Long haired vs short haired german shepherd, this comparison to everyone who is thinking of buying a German shepherd.
German shepherds are the second most popular dog breed in the US and it is important to know which short haired vs long hair german shepherd which suits you best.
I will discuss the key differences between the short coat and long coat german shepherds in areas such as coat, level of shedding, grooming requirements, health problems and many more.
I will also discuss the life expectancy, height and weight of long and short haired German shepherds.
Let’s get started.
Coats of Long Haired Vs Short Haired German Shepherds
Both short haired and long haired german shepherds have double coats which protect them from cold climates.
Short haired german shepherds undercoats and topcoats both are short and topcoat remains flat to the surface against the body.
Long hair coats can appear in both lines of the German shepherd that is working line and show line gsd.
Long hair German shepherd undercoat is short but not dense and the topcoat is long and has silky fur and it fringes at the end.
Some long coat german shepherds have only one coat, it is because of some fault in their genes and their characteristics can cause harm to this breed.
It is the responsibility of breeders to train and look out for their temperament, behaviour and help them socialise the single coat long haired german shepherds.
Long Haired German Shepherd Vs. Short Haired: Patterns and Colors
Both long haired and short haired german shepherds come in a variety of colors and patterns.
Most common colors which we often see are black and brown, tan, black and tan. They also come in white, solid black, gray, solid brown, red and black, silver and black.
They also have different types of coat patterns such as solid, blankets, bi-colors, saddle back and sables.
Long Coat Vs Short Hair German Shepherd: Shedding
Short and long coats type german shepherd, both shed throughout the year and they shed most in their shedding seasons.
They have 2 shedding seasons and the phenomenon of shedding is known as ‘blowing their coats’ and they shed for 7-10 days.
One shedding season is spring; in this they shed their winter coat and prepare for summer months. Spring shedding falls between March and May.
Another shedding season is fall in which they shed their summer coat and get ready for the winter months. The exact month is October and November.
Height and Weight of Long Hair Vs Short Haired German Shepherd
Both long coat and short coat gsd have same weight and height and are agile, muscular and have large build.
The average height of male german shepherds is 24-26 inches (61-66 centimetres) and females are 22-24 inches (56-61 centimetres).
The average weight of male gsd is 65-90 pounds (29.5-41 kilograms) and females have 50-70 pounds (22.6-32 kilograms).
Long Haired German Shepherds Vs Short Haired Gsd: Grooming Requirements
Long coat german shepherds need more care and grooming than the short haired german shepherds.
To keep coats of long haired german shepherds free from matting and tangled you need to brush it regularly.
It seems long haired gsd shed more than short haired german shepherds but this is not true they shed similarly.
It is easy to notice long hair on furniture or homes then short hair and we assume long haired german shepherds shed more.
Long-Haired German Shepherd Vs Short-Haired: Temperament
Both long haired german shepherds and short haired german shepherds are very loyal and affectionate and love their owners.
They both are a good family dog breed and they take initiative to connect with people. They also have good chemistry with children but do not leave alone with german shepherds.
Generally they do not harm other pets but nothing can be said with certainty so it is better to take precautions and early socialisation is one way of ensuring that.
They are very playful with their owners and protect them if they sense any danger and are highly adaptable to any environment and situations.
There are some differences between long haired and short haired german shepherds, long haired german shepherds are highly friendly, more calm and always eager to please.
Whereas short haired german shepherds are very loyal, highly athletic and very energetic and intelligent.
Long Haired Vs. Short-Haired GSD: Medical issues
German shepherds are predisposed to some health issues. Whether german shepherds have short or long coats they both have the same medical issues.
Most common health issues in which german shepherd faces are mentioned below
- Bloating
- Obesity
- Hip/ elbow dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Eye problems such as cataracts
- Heart disease
To avoid any medical issues in german shepherds take him regularly to a good veterinarian for health check ups and follow a healthy lifestyle for gsd.
Life Expectancy of Both Long Coat and Short Coat German Shepherd
Both long coat and short coat german shepherds have the same life expectancy. The average life expectancy of german shepherds is 13-16 years.
Life expectancy of a dog depends on many factors such as breeders, diet, how active he is, care, regular health checkups etc.
Take care of all the factors mentioned above and your pooch life expectancy can increase 3-4 years.
FAQs
Q1. Long hair vs short hair, which German shepherd price?
Ans. Long haired German shepherd puppies cost between $300-$1000 and prices of short haired German shepherds between $200-$700.
Q2. White German Shepherd price?
Ans. The price of white german shepherd puppies cost between $1000-$3000.
