German Shepherd Vs Pitbull: Who’s The Best Dog?

So, you’re comparing a German Shepherd vs Pitbull. Who do you think would win?

German Shepherds are excellent dogs. They have been around for quite a while, and they’ve been my favorite dogs ever since their early days.

You can say with every right that they are the most popular dogs in the world. There’s almost no corner of the Earth where a GSD hasn’t put his paw.

Sure, they’re great. But, what about their buddies, Pitbulls? What’s so great about them?

Unfortunately, Pitbulls did not have such a lovely past like German Shepherds. These dogs were purposely bred to fight other dogs and hurt them. Still, the good news is that those days are long gone. Pitbulls are now absolute sweethearts.

Before we get into the comparison between Pitbulls and German Shepherds, I’d like to point out one thing: these two dog breeds are so different, and yet so similar.

You will be surprised to learn what makes Pitbulls and German Shepherds so special. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to pick which dog is the ideal dog for you. Who knows… maybe it would be both!

Comparing German Shepherd Vs Pitbull Temperaments

german shepherd vs temperament comparison

When people think of German Shepherds and Pitbulls, they usually think of two aggressive dogs. But, they couldn’t be more wrong. German Shepherds and Pitbulls are actually the ice guys. Of course, this is given the fact that they have been bred and raised properly. Even a Chihuahua can turn to aggression in the wrong hands.

The biggest difference between a German Shepherd and a Pitbull is their work ethics.

German Shepherds were bred to be working dogs, and you can’t find a more hardworking Fido than this one. They strive to serve and protect, as well as to perform various missions successfully. A German Shepherd dog must have a purpose. They don’t like lying around and doing nothing.

On the other hand, the Pitbull was never bred to be a working dog. They don’t have that written in their DNA. Pitbulls were, sadly, bred to fight other dogs and entertain people. Luckily, this bloodsport was banned a while ago, and Pitbulls were left without a career.

Well, considering what a lousy career that was, it’s worth it.

So, what did Pitbulls end up doing? They became companions, and some truly valued ones.

Pitbulls and German Shepherds are both sweet dogs around their family members. That’s probably the biggest thing these dogs have in common.

As completely fixated on their family, Pitbulls and GSDs will put their family’s needs before anything else.

While Pitbulls aren’t good guardians like GSDs, they make excellent watchdogs. Nothing goes past these good boys and girls. A Pitbull will bark like crazy, notify you if something’s wrong, and even attack the intruder if it’s necessary, but he’ll never turn his back on his family.

The same thing applies to the German Shepherd. They will make sure their family’s needs are satisfied before they turn to their own.

German Shepherd Vs Pitbull: Who Is Prettier?

Beauty is always in the eye of the observer.

Some people prefer dogs like German Shepherds, while others believe Pitbulls are prettier.

There’s really no point in comparing the two since they’re so different.

German Shepherds are large dogs, often weighing up to 100 pounds. Pitbulls are big, but they’re usually not as heavy as GSDs. Pitbulls are more muscular. At least, their muscles are visible, thanks to their thin coat.

German Shepherds and Pitbulls don’t really have anything similar in terms of their appearance.

GSDs are dogs with natural pointy ears, while Pitties have their ears cropped to stay upright. That’s not a natural position for their ears. If you’d leave a Pitbull’s ears uncropped, they’ll be small, triangular, and floppy.

Not even the coat type is the same with these pups. German Shepherds shed like crazy. They’re notorious shedders, and that’s probably the one thing people dislike about them. All that shedding is thanks to their thick, double coat that blows out twice a year to prepare their summer or winter coat.

Pitbulls don’t have seasonal blowouts. Their coat is thin and sleek. Yes, Pitbulls are single-coated dogs. They come in lots of stunning colors, including blue fawn, gray, merle, champagne, black, etc. Also, Pitties can be tri-colored dogs.

If we had to pick which has prettier coat colors, we’d say Pitbulls. But, blue German Shepherds as well as black Shepies are equally wonderful.

Trainability: Who Learns Faster?

When it comes to trainability, you must know that German Shepherds are probably the best students in the canine world. Of course, this doesn’t mean they will let just anyone handle or train them.

Compared to Pitbulls, German Shepherds learn faster and better. But, our Pitty buddies aren’t stupid either.

A dog’s intelligence is measured by how fast he responds to a given task, and how well he performs it. There are even scales and lists of the most intelligent dog breeds, and our German Shepherds are positioned pretty high.

We won’t talk numbers and rankings here. The bottom line is that a GSD does learn faster. I mean, they’re German Shepherds… one of the greatest dogs of all time!

So, how well does the world’s greatest dog learn? Are they eager to obey their owner or do they like having things their own way?

German Shepherds are pretty obedient dogs, but that, too, still depends on the breeder or owner. A German Shepherd will not listen to you if you’re not firm enough. They need their owner to be the alpha dog or they will take over the role of alpha themselves.

German Shepherds need someone experienced to handle them. If you have at least some knowledge in training dogs like German Shepherds, then you’ll know that you’re supposed to use positive reinforcement.

These dogs enjoy praises, maybe more verbal praises than treatos. Stimulate their learning by offering them treats for any job well done.

On the other hand, Pitbulls don’t learn that fast, but they’re more eager to learn and obey than German Shepherds.

Health Status: Who Is Healthier?

german shepherd vs pitbull health comparison

You shouldn’t have many problems with German Shepherds and Pitbulls regarding their health status. These are fairly healthy dogs, and don’t experience lots of major health issues. Still, as any purebred dog, they’re prone to certain conditions.

Unfortunately, neglecting any of these dogs, and not giving them proper care might cut their average lifespan in half. Pitbulls usually live longer, from 12 to 16 years, while GSDs only live from 10 to 12 years.

Ignore their needs and these life expectancies will drastically fall.

It’s always better to know what to expect from a dog breed than to guess what could be wrong with your dog.

Pitbulls and German Shepherds share a lot of similar health conditions. These are large dogs, and as such, they suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.

However, the most common conditions for the American Pitbull Terrier are:

German Shepherds normally suffer from:

Who Is Pricier: German Shepherd Vs Pitbull?

German Shepherds and Pitbulls aren’t those fancy dog breeds with skyrocketing prices. These are normal, standard, pet-quality dogs without any special features like no odor or hypoallergenic traits.

Still, people love these breeds. They’re one of the most popular ones in the States. And, of course, the affordable price has a lot to do with that.

When we talk about prices, we normally talk about pet-quality dogs and their pricing. Naturally, champion dogs are more expensive. If you’re looking for such dogs, you can expect to pay a couple thousand dollars.

However, pet-quality German Shepherds and Pitbulls shouldn’t cost a lot. On average, a GSD’s price is approximately $1,300. A Pitbull’s price is significantly lower. Pitbulls normally cost about $800.

Compared to some other breeds, these prices are pretty normal.

If you’re wondering where to find good GSD and Pitbull breeders in the States, I can help you with that.

PupVine has done lists of best dog breeders for each of these breeds, so check them out:

To Sum Up…

So, according to you, who wins the battle between German Shepherd vs Pitbull?

I know it’s a tough batter. Both of these pups are wonderful dogs. And, as you could see, they’re quite similar, too!

Both the German Shepherd and the Pitbull are good family pets despite what people usually think about them.

I’d like to point out that both dogs are great if you train them properly. It would be such a shame not to have these dogs trained like they should be because in the wrong hands, Pitbulls and German Shepherds might become dangerous.

Give Pitbulls and German Shepherds a chance, and throw away all that negative publicity that has been following them for ages!