German Shepherd Dog vs Rottweiler
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| German Shepherd Dog | Rottweiler | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Large | Large |
| Adult weight | 22.7 to 40.8 kg | 36.3 to 61.2 kg |
| In pounds | 50 to 90 lb | 80 to 135 lb |
| Adult height | 56 to 66 cm | 56 to 69 cm |
| Energy | Very high | High |
| Grooming | Moderate | Low |
| Coat | Medium double | Short smooth |
| Shedding | High | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years | 9 to 10 years |
| Good with children | Reliably good | Fine with supervision |
| Good with other dogs | Fine with supervision | Fine with supervision |
| Country of origin | Germany | Germany |
The main differences
- The Rottweiler is the bigger dog: 36.3 to 61.2 kg against 22.7 to 40.8 kg for the German Shepherd Dog.
- The German Shepherd Dog needs more exercise: very high energy against high for the Rottweiler.
- The German Shepherd Dog takes more grooming (moderate) than the Rottweiler (low).
- The German Shepherd Dog usually lives longer: 12 to 14 years against 9 to 10 years.
- With children, the German Shepherd Dog is rated reliably good and the Rottweiler fine with supervision.
Temperament
German Shepherd Dog: Steady of nerve, loyal, self-assured, courageous and tractable, never nervous, over-aggressive or shy.
Rottweiler: Good natured, not nervous, aggressive or vicious, courageous and biddable with natural guarding instincts.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
German Shepherd Dog
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be elbow graded by x-ray before mating
- Degenerative myelopathy (DM), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Hereditary eye disease screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
Rottweiler
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be hip scored by x-ray before mating
- Elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be elbow graded by x-ray before mating
- Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP-2), detectable by DNA test on both parents
Common questions
Which is bigger, the German Shepherd Dog or the Rottweiler?
The Rottweiler. Adults weigh 36.3 to 61.2 kg, against 22.7 to 40.8 kg for the German Shepherd Dog, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the German Shepherd Dog or the Rottweiler?
The published life expectancy is 12 to 14 years for the German Shepherd Dog and 9 to 10 years for the Rottweiler. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the German Shepherd Dog or the Rottweiler better with children?
The German Shepherd Dog scores higher for children (5 against 3 out of 5). Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- royalkennelclub.com for the Royal Kennel Club exercise or grooming band, used where it asks for more than the AKC score