Is the German Shepherd Dog Better than the Mastiff as a Pet? Answer…

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German Shepherd Dog Versus Mastiff: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff? 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 Mastiff 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 Mastiff.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff 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 Mastiff. 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 Mastiff.

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 Mastiff.

German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff

German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff: Overview

A very important difference between the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog is a large-sized dog while the Mastiff is a giant-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 Mastiff 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.

German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Shepherd Dog to the Mastiff 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 Mastiff

Factor German Shepherd Dog Mastiff
Does NOT Drool 5/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall 27 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 14 years 6 to 10 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 75 to 95 pounds 130 to 220 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 8.0 years
Average Price $1280 $1740
Price Range $800 – $1500 $1100 – $2200
Temperament Score 85.3 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament Test
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cystinuria
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Minimum age 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • PennGen
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 2 28
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 3 72

    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 Mastiff. 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 Mastiff is 72 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the German Shepherd Dog is a better pet than the Mastiff. So, you should get the German Shepherd Dog!

    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 Mastiff so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff

    Below is a list of where the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are most different:

  • German Shepherd Dogs do not have the tendency to drool. However, Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.
  • German Shepherd Dogs are highly intelligent. However, Mastiffs not very intelligent.
  • The Similarities Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff

    The German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are most similar:

  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff.

    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, Mastiffs weigh 130 to 220 pounds when fully grown. Mastiffs are 27 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff

    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 Mastiffs is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Mastiffs is 8.0 years.

    German Shepherd Dogs live longer than Mastiffs.

    German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff

    Temperament of the German Shepherd Dog Versus the Mastiff

    The Mastiff has a better temperament than the German Shepherd Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Mastiff is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the German Shepherd Dog is 85.3 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 100.0 percent, the Mastiff has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff by measuring the temperaments of 3383 German Shepherd Dogs and 8 Mastiffs.

    Price of German Shepherd Dog versus Price of Mastiff

    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 Mastiff puppy is $1740. The price of the Mastiff typically ranges from $1100 – $2200. However, the price of the Mastiff can be as low as $200 and as high as $4600. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 248 Mastiff puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Mastiff is more expensive than the German Shepherd Dog.

    German Shepherd Dog Mastiff
    Average Price $1280 $1740
    Price Range $800 to $1500 $1100 to $2200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the German Shepherd Dog and Mastiff. For different price points, the charts show how many German Shepherd Dog puppies or how many Mastiff 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 German Shepherd Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Mastiffs?

    A breakdown of the prices of Mastiffs?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the German Shepherd Dog puppy or the Mastiff 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.

    German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff

    Adopting the German Shepherd Dog versus Adopting the Mastiff

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many German Shepherd Dogs and many Mastiffs 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 Diesel that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable German Shepherd Dogs like Diesel on pefinder.com.

    Also, like German Shepherd Dogs, Mastiffs are also available for adoption. For example, Rebel is a Male Mastiff that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Mastiffs like Rebel that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Valiant is the name of another German Shepherd Dog (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, 1134031 is an adorable Male Mastiff on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    German Shepherd Dogs and Mastiffs are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more German Shepherd Dogs and Mastiffs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the German Shepherd Dog versus the Intelligence of the Mastiff

    German Shepherd Dog Mastiff
    Intelligence Rank 3 out of 130 dog breeds 72 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!

    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:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • 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 Mastiff has an obedience intelligence rank of 72 out of 130 dog breeds. The Mastiff belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Mastiffs tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The German Shepherd Dog is more intelligent than the Mastiff.

    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 Mastiff

    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 Mastiff over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shepherd Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Mastiff. 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 Mastiff is 28 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of Mastiff

    Popularity of Mastiff

    Year German Shepherd Dog Popularity Rank Mastiff Popularity Rank
    2013 2 26
    2014 2 26
    2015 2 25
    2016 2 28
    2017 2 28
    2018 2 29
    2019 2 32
    2020 3 33

    Health Problems of German Shepherd Dog versus Health Problems of Mastiff

    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 Mastiff 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 Mastiff is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the German Shepherd Dog.

    7 health tests are recommended for German Shepherd Dog while 7 tests are recommended for the Mastiff.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in German Shepherd Dogs and in Mastiffs.

    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:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Shepherd Dogs here.

    Mastiff Health Problems

    Mastiffs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Mastiff 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 Mastiff puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Mastiff 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 Mastiffs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cystinuria
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Minimum age 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • PennGen
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Mastiffs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in German Shepherd Dogs and Mastiffs

    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:

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 8 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 11 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 22 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 40 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 41 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 42 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 64 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 71 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 102 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • 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 Mastiff Breed is Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems.

