Breed Comparison: German Shepherd Dog Versus Yorkshire Terrier

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German Shepherd Dog Versus Yorkshire Terrier: Introduction

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

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

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 Yorkshire Terrier.

German Shepherd Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier

German Shepherd Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier: Overview

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

The table below compares the German Shepherd Dog to the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier

Factor German Shepherd Dog Yorkshire Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 75 to 95 pounds 4 to 6 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1280 $2420
Price Range $800 – $1500 $1600 – $2950
Temperament Score 85.3 percent 83.7 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
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 2 9
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 3 27

    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 Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Yorkshire Terrier is 76 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the German Shepherd Dog is a better pet than the Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Yorkshire Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    German Shepherd Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier

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

  • German Shepherd Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • German Shepherd Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom. However, Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • German Shepherd Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Yorkshire Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • The Similarities Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier

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

  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of German Shepherd Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier

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

    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, Yorkshire Terriers weigh 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Yorkshire Terriers are 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of German Shepherd Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier

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

    Yorkshire Terriers live longer than German Shepherd Dogs.

    German Shepherd Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Temperament of the German Shepherd Dog Versus the Yorkshire Terrier

    The German Shepherd Dog has a better temperament than the Yorkshire Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the German Shepherd Dog is 85.3 percent while the temperament score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 83.7 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 83.7 percent, the Yorkshire Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 3383 German Shepherd Dogs and 43 Yorkshire Terriers.

    Price of German Shepherd Dog versus Price of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of the Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Yorkshire Terrier is more expensive than the German Shepherd Dog.

    German Shepherd Dog Yorkshire Terrier
    Average Price $1280 $2420
    Price Range $800 to $1500 $1600 to $2950

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Adopting the German Shepherd Dog versus Adopting the Yorkshire Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many German Shepherd Dogs and many Yorkshire Terriers 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 Brownie 2 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable German Shepherd Dogs like Brownie 2 on pefinder.com.

    Also, like German Shepherd Dogs, Yorkshire Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Zeus is a Male Yorkshire Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Yorkshire Terriers like Zeus that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

    Also, Absolutely Tiny And Funny Looking.. is an adorable Male Yorkshire Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Intelligence of the German Shepherd Dog versus the Intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier

    German Shepherd Dog Yorkshire Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 3 out of 130 dog breeds 27 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Yorkshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Yorkshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The German Shepherd Dog is more intelligent than the Yorkshire Terrier.

    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 Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Yorkshire Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shepherd Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Yorkshire Terrier is 9 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Year German Shepherd Dog Popularity Rank Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 2 6
    2014 2 6
    2015 2 7
    2016 2 9
    2017 2 9
    2018 2 10
    2019 2 12
    2020 3 13

    Health Problems of German Shepherd Dog versus Health Problems of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier.

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

    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.

    Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in German Shepherd Dogs and Yorkshire Terriers

    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 Yorkshire Terrier Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 321 Yorkshire Terriers, 9 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

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

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 1 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 3 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 23 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 88 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 159 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in German Shepherd Dog and in Yorkshire Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkshire Terrier:

    Disease German Shepherd Dog Rank Yorkshire Terrier 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 159 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 23 out of 49 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 64 out of 182 dog breeds 88 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 71 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 102 out of 145 dog breeds 3 out of 145 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 1 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 Yorkshire Terrier

    German Shepherd Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do German Shepherd Dogs shed more than Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the German Shepherd Dog or the Yorkshire Terrier

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terrier?

    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.

    Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    German Shepherd Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Shepherd Dog vs. Yorkshire Terrier

    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.

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

    Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are German Shepherd Dogs good family dogs? What about Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are German Shepherd Dogs and Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Is the German Shepherd Dog Easier to Train than the Yorkshire Terrier?

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to train.

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Is the German Shepherd Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Yorkshire Terrier?

    German Shepherd Dogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

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

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

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

  • Affenpinscher (74 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Affenpinscher.
  • Lhasa Apso (75 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Lhasapoo (75 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Lhasapoo.
  • Chorkie (83 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Chorkie.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    German Shepherd Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shepherd Dog versus Mudi     German Shepherd Dog versus French Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer     German Shepherd Dog versus Clumber Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus Bouvier des Flandres     German Shepherd Dog versus Golden Cocker Retriever     German Shepherd Dog versus Morkie     German Shepherd Dog versus Pekingese     German Shepherd Dog versus Puli     German Shepherd Dog versus Sloughi     German Shepherd Dog versus Cairn Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Australian Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Pekingese     German Shepherd Dog versus Akita     German Shepherd Dog versus Pomsky     German Shepherd Dog versus American Pit Bull Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     German Shepherd Dog versus Basenji     German Shepherd Dog versus Bordoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Akita     German Shepherd Dog versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     German Shepherd Dog versus Goldendoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Pomeranian     German Shepherd Dog versus Jack Russell Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Curly-Coated Retriever     

    Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Tibetan Mastiff     Yorkshire Terrier versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Barbet     Yorkshire Terrier versus Chihuahua     Yorkshire Terrier versus Whippet     Yorkshire Terrier versus American Foxhound     Yorkshire Terrier versus Bulldog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Field Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Belgian Tervuren     Yorkshire Terrier versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Yorkshire Terrier versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Welsh Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Whippet     Yorkshire Terrier versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus West Highland White Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Yorkshire Terrier versus Clumber Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Cavapoo     Yorkshire Terrier versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Yorkshire Terrier versus Cairn Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Affenhuahua     Yorkshire Terrier versus Mal Shi     Yorkshire Terrier versus American Eskimo Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Puggle     Yorkshire Terrier versus Scottish Deerhound     

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