East German Shepherd vs Australian Bulldog - Breed Comparison

East German Shepherd vs Australian Bulldog - Breed ComparisonEast German Shepherd is originated from Germany but Australian Bulldog is originated from Australia. East German Shepherd may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Australian Bulldog. Both East German Shepherd and Australian Bulldog are having almost same weight. Both East German Shepherd and Australian Bulldog has almost same life span. Both East German Shepherd and Australian Bulldog has almost same litter size. East German Shepherd requires High maintenance. But Australian Bulldog requires Moderate maintenance

History

east german shepherd - historyThe East German Shepherd is a line of the German Shepherd Dog breed. The German Shepherd Dog came about when the three types of “continental shepherd dogs” separated into the Dutch Shephers, German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd. In the 1800’s it was local shepherds who bred their dogs and selected the traits they needed in their geography. The result was dogs in various local areas who all could herd and guard flocks; who were intelligent, strong, fast and had a good sense of smell, but their appearance and skills varied from town to town. The changes in Germany from agriculture and sheep to industrial cities rendered the German Sheep Dog obsolete. But was it really? Many felt the dog could be a good working dog in the cities as well but needed some refinement in the breed according to Max von Stephanite. At a dog show in 1899, he found what he wanted – the perfect working dog.Stephanitz bought the dog and founded the Society for the German Shepherd. (Verein fur Deutsch Schaferhunde) Stephanitz is considered the developer of the German Shepherd Dog.

The East German Shepherd is a line of the same breed. There are several different lines of the German Shepherd Dog, with slight difference for the reason they were bred. For instance, the German Shepherd Dog is bred for looks while the East German Shepherd is bred to be a working dog. Often called a DDR German Shepherd, they came about from the Deutsche Democratic Republic or the Republic of East Germany. For about 40 years in East Germany these dogs were bred only within the DDR bloodline.

The East German Shepherd is stronger, heavier boned, leaner, more muscular and solid. During the time of the Berlin Wall, from 1961-1989, there were few German Shepherds for breeding stock on either side of the wall, but especially in the East. There the government controlled the development of the breed. They developed a separate registry for the DDR – East German Shepherd. With such strict standards for a perfect working dog and such little breeding stock, the only dogs allowed to reproduce were the ones that passed a rigorous test and were deemed perfect working dogs.

In West Germany they continued to breed for appearance. The West German Shepherd are the most popular ones and are usually simply called German Shepherds. The show dogs of today and the American line came from the West.

Preserving the East German Shepherd today is important and difficult. It means preserving not improving. The Strength of the East German Shepherd is their body line and style, Today’s breeder must maintain this while making sure there is enough diversity in the gene pool to keep the line healthy without losing its body style and working temperament. It is important that the East German Shepherd have a straight back rather than the sloping one of the German Shepherd Dog or the American lines of the GSD. The working dog is also more aggressive and has a much higher work drive than any of the other German Shepherd Dogs lines.

australian bulldog - historyThe Australian Bulldog was bred from several breeds: The Bullmastiff, English bulldog, the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Boxer. You will notice that his appearance is quite similar to the English bulldog, but this breed has a less-squished muzzle, fewer wrinkles and longer legs. They have great strength with a good thickness of the bone. They are solid and compact breed with good muscle tone.

The head structure of an Aussie Bulldog is one of its main attributes. It is very strong, square shaped with depth and width of muzzle less than a general bulldog. They have some wrinkle across the nose. Eyes are wide apart, large and clean. The jaw is wide and square, with strong teeth.

The name Australian Bulldog was given by Noel and Tina Green, the founders of the breed. They introduced Australian Bulldog to the public in 1998.

Description

east german shepherd puppy - descriptionWhat are the differences between the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) and the East German Shepherd? The East German Shepherd has a straight back and a larger bone structure. He has a very large and block shaped head with a lean, athletic build. His lips are taunt and dark, and his nose must be black. He has a scissor bite and strong teeth. His eyes are medium sized almonds that are slanted slightly. The eyes are also very dark. His ears are erect and not too big. His legs, haunches and feet must all be coordinated so that he trots rather than runs.

australian bulldog puppy - descriptionAustralian bulldogs can be very good companions considering their natural loyalty. They just love to interact with humans and they are rarely aggressive.

They can be taught to be excellent watchdogs. The perfect place to raise this breed would be a house with a yard. The Australian Bulldog is usually dominant toward other dogs in its territory but, with proper training and early socialization, you can teach them to get along with other dogs and pets.

No matter if you are an active single, or you plan to bring an Australian bulldog puppy into the big family, as long as you are caring and loving toward him, he will be an amazing pet.

