Quick Links: Table of Contents
- German Shepherd Dog Versus Maltese: Introduction
- German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese: Overview
- German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese
- The Similarities Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese
- Size (Weight and Height) of German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese
- Lifespan of German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese
- Temperament of the German Shepherd Dog Versus the Maltese
- Price of German Shepherd Dog versus Price of Maltese
- Adopting the German Shepherd Dog versus Adopting the Maltese
- The Intelligence of the German Shepherd Dog versus the Intelligence of the Maltese
- The Popularity of German Shepherd Dog versus Popularity of Maltese
- Health Problems of German Shepherd Dog versus Health Problems of Maltese
- Tolerates Being Alone: German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese
- Do German Shepherd Dogs shed more than Malteses?
- Which one drools more, the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese
- Which is Easier to Groom, the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese?
- Does the German Shepherd Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Maltese?
- Do German Shepherd Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Malteses?
- Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Malteses Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: German Shepherd Dog vs. Maltese
- Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Malteses Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese?
- Are German Shepherd Dogs good family dogs? What about Malteses?
- How Kid-friendly are German Shepherd Dogs and Malteses?
- Is the German Shepherd Dog Easier to Train than the Maltese?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Shepherd Dog
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Maltese
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese. Which One is a Better Pet?
German Shepherd Dog Versus Maltese: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese 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 German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese 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 German Shepherd Dog and for the Maltese. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese.
German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese: Overview
A very important difference between the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog is a large-sized dog while the Maltese is a tiny-sized dog.
Furthermore, the German Shepherd Dog 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 Maltese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese: Comparison Table
The table below compares the German Shepherd Dog to the Maltese 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.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese
| Factor | German Shepherd Dog | Maltese |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Height | 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall | 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Life Span | 10 to 14 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 75 to 95 pounds | Up to 7 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 12.0 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $1280 | $2580 |
| Price Range | $800 – $1500 | $1800 – $3000 |
| Temperament Score | 85.3 percent | 82.4 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 2 | 33 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 3 | 59 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the German Shepherd Dog 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 Maltese. 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 the German Shepherd Dog is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Maltese is 82 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Maltese is a better pet than the German Shepherd Dog. So, you should get the Maltese!
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 German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese
Below is a list of where the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese are most different:
The Similarities Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese
The German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese.
German Shepherd Dogs weigh 75 to 95 pounds when fully grown. German Shepherd Dogs are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall when fully grown.
On the other hand, Malteses weigh Up to 7 pounds when fully grown. Malteses are 8 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Lifespan of German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese
The lifespan of German Shepherd Dogs is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of German Shepherd Dogs is 12.0 years.
The lifespan of Malteses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Malteses is 13.5 years.
Malteses live longer than German Shepherd Dogs.
Temperament of the German Shepherd Dog Versus the Maltese
The German Shepherd Dog has a better temperament than the Maltese.
This is because the temperament score for the German Shepherd Dog is 85.3 percent while the temperament score for the Maltese is 82.4 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 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 85.3 percent, the German Shepherd Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 82.4 percent, the Maltese has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese by measuring the temperaments of 3383 German Shepherd Dogs and 17 Malteses.
Price of German Shepherd Dog versus Price of Maltese
The average price of the German Shepherd Dog puppy is $1280. The price of the German Shepherd Dog typically ranges from $800 – $1500. However, the price of a German Shepherd Dog can be as low as $195 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1776 German Shepherd Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Maltese puppy is $2580. The price of the Maltese typically ranges from $1800 – $3000. However, the price of the Maltese can be as low as $500 and as high as $7995. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 413 Maltese puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Maltese is more expensive than the German Shepherd Dog.
| German Shepherd Dog | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1280 | $2580 |
| Price Range | $800 to $1500 | $1800 to $3000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the German Shepherd Dog and Maltese. For different price points, the charts show how many German Shepherd Dog puppies or how many Maltese puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of German Shepherd Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Malteses?
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the German Shepherd Dog puppy or the Maltese 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the German Shepherd Dog versus Adopting the Maltese
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many German Shepherd Dogs and many Malteses 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 German Shepherd Dog named Valiant that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable German Shepherd Dogs like Valiant on pefinder.com.
Also, like German Shepherd Dogs, Malteses are also available for adoption. For example, Walter is a Male Maltese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Malteses like Walter that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Rocky is the name of another German Shepherd Dog (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also, Woodrow is an adorable Male Maltese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more German Shepherd Dogs and Malteses that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the German Shepherd Dog versus the Intelligence of the Maltese
| German Shepherd Dog | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 3 out of 130 dog breeds | 59 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the German Shepherd Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 3 out of 130 dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that German Shepherd Dogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.
The Maltese has an obedience intelligence rank of 59 out of 130 dog breeds. The Maltese belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Malteses tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.
The German Shepherd Dog is more intelligent than the Maltese.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of German Shepherd Dog versus Popularity of Maltese
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shepherd Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Maltese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Shepherd Dog is 2 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Maltese is 33 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of German Shepherd Dog
Popularity of Maltese
| Year | German Shepherd Dog Popularity Rank | Maltese Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 | 27 |
| 2014 | 2 | 29 |
| 2015 | 2 | 31 |
| 2016 | 2 | 33 |
| 2017 | 2 | 33 |
| 2018 | 2 | 37 |
| 2019 | 2 | 36 |
| 2020 | 3 | 38 |
Health Problems of German Shepherd Dog versus Health Problems of Maltese
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the German Shepherd Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Maltese.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the German Shepherd Dog than for the Maltese.
