German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd is one of the smartest working breeds: it serves with police, border guards and search-and-rescue teams, yet stays a devoted family dog.
Breed at a glance
- Weight
- 22–40 kg
- Height at withers
- 55–65 cm
- Lifespan
- 9–13 years
- Origin
- Germany
- Energy
- Shedding
- With kids
- Apartment-friendly
- Trainability
Temperament
It learns fast and loves having a job. Without work and exercise it gets bored and starts guarding everything or chewing furniture. It's usually gentle with its own family's children and wary of strangers — guarding instinct, not aggression — but socialise the puppy from the first months.
Care and exercise
It needs at least two hours of activity a day: walks, running, training sessions. The dense double coat sheds all year and heavily in spring and autumn: brush 2–3 times a week, daily during the moult. An apartment works only if the dog gets enough exercise outside.
Health
The breed's weak spot is hip and elbow dysplasia: ask the breeder for the parents' X-rays. Degenerative myelopathy, digestive problems and bloat also occur, so don't feed right before vigorous exercise. Keeping the dog lean protects its joints.
This is a general description: an individual pet's temperament and health depend on its parents, upbringing and care. Ask your vet about your own pet's health.
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