East German Shepherd vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison

East German Shepherd vs Bull Terrier - Breed ComparisonBull Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but East German Shepherd is originated from Germany. Both Bull Terrier and East German Shepherd are having almost same height. Bull Terrier may weigh 11 kg / 24 pounds lesser than East German Shepherd. Both Bull Terrier and East German Shepherd has almost same life span. Bull Terrier may have more litter size than East German Shepherd. Bull Terrier requires Low Maintenance. But East German Shepherd requires High Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Herding dogs
undefined
United Kingdom
Germany
Height Male:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
60 - 65 cm
23 - 26 inches
Height Female:
49 - 61 cm
19 - 25 inches
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
24 - 29 kg
52 - 64 pounds
29 - 40 kg
63 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
24 - 29 kg
52 - 64 pounds
23 - 33 kg
50 - 73 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
4 - 9
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
English Bull Terrier, Gladiator, White Cavalier
East German Shepherd Dog, DDR, EGSD
Colors Available:
White, Tan, Brindle, tri-color
grey with darker shading, brown and yellow to light grey markings; single-coloured black, are black with reddish-brown, black saddle and mask
Coat:
Short and smooth
double, dense
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Independent, Loving, Protective, Social
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

History

bull terrierThe Bull Terrier belongs to the Terrier group of dogs and this already tell you that he is highly energetic and that he is essentially intolerant of other pets.

They are hunters by nature. The Bull Terrier is known as the Gladiator of the canine world. This breed came about through English breeders of the late 19th century, crossing old fighting dogs which carried Bulldog blood with Terriers. It was in the 1850s that James Hinks of Birmingham in the West Midlands was the first person to standardise breed type for the Bull Terrier. Hinks wanted his dogs to be white, and breeding was designed to achieve this.

Because of medical problems with the all-white dogs, Ted Lyon introduced color, using the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and these became a separate variety. It is however, the white strain that is famous for pets as well as for show purposes.

east german shepherdThe 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.

Description

Strongly Built and Muscular

bull terrier puppy - descriptionThe Bull Terrier is a strongly built, muscular dog with a distinctive egg-shaped head. The height of this dog is roughly 53 – 61cm and he weighs in at about 24 – 29kg. He has a short, dense coat which comes in different colors such as white, red, fawn and white or brindle.

The ears are medium sized and erect and the eyes are pig-like, small and dark. The medium length tail is carried slightly upwards.

A Temperament of Courage

The Bull Terrier is a determined, strong-willed, stubborn dog and he will require firm handling and training. With socialization and training, he becomes a friendly, loving dog who is good around children.

He tends to be possessive with his human family and their territory, making him aggressive with other pets. Bull Terriers actually have even temperaments and they are good, social dogs with people. He is courageous, brave, full of spirit and character.

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.

Characteristics

bull terrier dog - characteristicsThe way people bring their dogs up has a lot to do with the way they turn out. The Bull Terrier has often been thought to be a dangerous dog, but this is because of a bad upbringing.

A dog like the Bull Terrier who has received firm, fair and loving training is an absolute pleasure to have as a pet. Yes, he is a strong willed, stubborn and intelligent dog and he has the make-up to turn out to be a handful. It is perhaps why he isn't the best choice for first-time dog owners who aren’t familiar with the breed and who don’t raise him the right way.

If you choose a Bull Terrier, bring him up correctly, have him trained and socialized and never neglect him and he is guaranteed to become a wonderful, loving family member.

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.

Health Problems

bull terrier puppies - health problemsYour Bull Terrier is a robust breed, but there are some health issues that you will want to be aware of. For instance, the white Bull Terrier is more prone to deafness than the Brindle or tri-colored Bull Terriers. With good food and lots of love and care, he can reach 14 years of age. However there are one or two ailments what you want to be aware of.

Patellar Luxation:

This is a common orthopedic condition with dogs, affecting both knees and resulting in loss of function and discomfort. Patellar luxation can sometimes come from a traumatic injury to the knee. However, with non-traumatic patellar luxation, the femoral groove for the knee cap is shallow or absent.

Skin Cancer:

Not every variety of skin cancer in dogs is caused by sun exposure, but sun damage to the skin of the pure white Bull Terrier can be a factor. Dogs with white coats are more susceptible to sun damage. Speak to your vet about symptoms so that a physical examination will reveal the reason for sores on the skin.

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.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

bull terrier dogs - caringThe Bull Terrier is a stocky, robust breed and he will need plenty of exercise. He thrives on a good run, long walks and ball games. He is notoriously destructive, so you need to recognize this before you buy such a dog, because simply putting one in your back-yard and ignoring him will make him aggressive and destructive. This is a dog that needs lots of physical as well as mental exercise.

Grooming:

With the short coat, Bull Terriers are easy to groom, and a brushing twice a week will keep the coat in tip top condition. He will also love the time you spend with him. Shedding of hair with the Bull Terrier is more frequent in the Spring and Fall.

Nail clipping and brushing of teeth are two other grooming routines for your dog. Remember that with teeth brushing, don’t be tempted to use human toothpaste as this can be toxic for your pet. Speak to your vet if in any doubt about how to brush your pet’s teeth.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bull Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Bull Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Bull Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Bull Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Bull Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Bull Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Bull Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Bull Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Bull Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Bull Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Bull Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Bull Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Bull Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Bull Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Bull Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Bull Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Bull Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Bull Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Bull Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Bull Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Bull Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Bull Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Bull Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Bull Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. East German Shepherd vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. East German Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. East German Shepherd vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. East German Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. East German Shepherd vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. East German Shepherd vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. East German Shepherd vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. East German Shepherd vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. East German Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. East German Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. East German Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. East German Shepherd vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. East German Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. East German Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. East German Shepherd vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. East German Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. East German Shepherd vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. East German Shepherd vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. East German Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. East German Shepherd vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. East German Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. East German Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. East German Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. East German Shepherd vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. East German Shepherd vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison