Pekingese vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Pekingese vs East German Shepherd - Breed ComparisonPekingese is originated from China but East German Shepherd is originated from Germany. Pekingese may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than East German Shepherd. Pekingese may weigh 33 kg / 72 pounds lesser than East German Shepherd. Both Pekingese and East German Shepherd has almost same life span. Pekingese may have less litter size than East German Shepherd. Pekingese requires Moderate maintenance. But East German Shepherd requires High maintenance

History

pekingese - historyThis is an ancient dog breed that originated in China. Known also as Lion Dogs, they are toy dogs that have always been a popular choice for Chinese royals.

DNA analysis tells us that these dogs are one of the oldest dog breeds there are and over the years, the dog has barely changed in looks.

The dogs found their way out of China, and as they started spreading to the USA and the UK, Pekingese clubs started emerging. A pekingese dog was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1906, and the Pekingese Club of America was formed in 1909.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
China
Germany
Height Male:
30 - 45 cm
11 - 18 inches
60 - 65 cm
23 - 26 inches
Height Female:
30 - 45 cm
11 - 18 inches
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
29 - 40 kg
63 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
23 - 33 kg
50 - 73 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 4
4 - 9
Size:
Toy dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Peke, Lion Dog
East German Shepherd Dog, DDR, EGSD
Colors Available:
apricot, or black , cream, Fawn, grey
grey with darker shading, brown and yellow to light grey markings; single-coloured black, are black with reddish-brown, black saddle and mask
Coat:
Long, silky, dense
double, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Independent, Loving, Protective, Social
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

pekingese puppy - descriptionThe Pekingese is a dog which stands at between 30 – 45 cm and weighs anything from 3 to 7kg.

His double coat can be fawn, cream, apricot, grey, or black or even a mix of some of these colors.

The Pekingese is known for its flat- or squashed face and his large, bulging type of eyes. His body is low to the ground and is somewhat longer than what it is tall. He has long, silky, feathery ears and his tail is plumed and essentially held over his back. The face usually has a black mask.

Temperament:

The Pekingese is a stubborn, independent, intelligent dog, but with his human family he is loving and loyal. People often look at the Pekingese and think that it is a delicate dog that just wants to sit on your lap and be cuddled. But this isn’t the case and the Pekingese is a dignified, robust, bold, confident dog. He is essentially an indoors dog though and will be content for a while to lie close to his human companion. He is calm and quiet indoors but is also game for some activity, being quite a playful dog.

The Pekingese is the kind of dog that will slot easily into city or country living. He gets on well with children but if he could choose, he would prefer to live with calm, consistent adults, as he doesn’t gel too well with raucous, undisciplined children.

He is a wilful dog and will require being trained and socialized to make him obedient and more amicable.

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

pekingese dog - characteristicsSometimes when his hair has grown long and he has a ribbon in it he may be looked upon as shallow, pathetic and nothing but lapdog. In reality his heart is brave, tough, dignified and confident.

All the Pekingese wants is to be a normal and loving pet for the right kind of person who appreciates all his strong characteristics.

He is capable of being quite lively and protective of his human family. Give him love and treat him kindly and firmly and you’ll find out why he is such a popular dog breed.

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

pekingese puppies - health problemsThe Pekingese can live to be between 10 – 15 years of age. One of the main medical problems with this dog is his squashed face which can be a source of breathing problems for him.

The large, bulging eyes can also cause quite a few problems such as glaucoma, cataracts and eye ulcers. With Entropion the eyelid of the eye rolls inward and irritates the eyeball.

Your Pekingese shouldn’t be left outside as with his breathing problems, he isn’t good with regulating body temperature and can overheat in hot weather.

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

Diet:

pekingese dogs - caringNothing is set in stone when it comes to the diet of your Pekingese or any other dog for that matter. How much a dog eats will depend on his breed, his age, his size and his activity levels.

Every dog is an individual and your Pekingese is too. Good food however dictates a lot on how healthy your pet will be so it will be to his benefit to give him the best quality commercially manufactured food there is.

He loves a bit of variety too so if you chop up some boiled chicken, brown rice and some wholesome vegetables such as carrots, spinach and sweet potato and add this to his kibble occasionally he will be delighted. He doesn’t want anything unusual or spicy because he can’t bear to have an upset stomach.

He must never be without a continuous supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Pekingese doesn’t have serious exercise needs, and a little bit of running and exerting himself can have him snorting and grunting. A slowish walk outside will satisfy his exercise needs.

Grooming:

The coat of the Pekingese is long and thick and if you choose to keep it that way it will require brushing at least twice a week. Some people prefer to have the dog’s hair cut professionally as then it is easier to manage.

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. Pekingese vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Pekingese vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  3. Pekingese vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  4. Pekingese vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  5. Pekingese vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  6. Pekingese vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Pekingese vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  8. Pekingese vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  9. Pekingese vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  10. Pekingese vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  11. Pekingese vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  12. Pekingese vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  13. Pekingese vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  14. Pekingese vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  15. Pekingese vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  16. Pekingese vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  17. Pekingese vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  18. Pekingese vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  19. Russian Toy Terrier vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  20. Phalene vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  21. Shih Tzu vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  22. Silky Terrier vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  23. Snorkie vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  24. Toy Bulldog vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  25. Toy Mi-Ki vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Rough Collie vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. East German Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. East German Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. East German Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  31. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  32. East German Shepherd vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  33. East German Shepherd vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  34. Saarlooswolfhond vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. Estrela Mountain Dog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Huntaway vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  38. South Russian Ovcharka vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. Mioritic Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Samoyed vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Labradoodle vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  42. Mixed vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. German Shorthaired Pointer vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Great Pyrenees vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Presa Canario vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Labrador Husky vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Perro de Presa Canario vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Irish Setter vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  49. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds