Dog breed

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a large, versatile working dog developed in Germany in the late 19th century as a herding dog, and known today from police work, the military, search and rescue, and homes all over the world. It is intelligent, courageous and deeply devoted to its family, but it needs daily work and consistent training.

FCI Group I · Sheepdogs · standard no. 166

Weight: 22–40 kg
Height: 55–65 cm
Lifespan: 10–13 years
Origin: Germany

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Photo: Platyna, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

A well-bred, well-raised German Shepherd is steady, self-assured and very attached to its people. It happily joins its owner in everything and enjoys learning, and its natural watchfulness makes it react to strangers at the fence or door. The standard calls for a dog with strong nerves, neither overly excitable nor fearful, though in practice temperament depends heavily on the line and the breeder. Shepherds from show lines tend to be a bit calmer at home, while working lines have more drive to work and bite. They are usually patient and protective with the family's children, although a big, energetic adolescent can accidentally knock a toddler over. Their attitude toward other dogs varies; males can be dominant with unfamiliar males. Without socialization and a job to do, a shepherd easily becomes overly territorial.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the German Shepherd for?

The German Shepherd is a good choice for an active family or person who wants a smart, devoted dog and is ready to work with it every day. It does well in a house with a yard or in an apartment, provided it gets enough exercise. A beginner can manage one with the help of a good training school. Do not choose it if dog hair all over the house bothers you, you have no time for training, or you want a dog that will love every stranger.

Pros

very smart and versatile
devoted to its family, good with children
a natural watchdog
handles cold well

Challenges

heavy shedding all year
needs daily work and exercise
prone to joint disease
can become overly territorial without socialization

Size and looks

Size and looks: German Shepherd
Height at the withers	males 60–65 cm, females 55–60 cm
Weight	males 30–40 kg, females 22–32 kg
Lifespan	10–13 years
Coat	medium
Colors	black with reddish-brown, brown or yellow to light gray tan markings, solid black, gray with darker shading (sable)
Country of origin	Germany
Classification	Group I: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Also known as	German Shepherd Dog, Alsatian, GSD, Deutscher Schäferhund

Care and exercise

90–150minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

4/5shedding

A German Shepherd needs at least an hour and a half to two hours of activity a day plus regular training. It is happiest with a specific job: obedience, tracking, competitive obedience, IPO/IGP, agility or nosework. Start training on the first day home, working on focus, recall and calmly passing other dogs, and do not drop classes during adolescence. Puppies of this large breed should not jump down from heights or run beside a bike until their joints have matured. Shepherds shed heavily year-round, and twice a year they lose undercoat by the handful; daily brushing with a rake is a must then. The long-haired variety also needs the hair behind the ears and on the tail combed out. Keeping your dog lean is one of the best things you can do for its joints. Feed twice a day and avoid hard exercise right after meals.

How much should the German Shepherd eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The German Shepherd is one of the most numerous breeds, so its health problems are well documented. A British study of nearly 20,000 dogs found a median lifespan of 11.3 years, less than the 12–14 years the AKC states. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are key: hip and elbow dysplasia and, in older dogs, degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord disease that leads to hind-leg weakness. The Kennel Club also recommends eye exams. Conformation is a separate issue: a steeply sloping back and exaggerated rear angulation in some show dogs raise concerns, and the standard itself warns against over-angulation. Choose a breeder who screens joints, runs the DM test and shows dogs with straight, strong backs.

hip dysplasiaOne of the best-known problems in the breed; the parents' X-ray scores are the foundation.
elbow dysplasiaA developmental elbow defect causing front-leg lameness in young dogs.
degenerative myelopathy (DM)A progressive spinal cord disease in older dogs that leads to hind-leg weakness; a DNA test is available.
eye diseasesThe breed club and the Kennel Club recommend regular eye exams for breeding dogs.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
DM DNA test (SOD1)
eye exam (ECVO)
temperament test

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Systematic breeding of the German Shepherd began in 1899, when the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) was founded in Frankfurt am Main on September 20, on the initiative of Captain Max von Stephanitz and Artur Meyer, among others. The breed was built from local herding dogs of central and southern Germany, with the goal of a working dog capable of top performance. In the early 20th century shepherds were already serving with the police and the army, and after World War I their worldwide career took off, including as guide dogs for the blind. The long-haired variety, long unwanted in its home country, is included in the current standard from 2010.

Fun facts

The Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, founded in 1899, is still responsible for the FCI-recognized breed standard.
According to the standard, a shepherd's body should be 10–17% longer than its height at the shoulder.
The current standard from 2010 describes two coat varieties: short double coat and long double coat, both with undercoat.
In Poland, the German Shepherd has long been colloquially called a "wilczur", from the Polish word for wolf.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a German Shepherd weigh?

Under the FCI standard, an adult male weighs 30–40 kg at a height of 60–65 cm, and a female 22–32 kg at 55–60 cm at the shoulder. Dogs that are noticeably heavier are usually overfed or deviate from the standard.

How long do German Shepherds live?

Usually 10–13 years. In a large British study the median was 11.3 years, while the American Kennel Club gives 12–14 years. Lifespan is affected mainly by joint and spinal cord diseases and by keeping the dog lean.

Do German Shepherds shed a lot?

A lot. The short-coated shepherd has a dense undercoat that sheds all year, and during the spring and fall molt the hair comes out in clumps. During that time it is best to brush the dog every day.

Is a German Shepherd a good first dog?

Yes, if the owner has time for daily training, signs up for a training school and chooses a puppy from a breeder with stable, well-balanced lines. Dogs from intense working lines can be harder and are better left to experienced handlers.