The Australian Bulldog is not recommended for apartment life. But, you can teach him to live in the smaller space if you tend to respect his daily need for activity. This breed is an indoor dog, and should not be left outside all day in a kennel. The best advice is to raise them in temperate climates since they can’t bear the extreme heat or extreme cold.

Characteristics

east german shepherd dog - characteristicsThe East German Shepherd is a well- balanced dog. He is sure of himself, friendly, loyal and wants to please his owner. He is intelligent, resilient and attentive. He will make a great family pet. He is aggressive with a high prey drive but that can be tempered with good socialization and training. He is easy to train.

Around children

australian bulldog dog - characteristicsAustralian Bulldog is a breed that will protect their family. They are great during the playtime with children as well. If you don’t have children, make sure you socialize your dog with children while he is still young.

Special talents

They are extremely intelligent. You can teach you Australian Bulldog almost everything in a very short time.

Adaptability

early socialization is a must with the Australian Bulldog.

Learning ability

you should start to train your Australian Bulldog as soon as possible. Positive reinforcement-based training methods are the ones you need to master in order to raise a good Australian Bulldog. They will be trained easily if there is a firm, consistent hand in training and they need leadership role from their owners. They can be taught very easy to be obedient and they love playing games like Frisbee, catch, water activities (but they swim very rarely because of their big and heavy chests), exploring the nature.

Health Problems

east german shepherd puppies - health problemsBecause the East German Shepherd line has been isolated behind the Berlin Wall, there are not many genetic health issues in the line. Most importantly the East German Shepherd shows no hip dysplasia which plagues most GSD. There are a couple of situations to look out for. They are:

  • Bloat

A life threatening issue that must be addressed immediately for fear of death. Bloat is caused when a larger dog with a deep chest eats too large a meal before or after strenuous exercise, eats too fast, or drinks too much water. The stomach distends with air or gas and twists. Sometimes it is completely inverted. Get help fast or your dog will die.

australian bulldog puppies - health problemsAustralian Bulldog has better health than the English bulldog and its health continues to improve with each generation.

Breathing problems

The pushed-in face causes harder breathing. Be aware that they can’t use the air to cool itself off as quickly as necessary. During the extreme heat, Australian Bulldogs can develop heat stroke and die from it.

Skin problems

Take special care of the wrinkles on their nose. They will require everyday care since wrinkles need to be cleaned and kept dry to prevent the skin infection. Bath the dog only when it is necessary because of too much bathing with soap damages the natural oils in its skin.

Obesity

The Australian Bulldog, on average, is fed two times a day. They have the high risk of obesity, so there is no real need for more than two meals. Make sure to choose a premium quality food and to feed the dog according to the instructions. Also, they need lots of fresh water since they will be super active pet.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

east german shepherd dogs - caringBecause these dogs were bred to work you need to feed them a high quality dry food, made for working dogs. It needs to have a good amount of calcium and glucosamine. Feed about 3-4 cups per day divided into 2 feeding times.

Health issues

In addition to bloat as mentioned above, the East German Shepherd can also have both air born, and food born allergies. These are easily treated by your veterinarian.

Exercise and games

The East German Shepherd is a high energy, high activity dog so you have some for him. He is agile and athletic. He needs serious exercise and a job is essential. If you can’t give an East German Shepherd a job, then don’t get this dog. He loves tracking and has a high prey drive. Keep him trained, challenged and working. Try tracking and herding trials, obedience, agility, fly ball and bar hunt.

australian bulldog dogs - caringFeeding the puppy and adult: high-quality dog food for active dogs is a must. Do not overfeed them. If you are not sure about the amount of food your dog really needs, please consult a vet.

Grooming

The Australian Bulldog needs minimal grooming. They should be brushed at least once a week using a firm bristled brush. They shed a moderate amount on a regular basis so there will be loose hair to deal with. Make sure to clip the nails when necessary. They will need a tooth brushing two times a week and checking and wiping its ears once a week.

Points for Good Health: every day long walks, plenty of exercises, special skin care and regular vet check-ups.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Non sporting dog
Origin:
Germany
Australia
Height Male:
60 - 65 cm
23 - 26 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
44 - 49 cm
17 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
29 - 40 kg
63 - 89 pounds
28 - 35 kg
61 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 33 kg
50 - 73 pounds
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
9 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 9
3 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
East German Shepherd Dog, DDR, EGSD
Aussie bulldog, Australian Boss dog
Colors Available:
grey with darker shading, brown and yellow to light grey markings; single-coloured black, are black with reddish-brown, black saddle and mask
in the shades of brindle like red, fawn, pied, apricot, mahogany, orange, silver
Coat:
double, dense
short, fine coat with a smooth texture
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Independent, Loving, Protective, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive
Grooming:
High maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

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