Shepherds are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	No set	Allergies Aortic Stenosis Bloat Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteosarcoma Panosteitis Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis	Allergies Blindness Bloat Cancer Cataracts Cherry Eye Chronic Diarrhea Cruciate Ligament Rupture Cushing's Syndrome Degenerative Myelopathy Demodectic Mange Diabetes Digestive Problems Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Heart Disease Hemophilia A Hemophilia B Hip Dysplasia Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Lens Luxation Lupus Megaesophagus Myasthenia Gravis Nail Bed Disease Osteochondrosis Pannus Panosteitis Paralysis Perianal Fistula Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Retinal Dysplasia Seborrhea Vitiligo Von Willebrand's Disease Wobbler's Syndrome
Life Expectancy	10-12 years	8-11 years	10-13 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are high energy dogs.	Rottweilers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	German Shepherds are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have an average exercise need.	Rottweilers have an average exercise need.	German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs don't need too much sleep.	Rottweilers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	German Shepherds don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	4 to 5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 4 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	High: The Rottweiler breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate	Prefers cold weather The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog can adapt well to harsh weather conditions, and also can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Rottweiler has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Rottweiler drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.	The German Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Greater Swiss Mountain Dog vs Rottweiler vs German Shepherd

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	5-10 puppies	8-12 puppies	6-10 puppies
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