Bear

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.

Much like children, Samoyeds love human companionship and will let you know if they’re not getting enough. They crave attention, exercise, and cold weather, so if you’re inviting one of these pups into your home, be prepared for plenty of activity and TLC. Full-grown, they typically weigh 35-65 pounds and stand 19-24 inches tall.

Samoyeds are generally excellent with children of all ages. Samoyeds are gentle with kids but may try to dominate other dogs. This breed needs to be trained early to get along with other pets, but once they’re acquainted, they should get along just fine. They're very vocal and bark quite a lot.

The Samoyed is an active breed that needs lots of exercise. A few short walks a day won’t be enough. Take long walks, or hop on a bike and have your pup run alongside you. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

The Samoyed’s top coat is straight and wiry, and their undercoat is short and dense. These dogs are usually white, cream, or white with light brown markings. Brush your Samoyed at least once a week to remove dead hair and comb out tangles. Grooming-wise, this breed is moderate. Samoyeds are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Samoyeds are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. Samoyeds love human companionship, so they’re primarily indoor dogs and shouldn’t be banished to the backyard. They are fairly easy to train.