7 health tests are recommended for German Shepherd Dog while 3 tests are recommended for the Maltese.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in German Shepherd Dogs and in Malteses.
German Shepherd Dog Health Problems
German Shepherd Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing German Shepherd Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a German Shepherd Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your German Shepherd Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen German Shepherd Dogs for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Shepherd Dogs here.
Maltese Health Problems
Malteses are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Maltese puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Maltese puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Maltese breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Malteses for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Malteses here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in German Shepherd Dogs and Malteses
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the German Shepherd Dog Breed is Shoulder problems.
This is because the German Shepherd Dog ranks 8 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 149 German Shepherd Dogs, 5 of them had Shoulder problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in German Shepherd Dogs, and how common these diseases are in German Shepherd Dogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Maltese Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.
This is because the Maltese ranks 6 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 155 Malteses, 2 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Malteses, and how common these diseases are in Malteses relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in German Shepherd Dog and in Maltese and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese:
| Disease | German Shepherd Dog Rank | Maltese Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder problems | 8 out of 22 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Degenerative Myelopathy problems | 11 out of 70 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Elbow problems | 22 out of 144 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hips problems | 40 out of 198 dog breeds | 98 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Advanced Cardiac problems | 41 out of 71 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dentition Database problems | 42 out of 49 dog breeds | 16 out of 49 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | 64 out of 182 dog breeds | 139 out of 182 dog breeds |
| Thyroid problems | 71 out of 115 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Patella problems | 102 out of 145 dog breeds | 41 out of 145 dog breeds |
| Legg-Calve-Perthes problems | Not Common | 6 out of 40 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Tolerates Being Alone: German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese
German Shepherd Dogs do not like to be left alone.
Malteses do not like to be left alone.
Do German Shepherd Dogs shed more than Malteses?
German Shepherd Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Malteses do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which one drools more, the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese
German Shepherd Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.
Malteses do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese?
German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom.
Malteses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Does the German Shepherd Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Maltese?
German Shepherd Dogs have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Malteses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Do German Shepherd Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Malteses?
German Shepherd Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Malteses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Malteses Tolerate Cold Weather?
German Shepherd Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.
Malteses cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Wanderlust Potential: German Shepherd Dog vs. Maltese
German Shepherd Dogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Malteses do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Malteses Tolerate Hot Weather?
German Shepherd Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Malteses can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese?
German Shepherd Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.
Malteses get along very well with other dogs.
Are German Shepherd Dogs good family dogs? What about Malteses?
German Shepherd Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Malteses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are German Shepherd Dogs and Malteses?
German Shepherd Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Malteses get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Is the German Shepherd Dog Easier to Train than the Maltese?
German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to train.
Malteses are very easy to train.
Is the German Shepherd Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Maltese?
German Shepherd Dogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Malteses adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the German Shepherd Dog or the Maltese?
German Shepherd Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Malteses are very good for new dog owners.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Shepherd Dog
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Maltese
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Maltese 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 Maltese:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the German Shepherd Dog and how the Maltese compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the German Shepherd Dog and of the Maltese to other breeds:
German Shepherd Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds
German Shepherd Dog versus Shih Tzu German Shepherd Dog versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer German Shepherd Dog versus Papipoo German Shepherd Dog versus Komondor German Shepherd Dog versus Cocker Spaniel German Shepherd Dog versus Siberian Husky German Shepherd Dog versus Bracco Italiano German Shepherd Dog versus Flat-Coated Retriever German Shepherd Dog versus Redbone Coonhound German Shepherd Dog versus Pharaoh Hound German Shepherd Dog versus Great Pyrenees German Shepherd Dog versus American Eskimo Dog German Shepherd Dog versus Brittany German Shepherd Dog versus Brittany German Shepherd Dog versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle German Shepherd Dog versus Treeing Walker Coonhound German Shepherd Dog versus Gordon Setter German Shepherd Dog versus Irish Setter German Shepherd Dog versus Jack Russell Terrier German Shepherd Dog versus Toy Poodle German Shepherd Dog versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier German Shepherd Dog versus Pyredoodle German Shepherd Dog versus Bernedoodle German Shepherd Dog versus Australian Shepherd
Maltese Versus Other Dog Breeds
Maltese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback Maltese versus Alaskan Malamute Maltese versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Maltese versus Standard Poodle Maltese versus Saint Berdoodle Maltese versus Boykin Spaniel Maltese versus West Highland White Terrier Maltese versus Mal Shi Maltese versus Great Pyrenees Maltese versus Sealyham Terrier Maltese versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Maltese versus Newfoundland Maltese versus Whippet Maltese versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Maltese versus Briard Maltese versus Pyrenean Mastiff Maltese versus Tibetan Mastiff Maltese versus Leonberger Maltese versus Ibizan Hound Maltese versus Akbash Maltese versus Whippet Maltese versus Sloughi Maltese versus Saluki Maltese versus Bolognese Maltese versus Chow Chow
Conclusion: German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese. 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 German Shepherd Dog and the Maltese better suits you and your family.