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AKC: German Shepherd breed overview

Herding group · Germany

German Shepherd

Also called German Shepherd Dog, Alsatian, GSD

A working mind in a wolfish frame, bred to take instructions and happiest when it has a job to finish.

The German Shepherd was designed in the 1890s as an all-purpose working dog, and it still thinks like one. Loyal, watchful and remarkably quick to learn, it rewards owners who train it every day and gives them trouble when it is bored. Expect a lot of hair and a dog that follows you from room to room.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

22 to 40 kg

48 to 88 lb

Height

55 to 65 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

9 to 13 yrs

Activity estimate

120 to 150 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

24 months

approximate model input

Life with a German Shepherd

Ask police handlers, search and rescue volunteers and guide dog trainers which breed they rely on, and the German Shepherd comes up again and again. That is no accident. In 1899 Max von Stephanitz bought a dog named Horand von Grafrath and founded a breed club with one stated goal: a herding dog valued for intelligence and usefulness rather than looks.

As sheep farming declined in Germany, von Stephanitz steered his breed toward police and military work. Shepherds served as messengers, sentries and Red Cross dogs in the First World War, and returning soldiers carried their reputation to Britain and North America. Anti-German feeling after the war led British owners to call it the Alsatian, a name that lingered for decades.

Living with one feels a little like sharing your home with a colleague who never clocks off. A Shepherd notices the delivery van, the neighbor's new gate and the exact moment you reach for your keys. Most attach closely to one or two people and prefer to be in the same room as them. With family they are affectionate and often goofy; with strangers they are usually reserved and watchful rather than instantly friendly.

Two broad types exist today. Show lines tend to have a sloping back and more angulated hindquarters, while working lines (often bred from Czech, Slovak or sport kennel stock) are straighter in the back, more intense and hungrier for work. Ask any breeder which type they produce, because the difference in daily energy is real.

What stands out

Training

Shepherds learn remarkably quickly, which cuts both ways: they pick up a bad habit in two or three repetitions just as easily as a good one. They respond best to clear, consistent handling with food and toy rewards, and many working-line dogs value a tug toy above any treat. Several short sessions of 5 to 15 minutes spread across the day beat one long lesson.

Read the full training guide

Easy to train

Open with strangers

Good with other dogs

A great match for

owners who enjoy a daily training routine
active homes with time for 2 hours of exercise
dog sports such as tracking, obedience and IGP
experienced owners wanting a devoted guardian

Think twice if

sheds all year and heavily in spring and autumn
can become anxious or destructive when left alone for long hours
a protective streak that needs early socialization
hip and elbow problems in poorly bred lines

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a German Shepherd eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	27 kg	1160 kcal	315 g (3.3 cups)
Female, typical pet	27 kg	1330 kcal	360 g (3.5 cups)
Male, typical pet	35 kg	1610 kcal	435 g (4.3 cups)
Male, very active	35 kg	2010 kcal	545 g (5.5 cups)

Full German Shepherd feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the German Shepherd

FeedingAn adult male of 35 kg (77 lb) usually eats somewhere around 400 to 500 g of a typical dry food a day, roughly 4 to 5 cups, with active working dogs at the top of that range and neutered house dogs below it. Most Shepherds are keen eaters, and a trim outline matters more for this breed than for many: every spare kilo loads hips and elbows that may already carry some genetic risk.Read more Puppy growthShepherd puppies grow fast. A typical male weighs about 9 to 11 kg at 3 months and 22 to 27 kg at 6 months, reaches adult height at 12 to 14 months, then spends another year filling out through the chest and head.Read more ExercisePlan on 90 minutes to 2 hours of activity a day for a healthy adult, split into at least two outings. A plain walk on the lead covers only part of that need.Read more GroomingThat double coat sheds steadily all year, then blows its undercoat in spring and autumn, when hair comes out in handfuls for 2 to 3 weeks. Brush 3 or 4 times a week in normal months and daily during a blow, starting with an undercoat rake and finishing with a slicker.Read more HealthThe breed is known for hip and elbow dysplasia, and good breeders X-ray both parents and share official scores (BVA/KC in the UK, OFA in North America, the SV 'a' stamp in Germany). Other conditions seen in the breed include degenerative myelopathy, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, bloat, and skin or ear allergies.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1The founding dog of the breed, Horand von Grafrath, was registered in 1899 by retired cavalry captain Max von Stephanitz.
2Two coat lengths exist: the standard stock coat and a long stock coat with feathering on the ears, legs and tail.
3In Britain the breed was officially called the Alsatian from 1919 until the Kennel Club began restoring its original name in 1977.
4Puppy ears often rise and flop several times during teething and usually settle upright by 5 to 7 months.
5A DNA test exists for degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal condition seen in the breed.

German Shepherd questions

When do German Shepherd puppy ears stand up?

Most Shepherd ears stand between 8 weeks and 6 months, and it is normal for them to go up, drop, and go up again while the adult teeth come through at around 4 to 6 months. Chewing on appropriate toys and good nutrition are all most puppies need. If the ears are still soft and folded at 7 months, talk to your breeder or vet; some dogs simply keep softer ears, which does not affect health.

Is a German Shepherd a good first dog?

It can be, if the first-time owner is genuinely committed to training and exercise. The breed learns fast but needs structure from day one, daily mental work and a lot of early socialization. A calm show-line or pet-line puppy from a health-tested breeder, plus a good local training class, gives a novice the best chance. High-drive working lines are better left to people who have trained dogs before.

Do German Shepherds get along with cats?

Many live happily with cats, especially when raised with them from puppyhood. The herding instinct can show as stalking, nudging or chasing, so early supervision matters. Give the cat escape routes and high perches, reward your dog for calm behavior around it, and never leave a young Shepherd alone with a cat until you are sure of both animals. Adult Shepherds with strong prey drive may never be safe with cats.

Why does my German Shepherd follow me everywhere?

Shepherds were bred to work closely with one handler, and many treat staying near you as part of their job. Following you from room to room is typical of the breed rather than a sign that something is wrong. It becomes a problem only if your dog panics when separated. Teaching a settle on a bed, and practicing short absences from puppyhood, helps a Shepherd feel comfortable when you are out of sight.

Do German Shepherds bark a lot?

They are alert watchdogs and will bark at unusual sounds, visitors and passing dogs, and some are also vocal when excited, with whines and grumbles. They are not usually nuisance barkers when they get enough exercise and mental work. Teaching a quiet cue early, and rewarding your dog for checking in with you after an alert, keeps barking useful rather than constant.

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