German Shepherd Breed Information

The German Shepherd is a Large dog breed, with a starting weight of 49 lbs for females, and can reach 88 lbs for males. It is officially part of the Herding group and recognized by the ACR, AKC, ANKC, APRI, CKC, FCI, KCGB, NKC, NZKC, UKC, DRA, GSDCA, NADSR, SV. Some critical information for potential owners. The German Shepherd breed has a typical lifespan of 7 to 14 years, Medium hair, and an average price of around $589. Breeders interested in the German Shepherd should know that the average litter size is between 5 to 10 puppies.

German Shepherds are one of the most popular breeds in the world. Their crossover between the ultimate working dog and family companion makes them very desirable. The GSD's intelligence is rivaled only by the Border Collie and the Poodle, and makes training them a breeze. Their popularity has provided them with many roles throughout tv and film history. Famous German Shepherds Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart even have stars on the Hollywood walk of fame!

The German Shepherd is very intelligent, easy to train, obedient, and always appreciates a challenge. They are confident and loyal, and will protect their family and territory without fear. It’s because of this they make a great guard dog, but at the same time they can be hesitant to welcome attention from friendly strangers. It’s key to socialize the breed at a young age to prevent aggressive behavior due to their protective instinct. Given proper training, the German Shepherd makes for a great working dog; whether it be as a sheepdog, guard dog, police dog, guide dog, or many other specialized jobs, they love to have a task and purpose in life.

German Shepherds are somewhat inactive indoors making apartment living suitable provided they are relatively mature, trained, and get enough exercise. This is very important, German Shepherds have a high exercise demand, so expect to spend time every day walking, running, and/or playing with your dog to burn off excess energy. A large yard is ideal to promote proper development and allow sufficient exercise and activity.

The German Shepherds popularity has unfortunately introduced a handful of health concerns into the breed’s gene pool. Improper and irresponsible breeding has led to issues such as hip and elbow dysplasia, which generally leads to arthritis in the dog’s senior years. The breed is also susceptible to ear infections due to their large upright ears as well as bloating as is common in many large bodied breeds. German Shepherds are also known to have a tendency to develop DM (Degenerative Myelopathy), Exocrine Pancreatic Insuffiency (EPI), Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Pannus, Pancreatitis as well as Von Willebrand Disease.

The standard German Shepherd should have a medium length double coat with the outer layer being dense and straight. The head, legs, and feet should have shorter hair. Some German Shepherds do have longer coats, although the AKC considers this a fault.

German Shepherds need daily brushing and periodic baths a couple times a year or as needed. Over bathing may be detrimental as it removes necessary oils from the skin. Shedding cannot be avoided with this breed as it loses hair year round. Twice a year it sheds large amounts of hair at once. Regular brushing will help but not prevent shedding. They also require their nails to be clipped about once a month, and their ears cleaned and examined for dirt or infections once a week.

ACR, AKC, ANKC, APRI, CKC, FCI, KCGB, NKC, NZKC, UKC, DRA, GSDCA, NADSR, SV

Nick Lachey, Robert Wagner, Deion Sanders, Burt Reynolds, Martina McBride, Steven Seagal, Gene Hackman, John Kerry, Jake Gyllenhaal, Shania Twain, Christina Applegate, Roseanne Barr, Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty, Jimmy Page, Hugh Hefner, 50 Cent, Garth Brooks, John F. Kennedy Jr.