Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever"
Compare Rottweiler and German Shepherd. Which is better: Rottweiler or German Shepherd or Labrador Retriever?
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| Name | Rottweiler | German Shepherd | Labrador Retriever |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins |  Germany | Germany |  England  Canada |
| Group | Working Dogs | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) | Gun Dog |
| Popularity Rank | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Reviews | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Rate |
| Other Names | Rottie, Rott | Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Alsatian wolf dog (UK), Deutscher Schäferhund, Schäferhund | Labrador, Lab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred | Purebred |
| AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931 as a Working breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 as a Herding breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed. |
| FCI Group | 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. | Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section. |
| Breed Recognition | 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 | 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 |
| Price | $1200-$2000 | $800-$2000 | $1000-$2000 |
General Appearance - Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever
| Size | Large Giant | Large | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 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) | Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg) |
| Avg. Weight | Male: 112.5 pounds (51 kg), Female: 100 pounds (45 kg) | Male: 77 pounds (35 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg) |
| Height | 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) | Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm) |
| Avg. Height | 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) | Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm) |
Hair & Care - Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever
| Coat | Dense | Fuzzy | Dense Waterproof Hard Short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mahogany Tan Rust Black | Silver Tan Red Black | Yellow Chocolate Black |
| Grooming | Effortless: The Rottweiler requires minimal grooming. | Average: The German Shepherd requires average grooming effort. | Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming. |
| Shedding Level | Rottweilers shed moderately. | German Shepherds are heavy shedders. | Labrador Retrievers shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever
| Temperament | Alert Fearless Independent Loyal Courageous Good-natured Intelligent Protective | Alert Courageous Intelligent Obedient Confident Curious Loyal Watchful | Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Rank | Outstanding: Rottweiler is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: German Shepherd is one of the brightest dog breeds. | Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds. |
| Trainability | Rottweilers are easy to train. | German Shepherds are easy to train. | Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train. |
| Playfulness | Rottweilers, like any other dog breed, like playing. | German Shepherds, like any other dog breed, like playing. | The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed. |
| Sensitivity Level | 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. | Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. |
| Affection Level | Rottweilers are average dogs regarding their affection level. | German Shepherds are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence. |
| Social Needs | Rottweilers need a lot of social interaction. | German Shepherds need for social interaction is average. | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction. |
| Barking | Low: The Rottweiler barks none to minimal. | Low to Average: The German Shepherd rarely barks. | Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally. |
| Watchdog Ability | Rottweilers are one of the best watchdogs. | German Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. | Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs. |
| Territorial | Rottweilers are extremely protective guard dogs. | German Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are average defenders. |
| Biting Potential |
High The Rottweiler has a high chance of biting somebody. |
High The German Shepherd has a high chance of biting somebody. |
Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody. |
| Mouthiness | 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. | Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
| Impulse to Wander or Roam | Rottweilers tend to escape less than other breeds. | German Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. | Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential. |
| Prey Drive | 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. | Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. |
| Apartment Friendly | 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. | Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle. |
| Adaptability | 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. | Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Tolerates Being Left Alone | 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. | Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. |
| Fighting Dog |
Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog. |
Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever
| Stranger Friendly | Rottweilers are not stranger friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are stranger friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Friendly | Rottweilers are not the most kid-friendly dogs. | German Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs. |
| Cat Friendly | Rottweilers are average friendly towards cats. | German Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. | Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs. |
| Dog Friendly | Rottweilers are not dog-friendly. | German Shepherds are not the most dog-friendly dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs. |
| Office Friendly |
No Rottweiler is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No German Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
| Senior Citizens Friendly | Rottweilers are not the best breed for elderly people. | German Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
| Pet Friendly | Rottweilers are generally with other pets. | German Shepherds are generally with other pets. | Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets. |
| Good For First Time Owners |
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. |
No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
| Service Dog |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
| Therapy Dog |
Yes This breed makes a perfect 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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 Rottweiler breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really German Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes 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. |
Not really 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 - Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever
| Health Issues | 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. | The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Problems | 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 | Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia |
| Life Expectancy | 8-11 years | 10-13 years | 10-12 years |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No | No |
| Energy Level | Rottweilers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. | German Shepherds are high energy dogs. | Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs. |
| Exercise Need | Rottweilers have an average exercise need. | German Shepherds need quite a lot of exercise. | Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises. |
| Sleeping Need | Rottweilers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. | German Shepherds don't need too much sleep. | Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep. |
| Avg. daily food consumption | 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. | Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
| Weight Gain Potential | High: The Rottweiler breed has a strong tendency to overweight. | Low to Average. | High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight. |
| Weather & Climate | Prefers average to warm weather conditions | Tolerates warm and cold weather. | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
| Stinkiness |
Medium The Rottweiler has an average chance of bad smell. |
Medium The German Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell. |
| 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. | The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler. |
Reproducibility - Rottweiler vs German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever
| 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 | 8-12 puppies | 6-10 puppies | 5-10 puppies |
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Reviews
- Rohan Patel
Apr 26, 2020, 8:05:29 PM:
I love the gss but can you make a St. Bernard comparison