Alex and Lexi

With a star-studded history and loving yet protective personality, it’s easy to understand why German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular breeds around. These pups possess the perfect blend of gentle love and fierce watchfulness. As long as you’re safe and content, they will be too. Full-grown, they typically weigh 50-90 pounds and stand 22-26 inches tall.

German Shepherd Dogs are generally excellent with children of all ages. German Shepherd Dogs are ultra territorial, making them among the least likely of breeds to run away from a fight. German Shepherds get along fine with children and other animals, as long as they’ve been socialized, and they prefer to live in a home with family around. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

German Shepherd Dogs are happiest when they’re doing some type of work, such as agility, obedience, or any activity that taps into their herding instincts. This breed enjoys helping and having a job to do, so they're often used as guide dogs and police dogs. No matter what the activity is, be sure to keep your German Shepherd busy with mental and physical activities to prevent boredom. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

There are three varieties of German Shepherds: coarse and short-haired, coarse and long-haired, and wavy and long-haired. The most common dogs are tan with a black back and mask, but German Shepherds come in a variety of colors, including solid black, grey, brown, and yellow, tricolor, or sable. They also have several kinds of markings, such as “pencilling” (black lines on the toes) and “tar heels” (black on the back of the leg). Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

German Shepherd Dogs are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. German Shepherds get along fine with children and other animals, as long as they’ve been socialized, and they prefer to live in a home with family around. However, they don’t enjoy being with other dogs and would prefer to have the house to themselves. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.

Goldendoodles are a mix of two of the most affectionate, friendly breeds: Golden Retrievers and Poodles. They adore being around people and crave companionship. Their personalities and coats range depending on their genes, but you can count on these cute canines to be your best friend to the end. Full-grown, they typically weigh 50-90 pounds and stand 20-24 inches tall.

Goldendoodles are generally excellent with children of all ages. Goldendoodles are the quintessential family dog. They’re eager to please and get along well with children, other animals, and strangers. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

The Goldendoodle requires an average amount of exercise. Most enjoy swimming, daily walks, and playtime. With Golden Retriever in their genes, these dogs do well at games that involve retrieving, like fetch and Frisbee. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

The Goldendoodle’s coat is a cross between the Golden Retriever and Poodle coat, having fine hair that can be curly or straight. Depending on the Poodle influence, Goldendoodles can come in a wide variety of colors, including white, tan, chocolate, black, red, silver, or a mix. They may shed very little or a bit more based on whether their Poodle side or Golden Retriever side is stronger. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance. Goldendoodles are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Goldendoodles are best suited for a house with a good-sized yard. These pups are social and love being around people, so they do best with families that are home a lot. Because of their craving for companionship, Goldendoodles should always live inside and never been banned to the backyard. They are fairly easy to train.