German Shepherds are one of the most hardworking and energetic dogs around the world. This working dog breed are widely recognized for their unrivaled smartness, intelligence, loyalty, bravery, devotion and attentiveness.
They are one of the easiest dogs to train as their intelligence and smartness help them to assimilate and learn commands quickly and even imitate the things they see you do. These traits also make them one of the most popular and perfect military dogs, rescue dogs, herding dogs, patrol dogs and sniffers.
They use these same traits to be the perfect protection dogs for their human family. Keep reading to learn about the physical appearance of the German Shepherd and others dogs that look similar to them.
Dogs That Look Like German Shepherd But Smaller
German Shepherds are well built with thick, muscular shoulders and legs. They have a rectangular physique and are quite tall at about 2ft2 in height.
Many dog lovers would be happy to have a German Shepherd as a family pet but would prefer a dog that is not as big as a German Shepherd and can fit into their apartment. Well, we’ve got you covered. Here are a list of some dogs that a very similar in looks to a German Shepherd but smaller in size:
Check This Out – What Is The Laziest Dog Breed
- Dutch Shepherd
Dutch Shepherds originate from Netherlands and are bred by the Dutch farmers for the sole purpose of herding and shepherding. They are built to adapt to the harshest conditions. They are as protective of their human families or owners as they would be of the sheep they are herding.
They are one of the best herding dogs around but can be very stubborn, aggressive and destructive if they are not well-trained early enough.
The Dutch Shepherd is about 55-62cm tall and weighs about 23-32kg. this dog breed also belongs to the group of herding dogs and they live as old as 12-15years. They have three varieties of coats: long-coated, short-coated and wired-coated Dutch Shepherd. Their coats are usually tan-striped grey or silver.
- Belgian Shepherds
Belgian Shepherds, also referred to as Belgian Sheepdog have their origin in Belgium. These dogs, just like the German Shepherd were bred to be herding dogs.
The Belgian Sheepdogs take pride in their intelligence and strength, making them suitable to serve as police or military dogs. With the right amount of training, exercises and early socialization, they will be great family pets.
The Belgian Shepherds are about 55-65cm tall and weigh about 20-30kg. They belong to the group of herding dogs and have slightly long coats with ruffled fur. Usually, they are either solid blacks or black with patches of white around the chest and neck. They have a lifespan of between 10-14 years.
- Northern Inuit Dog
The Northern Inuit Dog is a mixed breed of Inuit, Siberian Huskies and German Shepherd. Although this mixed breed looks so much like a wolf in appearance and body shape, it is an unaggressive, friendly breed.
Quite unfortunately, it is not a recognized breed. Like the Dutch Shepherd, Northern Inuit Dogs can be stubborn if they are not properly trained.
Interesting Post – What Dog Is Stronger Than A German Shepherd
The Northern Inuit dog originated from England, is about 63-76cm in height and weighs about 25-38kg. they belong to the group of herding dogs and can live for up to 9-13 years. They have short, double-coated fur and they come in various colors like pure black, pure white or a sable. The sable may or may not have a white-colored mask on the face.
- Bohemian Shepherd
Also known as the Bohemian Herder or Czech Sheepdog, the Bohemian Shepherd is a medium-sized, Czech-originated dog that has not gained recognition by any kennel club beyond the borders of Czech Republic. This dog breed is way smaller in weight and height tan the German Shepherd and is friendlier.
They do not have any serious health conditions and can be easily maintained. They are not a very common breed that you would find around.
The Bohemian Shepherds are about 42-55cm in height and they weigh only about 16-25kg. They belong to the group of companion dogs and are perfect as family pets. Their furs are thick and long and they usually come in brown, yellowish tan or black shades. This dog breed can live for up to 9-13 years.
- Romanian Shepherd
The Romanian Shepherds are quick on their feet, strong and very smart. With their smartness, they can take on and disable a wolf or some other wild animal. They are very dependable working dogs.
This dog breed also known as Romanian Carpathian Shepherd have their origin in the Carpathian Mountain, Romania. They are about 60-73cm tall and they weigh about 23-29kg. They belong to the group of flock guard and can live for as long as 12-14 years.
They can have straight or rough coats with an abundant fur; the predominant color is usually mahogany with some black markings in the coat.
- The Yakutian Laika
This dog breed originated from Russia, a very ancient breed that were bred as herding dogs. They belong to the group of working dogs. The Yakutian Laika is about 58-64cm tall and weighs about 18-25kg. They have a lifespan of about 10-12 years. They have double coats and usually come in pure white or black and white colored fur.
This is a very affectionate dog that would make a perfect companion and family pet; a perfect addition to the family. Although they are not difficult to train nor a stubborn breed, you would need to exercise some amount of patience while training them
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is There A Smaller Version Of A German Shepherd?
Yes, there is a smaller version of a German Shepherd knows as Miniature German Shepherd. Unlike the pure breed German Shepherd, the Miniature German Shepherd is a mixed and one of its parent is smaller in size than the German Shepherd.
Notwithstanding this answer, you must note that the Miniature German Shepherd is not a registered dog breed with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
How Much Is A Miniature German Shepherd?
Miniature German Shepherds are quite expensive. The smallest of these dogs can cost as much as $4,500 and nothing less than $2,000.
Final Thoughts
If you read this article through, you would probably already have a German Shepherd look-alike that you are considering. All of the dogs mentioned in this article look like German Shepherds, have similar traits as German Shepherds but are smaller in size to suit your preference.
Leave a Reply