German Shepherd

Other name: Alsatian

Photo: adult dog of German Shepherd breed
© Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH / Shutterstock
Photo: adult dog of German Shepherd breed
© otsphoto / Shutterstock

German Shepherds have many qualities that make them fantastic working dogs as well as family dogs. Also known as Alsatians, German Shepherds have been used as guide dogs for the blind, police dogs, and even herding dogs. Their high intelligence and versatility have made them one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, earning them a consistently high spot in the UK’s most popular dog breeds rankings for decades. 

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Life expectancy

The German Shepherd has a life expectancy of between 10 and 13 years

Temperament

Size

Medium

Adult size

Female Between 22 and 24 in
Male Between 24 and 26 in

Adult weight

Female Between 49 and 71 lb
Male Between 66 and 88 lb
Coat colour
Black Brown Blue Red
Type of coat
Short Long
Eye colour
Brown

Purchase price

The German Shepherd costs between £620 and £900

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.

More details about the German Shepherd

German Shepherd: 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 classification of the German Shepherd

  • Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)

  • Section 1 : Sheepdogs

Training a German Shepherd

Equipped with a remarkable intelligence and attention span, educating this dog won’t be a challenge, as long as his training methods are respectful of the principles of positive education. 

Patience, gentleness and determination will be the keys to the results you want with this strong-willed dog. 

Training must start early so as not to wait until he has reached his adult size and weight.

German Shepherd: Purchase 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).

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