    This is because the Mastiff ranks 3 out of 6 dog breeds for Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 891 Mastiffs, 14 of them had Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Mastiffs, and how common these diseases are in Mastiffs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems: Rank 3 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Cystinuria problems: Rank 3 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 9 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 12 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 26 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 39 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 39 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 43 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 49 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 53 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 72 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 131 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in German Shepherd Dog and in Mastiff and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the German Shepherd Dog and the Mastiff:

    Disease German Shepherd Dog Rank Mastiff Rank
    Shoulder problems 8 out of 22 dog breeds 9 out of 22 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 11 out of 70 dog breeds 49 out of 70 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 22 out of 144 dog breeds 26 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 40 out of 198 dog breeds 39 out of 198 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 41 out of 71 dog breeds 39 out of 71 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 42 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 64 out of 182 dog breeds 43 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 71 out of 115 dog breeds 72 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 102 out of 145 dog breeds 131 out of 145 dog breeds
    Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems Not Common 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Cystinuria problems Not Common 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 12 out of 32 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 53 out of 159 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 Mastiff

    German Shepherd Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Mastiffs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do German Shepherd Dogs shed more than Mastiffs?

    German Shepherd Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the German Shepherd Dog or the Mastiff

    German Shepherd Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the German Shepherd Dog or the Mastiff?

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the German Shepherd Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Mastiff?

    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.

    Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do German Shepherd Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Mastiffs?

    German Shepherd Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    German Shepherd Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Shepherd Dog vs. Mastiff

    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.

    Mastiffs 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 Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    German Shepherd Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Mastiffs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the German Shepherd Dog or the Mastiff?

    German Shepherd Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are German Shepherd Dogs good family dogs? What about Mastiffs?

    German Shepherd Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Mastiffs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are German Shepherd Dogs and Mastiffs?

    German Shepherd Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the German Shepherd Dog Easier to Train than the Mastiff?

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to train.

    Mastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Is the German Shepherd Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Mastiff?

    German Shepherd Dogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the German Shepherd Dog or the Mastiff?

    German Shepherd Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Mastiffs are not the best dogs 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:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier (77 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the Mastiff vs American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Belgian Malinois (74 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the Mastiff vs Belgian Malinois.
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dog (74 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the Mastiff vs Entlebucher Mountain Dog.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Mastiff

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Mastiff 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 Mastiff:

  • Black Russian Terrier (73 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Black Russian Terrier.
  • Caucasian Shepherd Dog (72 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Caucasian Shepherd Dog.
  • Dogue de Bordeaux (72 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Dogue de Bordeaux.
  • Leonberger (73 percent match with Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Leonberger.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the German Shepherd Dog and how the Mastiff compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the German Shepherd Dog and of the Mastiff to other breeds:

    German Shepherd Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shepherd Dog versus Kishu Ken     German Shepherd Dog versus Boxerdoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Leonberger     German Shepherd Dog versus American Water Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus Neapolitan Mastiff     German Shepherd Dog versus American Staffordshire Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Samoyed     German Shepherd Dog versus Brittany     German Shepherd Dog versus English Springer Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus Alaskan Malamute     German Shepherd Dog versus Papipoo     German Shepherd Dog versus Belgian Malinois     German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff     German Shepherd Dog versus Icelandic Sheepdog     German Shepherd Dog versus French Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus Ibizan Hound     German Shepherd Dog versus Irish Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Belgian Tervuren     German Shepherd Dog versus Morkie     German Shepherd Dog versus Bouvier des Flandres     German Shepherd Dog versus Rottweiler     German Shepherd Dog versus King Shepherd     German Shepherd Dog versus Silky Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Gordon Setter     German Shepherd Dog versus American Foxhound     

    Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Mastiff versus Norwich Terrier     Mastiff versus Bluetick Coonhound     Mastiff versus Boxerdoodle     Mastiff versus Westiepoo     Mastiff versus Irish Water Spaniel     Mastiff versus Pointer     Mastiff versus Pomsky     Mastiff versus American Bulldog     Mastiff versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Mastiff versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Mastiff versus Westiepoo     Mastiff versus Azawakh     Mastiff versus Pomeranian     Mastiff versus Lakeland Terrier     Mastiff versus Maltese     Mastiff versus Puli     Mastiff versus Dutch Shepherd     Mastiff versus Mudi     Mastiff versus Mountain Cur     Mastiff versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Mastiff versus Brussels Griffon     Mastiff versus Karelian Bear Dog     Mastiff versus Great Dane     Mastiff versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Mastiff versus American Eskimo Dog     

    Conclusion: German Shepherd Dog versus Mastiff. 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 Mastiff better suits you and your family.