Differences and Similarities between the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane.

Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane

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Dutch Shepherd Versus Great Dane: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Dutch Shepherd and for the Great Dane. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Dutch Shepherd or the Great Dane

Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane

Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane: Overview

A very important difference between the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized dog while the Great Dane is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Dutch Shepherd belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Great Dane belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dutch Shepherd to the Great Dane based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Dutch Shepherd Great Dane
Life Span 12 to 15 years 7 to 10 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 25 inches 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 1/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 100 to 200 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 8.5 years
Average Price $1590 $1560
Price Range $900 – $2000 $1000 – $2000
Temperament Score 96.2 percent 81.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Dutch Shepherd in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Great Dane. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Dutch Shepherd is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Great Dane is 73 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Dutch Shepherd is a better pet than the Great Dane. So, you should get the Dutch Shepherd!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane

    Below is a list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are most different:

  • Dutch Shepherds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Great Danes are very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane

    The Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are most similar:

  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are very playful.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane are very easy to train.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane.

    Dutch Shepherds weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Dutch Shepherds are 21 to 25 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Great Danes weigh 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Great Danes are 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Dutch Shepherd

    The Dutch Shepherd has a better temperament than the Great Dane.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dutch Shepherd is 96.2 percent while the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 96.2 percent, the Dutch Shepherd has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 81.5 percent, the Great Dane has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane by measuring the temperaments of 26 Dutch Shepherds and 314 Great Danes.

    Price of Dutch Shepherd versus Price of Great Dane

    The average price of the Dutch Shepherd puppy is $1590. The price of the Dutch Shepherd typically ranges from $900 – $2000. However, the price of a Dutch Shepherd can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 116 Dutch Shepherd puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Dutch Shepherd is more expensive than the Great Dane.

    Dutch Shepherd Great Dane
    Average Price $1590 $1560
    Price Range $900 to $2000 $1000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Dutch Shepherd and Great Dane. For different price points, the charts show how many Dutch Shepherd puppies or how many Great Dane puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dutch Shepherds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dutch Shepherds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dutch Shepherd puppy or the Great Dane puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane

    Adopting the Dutch Shepherd versus Adopting the Great Dane

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dutch Shepherds and many Great Danes are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Dutch Shepherd named Saber that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dutch Shepherds like Saber on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Dutch Shepherds, Great Danes are also available for adoption. For example, Hopper is a Male Great Dane that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Great Danes like Hopper that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Toby 1078 is the name of another Dutch Shepherd (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Dog, an adorable Male Great Dane on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Dutch Shepherds and Great Danes are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Dutch Shepherds and Great Danes that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane

    Dutch Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Great Danes do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Dutch Shepherd or the Great Dane

    Dutch Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.

    Do Dutch Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Great Danes?

    Dutch Shepherds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dutch Shepherd vs. Great Dane

    Dutch Shepherds do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Great Dane?

    Dutch Shepherds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dutch Shepherd or the Great Dane?

    Dutch Shepherds are OK for new dog owners.

    Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dutch Shepherd or the Great Dane?

    Dutch Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.

    Great Danes are very easy to groom.

    Does the Dutch Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Great Dane?

    Dutch Shepherds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

    Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Are Dutch Shepherds good family dogs? What about Great Danes?

    Dutch Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Dutch Shepherds and Great Danes?

    Dutch Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dutch Shepherd or the Great Dane?

    Dutch Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

    Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dutch Shepherds shed more than Great Danes?

    Dutch Shepherds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Easier to Train than the Great Dane?

    Dutch Shepherds are very easy to train.

    Great Danes are very easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dutch Shepherd

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dutch Shepherd that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Dutch Shepherd:

  • French Spaniel (80 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Great Dane vs French Spaniel.
  • Japanese Spitz (79 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Great Dane vs Japanese Spitz.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Great Dane

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Great Dane that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Great Dane:

  • Flat-Coated Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Labrador Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (70 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Shiloh Shepherd.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Dutch Shepherd and how the Great Dane compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dutch Shepherd and of the Great Dane to other breeds:

    Dutch Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dutch Shepherd versus Bernedoodle     Dutch Shepherd versus Peek A Poo     Dutch Shepherd versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Dutch Shepherd versus Whoodle     Dutch Shepherd versus Pekingese     Dutch Shepherd versus Harrier     Dutch Shepherd versus Bouvier des Flandres     Dutch Shepherd versus Boxer     Dutch Shepherd versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Dutch Shepherd versus Chorkie     

    Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Great Dane versus Finnish Lapphund     Great Dane versus Bedlington Terrier     Great Dane versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Great Dane versus Schnoodle     Great Dane versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Great Dane versus Harrier     Great Dane versus Goldendoodle     Great Dane versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel     Great Dane versus Bordoodle     

    Conclusion: Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Dutch Shepherd and the Great Dane better suits you and your family.