Latvian Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Latvian Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed ComparisonGerman Shepherd is originated from Germany but Latvian Hound is originated from Russia. German Shepherd may grow 19 cm / 8 inches higher than Latvian Hound. German Shepherd may weigh 24 kg / 53 pounds more than Latvian Hound. Both German Shepherd and Latvian Hound has almost same life span. German Shepherd may have more litter size than Latvian Hound. Both German Shepherd and Latvian Hound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Hound dog
undefined
Germany
Russia
Height Male:
61 - 67 cm
24 - 27 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
55 - 61 cm
21 - 25 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
34 - 44 kg
74 - 98 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
34 - 44 kg
74 - 98 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 13 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 15
6 - 12
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Alsatian, Alsatian wolf dog, Berger Allemand, Deutscher Schaferhund, Schaferhund
Latvijas Dzinejsuns
Colors Available:
Black and Tan, Sable, Bicolor, Black and White
Black, tan, brown
Coat:
dense and thick, short, medium thick, thick and fluffy, long, furry around their chest, ears, tail or backs of their legs
Short and dense
Shedding:
Constant, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Aggressive, Alert, Gentle, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Protective, Quiet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

​​

german shepherdIn 1882 german shepherd was introduced in a show at Hanover. They were created by the cross breeding of the rural sheep dogs by a man named Max. In 1906 they were first exported to America. After that the breed became very popular in UK.

latvian houndThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized Russian or Latvian hunting hound. The dog was bred in Latvia, Russia.

He was developed from a number of English and Polish dogs as well as Lucernese breeds.

It is by no means a new breed and records of it go way back to the 1600s. A certain Duke Courland developed the dog so that it was also known as the Courland Hound. In 1922 the Latvian Association of Hunters' Associations was formed.

It was in 1971 that the Latvian Hound was was approved with it's name and a new standard was developed and approved. It isn't recognized by the AKC or the FCI.

Description

german shepherd puppy - descriptionThe GSD is very good for being a watchdog and hence it do not welcome guests to home. But when trained from a puppy it will suit itself for making new friends. GSD like to be always with somebody and they can be its master or his family members or else its partner. The GSD is very intelligent and active hence they should be always kept busy, exercised and playing. Nowadays many of them are trained well and made as four legged stars.

When we see all around the world many of them are involved in helping the physically challenged people. Also they are very important personnels in working with police and military for finding the criminals. Their excellent sniffing power works very good when given proper training for finding illegal smuggling. But basically the breed was set in to herd the sheep and protect them from predators.

Based on the popularity they are ranked 2nd in US and 4th in UK.

latvian hound puppy - descriptionThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 40 to 48cm in height and weighing about 15 to 20kg.

He has a deep chest, fairly long, floppy ears, a long tail with strong legs. The coat is double and is short, shiny and dense. He is an average shedder. He is essentially black with tan markings, with tan spots above the eyes. The eyes are dark brown and the nose is black.

Temperament:

The Latvian Hound may well be an exceptional hunter but he also makes a great family pet. He is looked upon as being a friendly, amicable, sweet dog.

Because he has been a working dog, he likes to be busy and will happily join in with all your hikes and swimming. He will also run with you while you cycle.

It’s a dog that doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time, being inclined to suffer with separation anxiety. He doesn’t take kindly to strangers either, but a dog which has been socialized and trained becomes more amicable.

Your Latvian is intelligent so you won’t have any trouble teaching him some simply commands. He is a friendly, lively dog and just having him in your home brings in a joyous atmosphere. He is an easy-going dog, but even so, if you don’t have a fair sized garden and you don’t have the time to exercise him, he is better off living on a farm or where there is a fair sized garden.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

german shepherd dog - characteristicsThe GSD is a very good child friendly dog, they love to play with kids.

Adaptability

They adopts both hot and cold climates, but they like cold weather very much and also their body is suitable for cold than hot.

Learning ability

The GSD has high ability to learn tricks and also they are interested in learning. As they have very high intelligence they learn very easily and quickly.

latvian hound dog - characteristicsThe Latvian Hound is an outgoing, fun dog to have around and a great dog for first-time dog owners too. He has always been a working dog, so he has developed skills such as being focused and tenacious.

As a companion and family dog, you will have a true friend as he is sweet, loving and loyal and thrives on the attention of his human family. He is a playful dog, feisty and energetic, and will be protective too. Bring him into your home and you'll see what a bright place it becomes just having him there as pet and friend.

Health Problems

german shepherd puppies - health problemsThe GSD has the chances for getting orthopaedic diseases such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Other common orthopaedic problems which affects GSD are Panosteitis, Osteochondritis and cruciate ligament rupture.They also get some skin problems such as allergies and pyoderma. Digestive problems such as chronic diarrhea and colitis are also seen in GSD.

Hair fall

GSD is a continuous shedder. They are having a two layer coat. They should be brushed daily as it will remove the dead fur and thus prevents shedding.

latvian hound puppies - health problemsThe life span of the Latvian Hound is 12 to 14 years, and while there are no reported major health issues, all dogs face some kind of medical issues during their lives. The Latvian Hound can face things like hip dysplasia, eye problems, bloat and ear infections.

Vaccinations:

Vaccines can protect your dog from contracting some illnesses which can be fatal.

There is controversy over pet vaccines but the problem is more about HOW the dog is vaccinated.

There was a time when puppies were vaccinated many times, but newer guidelines were updated in 2017, stating that core vaccines be given to adult dogs in intervals of 3 years or more, rather than every year.

Puppy vaccines still need to be done about every 3 weeks between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks against the likes of parvovirus and distemper. Get yourself a good vet who is skilled and safe with vaccines.

Caring The Pet

german shepherd dogs - caringThe GSD should be given an cool environment which they will enjoy a lot.

Feeding the puppy

The GSD puppy should be fed small quantities of food but several times per day as it needs to gain 2 gms weight per day. The preferred food for them is dry food along with raw liver pieces which would provide them excellent energy. The protein food given to puppy should contain 25 to 30% calories. Puppies consume more food when compared with adults.

Feeding the adult

The GSD needs a food which has a considerable amount of protein. They are carnivores in the nature. The protein can be given from cooked meat. The artificial food products will not be suitable for them. When are provided with protein food they will gain fat from itself. The recommended fat content for GSD is 5% to 8%.

Points for Good Health

The GSD should be provided with a nutritional food for their good health.

Games and Exercises

Physical exercises are very much needed for GSD since they are very energetic and power packed. It is highly recommended to make them play and run daily as they don't need to get bored. They can be made to climb in hilly areas as they want to explore their surroundings. They can be made to swim or play hide and seek and find the missing objects. Regular morning walk will be very good for them.

Grooming:

latvian hound dogs - caringThe Latvian Hound has a short coat that is easy to groom. He is a moderate shedder and brushing him twice a week will take care of all that loose hair. He’ll thrive on the attention this grooming session gives him and its the time to check him over for ticks and fleas too.

Check the inside of his ears. Without even realizing it, dirt and wax can build up and result in an ear infection. His ear may be red and you’ll notice him shaking his head and scratching at his ears. Be very careful about cleaning his ears as going to deep can damage the ear.

Any grooming of your dog that you can’t manage can be attended to by professional dog groomers.

Comparison with other breeds

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