German Shepherd dog Breed

German Shepherd Breed Highlights

NameGerman Shepherd
Other NamesBerger Allemand
Deutscher Schäferhund
Alsatian wolf dog (UK)
Schäferhund
Alsatian
Popularity Rank2
Intelligent Rank3
OriginGermany Germany
GroupPastoral Dogs
Breed TypePurebred

German Shepherd General Appearance

SizeLarge
WeightMale: 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg)
Female: 49-71 pounds (22-32 kg)
Avg. WeightMale: 77 pounds (35 kg)
Female: 60 pounds (27 kg)
HeightMale: 24-26 inches (60-65 cm)
Female: 22-24 inches (55-60 cm)
Avg. HeightMale: 25 inches (62.5 cm)
Female: 23 inches (57.5 cm)

German Shepherd Hair and Care

CoatShort
Medium
Long
ColorsTan
Black
Silver
Red
Grooming

3 Star out of 5
Average grooming effort
Shedding Level

5 Star out of 5
Heavy shedders

German Shepherd Characteristics

TemperamentCourageous
Watchful
Intelligent
Obedient
Loyal
Alert
Curious
Confident
Intelligent Rank

5 Star out of 5
Outstanding
Trainability

4 Star out of 5
Easy to train
Playfulness

3 Star out of 5
Playful breed
Sensitivity Level

5 Star out of 5
Affection Level

5 Star out of 5
Social Needs

3 Star out of 5
Social interaction is average
Barking

2 Star out of 5
Low to Average
Watchdog Ability

5 Star out of 5
Best watchdog
Territorial

5 Star out of 5
Extremely protective guard dog
Biting PotentialHigh
Mouthiness

5 Star out of 5
Impulse to Wander or Roam

1 Star out of 5
Prey Drive

4 Star out of 5
Apartment Friendly

3 Star out of 5
Adaptability

5 Star out of 5
Tolerates Being Left Alone

3 Star out of 5
Fighting DogYES

German Shepherd Good With

Stranger Friendly

4 Star out of 5
Stranger friendly
Child Friendly

5 Star out of 5
Very kid-friendly
Cat Friendly

3 Star out of 5
Average friendly towards cats
Dog Friendly

2 Star out of 5
Most dog-friendly
Office FriendlyNO
Senior Citizens Friendly

5 Star out of 5
Best breeds for elderly people
Pet Friendly

3 Star out of 5
Generally with other pets
Good For First Time OwnersNO
Service DogYES
Therapy DogYES
Detection Dog or Sniffer DogYES
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)YES
Boat DogNO
Cart Pulling or Drafting DogNO

German Shepherd Health Factors

Health Issues

4 Star out of 5
Commonly healthy dogs
Health ProblemsDemodectic Mange
Chronic Diarrhea
Hip Dysplasia
Cushing's Syndrome
Digestive Problems
Hemophilia A
Blindness
Hemophilia B
Seborrhea
Vitiligo
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Paralysis
Heart Disease
Degenerative Myelopathy
Cancer
Cataracts
Perianal Fistula
Nail Bed Disease
Epilepsy
Bloat
Retinal Dysplasia
Lens Luxation
Cherry Eye
Megaesophagus
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Allergies
Osteochondrosis
Lupus
Von Willebrand's Disease
Diabetes
Panosteitis
Wobbler's Syndrome
Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Elbow Dysplasia
Myasthenia Gravis
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
Pannus
Life Expectancy10-13 years
HypoallergenicNO
Energy Level

5 Star out of 5
High energy dogs
Exercise Need

4 Star out of 5
Lot of exercise
Sleeping Need

1 Star out of 5
Don't need too much sleep
Weight Gain Potential

2 Star out of 5
Low to Average
Weather & ClimateTolerates warm and cold weather
StinkinessMedium
Drooling tendency

5 Star out of 5
Low drooling tendency

German Shepherd Reproducibility

Gestation Length60-64 days
How often can the German Shepherd have a litter?Once a year
Litter Size6-10 puppies

German Shepherd Summary

German Shepherd is a famous dog breed accepted all over the world.

It is a well balanced and muscular shape of medium to large size dog with erect ears and a low-set natural tail.
It has smooth curves apart from angles with its head in proportion to the size of the body.

So, with a strong build and fine appearance, the breed of German Shepherd Dog is categorized as an all-around working dog.

Confident, Brave, Obedient, Eager, Alert and Clever

German Shepherd History

This popular breed German Shepherd Dog is recognized in the first half of the twentieth century by a German cavalry officer, Max von Stephanitz.

A distinctive breed was developed shortly by Von Stephanitz. He used a variety of German sheepdogs as his foundation stock and trimmed this breed to emphasize utility and intelligence.

The upgraded breed of the German shepherd dog is used for performing other field work like military hardships and police tasks rather than herding duties.

Since World War I the German shepherd has been popular and slumped till now.