German Shepherd Dog Breed Info | Petfinder (2024)

Traits and Characteristics

type

Herding

weight

75-95 lb

height

22-26"

family

Livestock

The German Shepherd Dog has an outline of smooth curves on a longer than tall body that’s strong, agile, substantial, and an exceptionally outreaching and elastic gait, covering the ground in great strides. The breed’s dense, straight or slightly wavy double coat comprises harsh, close lying medium length hair.

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Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet.

Temperament

Among the most intelligent of breeds, the German Shepherd Dog is so intent on their mission—whatever that may be— that they are virtually unsurpassed in working versatility. They are utterly devoted and faithful.

They may be aloof and suspicious toward strangers, and protective of their home and family. They can be domineering. They can be assertive toward other dogs, but they are usually good with other pets.

Upkeep

What do German Shepherd Dogs eat and how to care for this breed?

  1. Exercise daily
  2. Needs daily mental stimulation
  3. Enjoys physical challenges
  4. Thrives on learning games as exercise
  5. Brush coat twice weekly
  6. Maintain a German Shepherd Dog’s lean muscle and body condition with dog food best suited for this breed.

Health

Major concerns

  • CHD
  • Elbow dysplasia

History

Where are German Shepherd Dogs from?

Perhaps never in the history of any breed has such concerted effort been put into improving a dog, mostly due to the formation in 1899 of the Verein fur Deutsche Scharferhunde SV, an organization in Germany devoted to overseeing the breeding of the German Shepherd.

Breeders sought to develop not only a herding dog but also one that could excel at jobs requiring courage, athleticism, and intelligence.

During World War I, they were the obvious choice for a war sentry. At the same time, the AKC changed the breed’s name from German Sheepdog to Shepherd Dog, and Britain changed it to Alsatian Wolfdog, both attempts to dissociate the dog from its unpopular German roots.

The Wolfdog was later dropped as it caused many people to fear the dogs. In 1931, the AKC restored the breed’s name to German Shepherd Dog.

How big do German Shepherd Dogs get?

Shepherds are considered a medium-to-large- sized dog, reaching a between 22” and 26” and weighing up to 95 lbs. fully grown

Do German Shepherd Dogs shed?

The double-coat, with a thick undercoat that sheds twice annually, loses hair continuously but can be maintained with regular brushing one or two times weekly.

What are the German Shepherd Dog colors?

Black, tan, solid black and solid sable.

How long do German Shepherd Dogslive?

Lifespan: 10–12 years

What are some German Shepherd Dogs facts and information?

Facts

German Shepherds are best known for:

  • Wolf-like appearance
  • Agility, herding and guarding
  • Police dog and guide dog
  • Intelligent and fearless companion and guardian

Information

Despite an outward appearance slightly resembling a wolf, the German Shepherd Dog is a fairly recently developed breed and, contrary to naíve beliefs, it is no more closely related to the wolf than any other breed of dog.

The greatest boon to the Shepherd’s popularity came in the form of two dogs, both movie stars: Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin. The German Shepherd held the number one spot in American popularity for many years.

Although presently it has dropped from the top spot, the German Shepherd remains as one of the most versatile dogs ever created, serving as a police dog, war dog, guide dog, search-and-rescue dog, narcotics- or explosives-detecting dog, show dog, pet—and even shepherd.

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Similar Breeds

  • English Shepherd
  • Hovawart
  • Belgian Shepherd / Malinois
German Shepherd Dog Breed Info | Petfinder (2024)

FAQs

German Shepherd Dog Breed Info | Petfinder? ›

The German Shepherd Dog has an outline of smooth curves on a longer than tall body that's strong, agile, substantial, and an exceptionally outreaching and elastic gait, covering the ground in great strides. The breed's dense, straight or slightly wavy double coat comprises harsh, close lying medium length hair.

What type of breed is a German Shepherd? ›

The German shepherd dog is a herding breed known for its courage, loyalty and guarding instincts. This breed makes an excellent guard dog, police dog, military dog, guide dog for the blind and search and rescue dog.

What does a full blooded German Shepherd look like? ›

A strongly built and relatively long-bodied dog, the German Shepherd stands 22 to 26 inches (56 to 66 cm) tall at the withers and weighs 75 to 95 pounds (34 to 43 kg). Its dense coat consists of coarse, medium-long, straight or slightly wavy outer hair and soft short inner hair.

What your dog breed says about you German Shepherd? ›

If your choice of dog breed is German Shepherd, you are someone who is strong and dependable. You are tenacious and like to focus just like German Shepherds. What's more? You are someone who knows how to get the job done.

What makes a dog a German Shepherd? ›

The German Shepherd breed was developed in Germany during the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the primary goal of creating a versatile and intelligent working dog. The breed's ancestry is a result of careful selection and crossbreeding of various local herding and working dogs.

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