Orange

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.

The Bernese Mountain Dog may look big and powerful from the outside, but they’re softies on the inside. This Swiss breed is known for their warm personality, loyalty, and tri-color fur. If you’ve been searching for a loving, protective companion, Bernese Mountain Dogs may be the perfect fit. Full-grown, they typically weigh 70-115 pounds and stand 23-27 inches tall.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are generally excellent with children of all ages. Bernese Mountain Dogs are great with children and will protect their families no matter what. They can play nicely with cats and other pets as long as they’ve been socialized. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

Bernese Mountain Dog are fans of exercising and being outdoors. Their thick coats are perfect for cold weather, but whether it’s summer or winter, they love running and playing off leash as much as possible. However, when your Bernese Mountain Dog is still a puppy, try to avoid hard exercise so they can save their energy to grow and build strong bones. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

You can recognize Bernese Mountain Dogs by their tri-color pattern. They’re known for having solid black bodies, legs, heads, and ears; rust-colored or tan cheeks and calves; and a white chest, muzzle, toes, and tail tip. Almost all Bernese Mountain Dogs look similar, although the amount of white in their coat may vary. Grooming-wise, this breed is moderate.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. Because of their size and exercise needs, these dogs require a lot of space and prefer homes with large yards over apartments. They are fairly easy to train.