German Shepherd
Other names: Alsatian
#37
Wamiz's Top Breed

As majestic as he is intelligent, the German Shepherd has many qualities that make him both the ideal pet and working dog. The Alsatian can wear many hats, ranging from a guide dog for the blind, a police dog, a guard dog and even a herding dog. This versatility has made him one of the most represented dogs across the world, and has given him a consistently high spot in the UK’s most popular dog rankings for decades.
Key facts about the German Shepherd
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Origins and history
At the end of the 19th century in Germany, when industrialisation was bringing sheep farming to an end, a group of dog lovers decided to come to the rescue of sheepdogs, a precious genetic heritage: they used them to create a multi-talented, beautiful, eclectic and docile dog who was easy to breed and train. It was only upon the cross-breeding of the Württemberg and Thuringe sheepdogs that these dog enthusiasts got this new breed which, thanks to colonel Von Stephanitz and his canine passion, quickly became one of the most loved and widespread dogs in the world. The German Shepherd was officially recognised in 1898.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the German Shepherd
Adult size
Female : Between 22 and 24 in
Male : Between 24 and 26 in
Weight
Female : Between 49 and 71 lb
Male : Between 66 and 88 lb
Coat colour
His coat can be a black or grey unicolour, black with tan markings, brown or yellow, and sometimes light grey. White does not fall under the breed’s official standards.
Type of coat
There are two varieties: short-haired or medium-long to long-haired.
Excluded for a long time, the long-haired German Shepherd was officially recognised as of January 1st 2011.
His coat is double-layered, consisting of an outer coat and undercoat.
For the short-haired breed, his outer coat is dense, straight, soft to the touch and very thick. His undercoat is also thick.
As for his long-haired counterparts, his outer coat is smooth, loose and consists of layers. His undercoat is thick.
Eye colour
His eyes should always be very dark. Light eyes do not adhere to the official standards of the breed.
Description
Also known as the Alsatian, this medium-sized dog is slightly longer than he is tall. He is strong, has a well-proportioned stature and is lean and solid. His back bows in the middle, which is a classic trait of this breed.
Good to know
The German Shepherd family has grown over the years due to the recognition of the breed’s official standards of traits previously considered as flaws. Here are two concrete examples:
The White Swiss Shepherd that was initially a German Shepherd with a white coat. This trait was considered a flaw until 2003, when this breed was officially recognised by the FCI.
The long-haired German Shepherd was also excluded from the breed’s official standards for a number of years. Only in 2011 did the FCI officially recognise this long-haired dog, which was necessary for the breed to participate in competitions and other canine exhibitions.
Temperament
Behaviour of the German Shepherd
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German Shepherd to adopt

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Compatibility
Price
The price of a German Shepherd varies according to his origins, coat, age and sex. You should budget around £620 to £900 for a dog registered with the KC.
You should set aside around £55 a month to provide your dog with a high-quality diet and respond to his basic needs (vaccinations, deworming, anti-parasites).
Grooming
The grooming of a German Shepherd isn’t difficult, but it should be regular, especially for long-haired types.
He should be brushed on a weekly basis to keep his coat shiny and protective.
However, be aware that grooming that is too frequent (especially baths) can actually weaken his weather-resistant coat.
It’s necessary to pay particular attention to this dog’s ears: they should be cleaned regularly to avoid infection.
His claws should also be regularly clipped, as they can grow very quickly.
Shedding
The German Shepherd’s hair loss is constant, especially for dogs living predominantly inside. In spring and autumn, his significant shedding will require an almost daily brush to get rid of excess hair.
Nutrition of the German Shepherd
Whether dry food, raw meat or home-cooked meals, his daily food rations should be adapted to his age, activity level and health condition.
Premium quality food should always be prioritised. Shop-bought biscuits from large supermarkets are to be avoided.
The German Shepherd puppy will require an array of nutrients that can accomodate his fast growth, particularly between 4 and 7 months-old.
This dog can eat between 1-2 times a day, but he should never be left with a full bowl for him where he can help himself. For medium to large dogs, it is advised to put his bowl on a raised platform to facilitate digestion.
Health of the German Shepherd
Life expectancy
The German Shepherd can live up to 13 years.
Strong / robust
The German Shepherd is often considered as a sensitive dog, but as long as he was properly bred, he will be very resilient.
His popularity is such that he is studied much more closely than most other dogs. As a result, he is subjected to a number of pathologies that are common in medium and large dogs, such as dysplasia.
Withstand heat
The heat doesn’t scare off this dog, nor does it prevent him in excelling in his many different disciplines.
Withstand cold
His double-layered coat gives him good protection against adverse weather conditions. He isn’t put off by the cold or humidity.
Tendency to put on weight
His greediness would have the potential to get the better of him if it wasn’t for his incredibly active nature.
However, you should pay close attention to German Shepherds who engage in less exercise than they should.
Common illnesses
- Hip dysplasia (despite the efforts of breeders)
- Expansion/twisting of the stomach
- Hypothyroidism
- Von Willebrand disease (hereditary hemorrhagic disorder)
- Degenerative myelopathy (genetic disorder leading to complete paralysis of the animal)
- Pancreatitis
- Anal fistulas (disorder of the immune system)
- Epilepsy (Disorder of the nervous system)
- Hemangiosarcoma (aggressive cancerous tumour)
- Osteosarcoma (tumour of the bones)