Pastoral group · Germany
German Shepherd
Also called GSD, German Shepherd Dog, Alsatian.
What makes them remarkable
Before police work and film fame, this breed was created with a different goal: the ideal herding dog.
- Loyal
- Confident
- Courageous
- Smart
- Versatile
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 23 to 41 kg50 to 90 lb
- Lives
- 7 to 10 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Very High
- Barks
- High
Training
Training a German Shepherd
Pastoral breeds. Give the brain a job or it will find one. Chasing, nipping and fixating are the breed doing its work.
Early Socialisation
Start here
Critical, so the dog does not grow up over-protective, barking and lunging at strangers and other dogs.
Mental Stimulation
Working breed needs job to do, boredom leads to problems.
Consistent Handling
Thrives with a calm, consistent handler who rewards the right choices.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your German Shepherd and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to herd and guard livestock. Watchful, responsive, and wired to control movement.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsModerate
- StrangersLow
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 2+ hours daily. Physical and mental exercise required.
- Grooming
- Heavy shedding. Daily brushing during shedding season.
- Drool
- Moderate
- Coat
- Double coat, Medium lengthBlack & Tan, Sable, All Black, Black & Red
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Very common in breed
Degenerative Myelopathy
Severe
Progressive spinal cord disease
Bloat
Severe
Deep-chested breed risk
Where they come from
History
Created by Max von Stephanitz in 1899 to be the ideal herding and working dog.
- Rin Tin Tin · Hollywood star rescued from WWI
Similar breeds
All breeds
Belgian Malinois
Before military and police work, the Malinois was a herding dog named after the Belgian city of Malines.
Large · Pastoral
Belgian Tervuren
This Belgian shepherd takes its name from the village of Tervuren, where its development took shape.
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Berger Picard
A rare French herder found a new audience when dogs of this breed appeared in Because of Winn-Dixie.
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Briard
This French sheepdog also served as a sentry during the First World War.
Large · Pastoral