A Detailed Comparison of the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug.

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German Shepherd Dog Versus Pug: Introduction

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

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

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 Pug.

German Shepherd Dog versus Pug

German Shepherd Dog versus Pug: Overview

A very important difference between the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog is a large-sized dog while the Pug is a small-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 Pug 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 Pug: Comparison Table

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

Factor German Shepherd Dog Pug
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall 10 to 14 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 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
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 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 75 to 95 pounds 14 to 18 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1280 $1620
Price Range $800 – $1500 $1200 – $1875
Temperament Score 85.3 percent 91.7 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
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Pug Dog Club of America recommends ANNUAL screening.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 2 31
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 3 57

    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 Pug. 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 Pug is 80 out of 125.

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

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

    German Shepherd Dog versus Pug

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

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

  • German Shepherd Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Pugs are good for new dog owners.
  • German Shepherd Dogs are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Pugs gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • German Shepherd Dogs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds However, Pugs have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • German Shepherd Dogs are highly intelligent. However, Pugs not very intelligent.
  • German Shepherd Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Pugs are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • The Similarities Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug

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

  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug 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 Pug are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug are very easy to groom.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of German Shepherd Dog versus Pug

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

    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, Pugs weigh 14 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Pugs are 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of German Shepherd Dog versus Pug

    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 Pugs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pugs is 13.5 years.

    Pugs live longer than German Shepherd Dogs.

    German Shepherd Dog versus Pug

    Temperament of the Pug Versus the German Shepherd Dog

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Pug is 91.7 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 91.7 percent, the Pug has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug by measuring the temperaments of 3383 German Shepherd Dogs and 48 Pugs.

    Price of German Shepherd Dog versus Price of Pug

    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 Pug puppy is $1620. The price of the Pug typically ranges from $1200 – $1875. However, the price of the Pug can be as low as $300 and as high as $6525. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 654 Pug puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pug is more expensive than the German Shepherd Dog.

    German Shepherd Dog Pug
    Average Price $1280 $1620
    Price Range $800 to $1500 $1200 to $1875

    The charts below show the price distribution for the German Shepherd Dog and Pug. For different price points, the charts show how many German Shepherd Dog puppies or how many Pug 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 Pugs?

    A breakdown of the prices of Pugs?

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

    Adopting the German Shepherd Dog versus Adopting the Pug

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many German Shepherd Dogs and many Pugs 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, Pugs are also available for adoption. For example, Dino (Tx) is a Male Pug that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pugs like Dino (Tx) that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

    Also, Kipp is an adorable Male Pug on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

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

    German Shepherd Dog Pug
    Intelligence Rank 3 out of 130 dog breeds 57 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:

  • 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 Pug has an obedience intelligence rank of 57 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pug belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pugs tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The German Shepherd Dog is more intelligent than the Pug.

    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 Pug

    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 Pug over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shepherd Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Pug. 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 Pug is 31 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of Pug

    Popularity of Pug

    Year German Shepherd Dog Popularity Rank Pug Popularity Rank
    2013 2 31
    2014 2 33
    2015 2 33
    2016 2 32
    2017 2 31
    2018 2 28
    2019 2 31
    2020 3 29

    Health Problems of German Shepherd Dog versus Health Problems of Pug

    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 Pug 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 Pug 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 Pug.

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

    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.

    Pug Health Problems

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

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Pug Dog Club of America recommends ANNUAL screening.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pugs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in German Shepherd Dogs and Pugs

    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 Pug Breed is Hips problems.

    This is because the Pug ranks 1 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 942 Pugs, 676 of them had Hips problems.

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

  • Hips problems: Rank 1 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia problems: Rank 1 out of 4 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 2 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 14 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 14 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 32 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 60 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in German Shepherd Dog and in Pug and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the German Shepherd Dog and the Pug:

    Disease German Shepherd Dog Rank Pug Rank
    Shoulder problems 8 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 11 out of 70 dog breeds 14 out of 70 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 22 out of 144 dog breeds 2 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 40 out of 198 dog breeds 1 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 Not Common
    Eyes problems 64 out of 182 dog breeds 60 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 71 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 102 out of 145 dog breeds 32 out of 145 dog breeds
    Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Tracheal Hypoplasia problems Not Common 1 out of 4 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 14 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 Pug

    German Shepherd Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Pugs do not like to be left alone.

    Do German Shepherd Dogs shed more than Pugs?

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

    Pugs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

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

    Pugs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Pugs are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

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

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

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

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

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

    German Shepherd Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Pugs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Shepherd Dog vs. Pug

    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.

    Pugs 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 Pugs Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

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

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

    Pugs get along very well with other dogs.

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

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are German Shepherd Dogs and Pugs?

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

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

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

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to train.

    Pugs are fairly easy to train.

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

    German Shepherd Dogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Pugs adapt very well to apartment living.

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

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

    Pugs 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:

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

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

  • Boxer (74 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Boxer.
  • English Toy Spaniel (73 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs English Toy Spaniel.
  • French Bulldog (83 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs French Bulldog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    German Shepherd Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shepherd Dog versus Australian Cattle Dog     German Shepherd Dog versus Dachshund     German Shepherd Dog versus Pharaoh Hound     German Shepherd Dog versus Kooikerhondje     German Shepherd Dog versus Bichon Frise     German Shepherd Dog versus Leonberger     German Shepherd Dog versus German Wirehaired Pointer     German Shepherd Dog versus Shiba Inu     German Shepherd Dog versus Finnish Lapphund     German Shepherd Dog versus Golden Retriever     German Shepherd Dog versus American Foxhound     German Shepherd Dog versus Labradoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Finnish Spitz     German Shepherd Dog versus Scottish Deerhound     German Shepherd Dog versus Standard Schnauzer     German Shepherd Dog versus Aussiedoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Bloodhound     German Shepherd Dog versus Boxerdoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Braque du Bourbonnais     German Shepherd Dog versus Schipperke     German Shepherd Dog versus West Highland White Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus English Cocker Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus Morkie     German Shepherd Dog versus Belgian Sheepdog     German Shepherd Dog versus Schipperke     

    Pug Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pug versus West Highland White Terrier     Pug versus Leonberger     Pug versus Skye Terrier     Pug versus Beaglier     Pug versus Bedlington Terrier     Pug versus Giant Schnauzer     Pug versus Belgian Tervuren     Pug versus Cavapoo     Pug versus Japanese Chin     Pug versus Ibizan Hound     Pug versus Chi-Poo     Pug versus Canaan Dog     Pug versus Cane Corso     Pug versus Cocker Spaniel     Pug versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Pug versus Afador     Pug versus Berger Picard     Pug versus Dalmatian     Pug versus Cockalier     Pug versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Pug versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Pug versus Karelian Bear Dog     Pug versus French Spaniel     Pug versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Pug versus Norwegian Lundehund     

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