Meet the German Shepherd
High Doggy I.Q.

High Doggy I.Q.

Top Working Dog

Top Working Dog

Best Workout Buddy

Best Workout Buddy

If you are a high-energy human looking for a loyal best friend who loves to be put to work, I am the breed for you! I have boundless energy, so it’s essential that I get a lot of daily exercise. I’m one of the smartest breeds around – which makes me easy to train – and my intelligence, bravery, and loyalty make me a great family dog. I also make an especially great watchdog since I would do anything to keep my humans safe. Some German Shepherds even work as professional service dogs, including police dogs, guide dogs, and sheepdogs! There’s not much out there we can’t do if we put our minds to it. Whatever work I’m doing, I need lots of mental and physical activity to keep me happy and healthy, so I’ll do best in a home with humans who have time to play with me (and brush me – I can be a bit of a shedder). While I love playing with both big and little humans, I’m not always great with other dogs unless I’ve been socialized with them as a pup – then we can be BFFs. All that said, once I bond with my family, I will be everyone’s loyal and loving friend furever. After all, there’s a reason why I am the third most popular AKC dog breed!
My Many Looks

My Many Looks

 My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

 Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

 As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

 History of My Breed

History of My Breed

 Care Tips

Care Tips

 Training Tips

Training Tips
关于我

Personality

Intelligent

Loyal

Energetic

Group

Herding Group

Origin

Germany

Life Span

7-10 years

Breed Popularity

#3 of 195

Height Range

22-26 inches

Weight Range

50-90 pounds

Coat Details

Type

Straight or Wavy & Wiry

Texture

Dense Outercoat with Soft Undercoat

Features

Colors

Bicolor (Black + Cream-Colored Heels), Black, Black & Tan, Black & Cream, Black &

Hypoallergenic

Cost to Buy

$450-$1,900

Lifetime Care Cost

$17,935

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

Black

White

Black & Tan

Sable
My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

Training Ability：
Intelligence：
Exercise Needs：
Health Issues：
Affection Level：
Grooming Effort：
Pet-Friendly：
Shedding：
Kid-Friendly：
Barking：
Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

We German Shepherds have a lot of star power. Our ability to follow our humans’ commands make us great workers – even in Hollywood! Two of the earliest dog celebrities were German Shepherds. The first, Strongheart, came to the U.S. after serving in World War I. Strongheart starred in four movies in the 1920s, including White Fang (1925).. The second and most famous German Shepherd movie star was Rin Tin Tin , who was rescued after serving in World War I and became a huge hit in Hollywood, starring in 27 films during his career!
As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

As you can see, we German Shepherds age pretty gracefully. Here are a few key milestones in my growth & development to be aware of as I grow up from a pupper to an adult and senior!
Puppy 4 Months
I am a loyal protector and need to be socialized early so I learn to trust my humans. Obedience training is also key – I can get destructive, anxious, or aggressive without it.
Adult 2 Years
I’m a grown up, but still need lots of daily exercise and mental stimulation to keep me healthy and happy. I love to work, and I do best when I have a job to do!
Senior 7-8 Years
I have less energy than I used to, but still need daily activity to keep me healthy. Try low-impact exercise like walks and swimming that don’t put extra strain on my joints.
History of My Breed

History of My Breed

Compared to other breeds, we German Shepherds are pretty new. As you can tell from our name, we come from Germany. The first GSDs were bred by a human named Max von Stephanitz. In 1889, Captain Max went to a dog show in western Germany and was smitten by a sheepdog he saw there, so he took him home and our breed was born! Captain Max bred us for our intelligence and our ability to do any job our humans needed us to do. From the very beginning, we were some of the smartest, loyalest, and most hard-working puppers in the world. My ancestors first came to the United States in the early 1900s, and it didn’t take long for humans in America to see how pawesome we are – our breed was officially recognized by the AKC in 1908. Our name was changed briefly during World War I against the Germans, with Americans calling us Shepherd Dogs and the British calling us Alsatian Wolf Dogs! But after WWI, where my brave ancestors served as military dogs, our popularity soared in the United States and else
Care Tips

Care Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Make sure your dog is properly screened for hip dysplasia.

German Shepherds have problems with hip dysplasia, and reputable breeders will screen for hip disease. Having X-rays performed at a young age can also be helpful to determine the health of your dog’s hips. -MicheleKing,DVM

2

Help your dog maintain a healthy body weight.

German Shepherds do well if kept at a healthy body weight. Because of their predisposition to hip problems, letting them get overweight can cause very serious issues. Maintaining the correct body weight is especially important in this breed. -MicheleKing,DVM

3

Take preventive measures to avoid bloat.

German Shepherds are a deep-chested breed and this makes them more prone to bloat (or gastric dilatation volvulus), which is a surgical emergency. A gastropexy surgery is a simple procedure to help prevent future bloating from becoming a life-threatening issue. Changes in the way you feed your dog (i.e. switching from an elevated bowl to floor feeding) may increase the risk of bloat, so stay consistent in the way you feed your dog. -EricaM.Irish,DVM

Training Tips

Training Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Start positive reinforcement training early.

German Shepherds are really intelligent dogs and excel at being trained with positive reinforcement. Focus on teaching them what you want them to do using a gradual training plan, and they will get the hang of it really quickly. But you do need to motivate them so use treats like chicken, turkey, or cheese. Don’t make the mistake of using aversive methods because studies show this has risks including fear, aggression, and/or a worse relationship with their owner. -ZazieTodd,PhD

2

Keeping up the training will help prevent behavioral issues.

A German Shepherd puppy needs plenty of socialization at an early age to help them grow up happy and well-rounded. They should also be trained consistently throughout their lifetime to reduce behavioral issues, destructive behaviors, boredom, depression, and anxiety. These dogs are incredibly intelligent, loyal, and athletic. As such, they can be prone to anxiety, destructive behaviors, and even fear-based aggressive behaviors if not properly raised. -JenJones,CertifiedDogTrainer

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

 My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

 Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

 As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

 History of My Breed

History of My Breed

 Care Tips

Care Tips

 Training Tips

Training Tips
关于我

  • Personality

    Intelligent

    Loyal

    Energetic

  • Group

    Herding Group

  • Origin

    Germany

  • Life Span

    7-10 years

  • Breed Popularity

    #3 of 195

  • Height Range

    22-26 inches

  • Weight Range

    50-90 pounds

  • 动物皮毛

    Type

    Straight or Wavy & Wiry

    Texture

    Dense Outercoat with Soft Undercoat

    Features

    Colors

    Bicolor (Black + Cream-Colored Heels), Black, Black & Tan, Black & Cream, Black &

  • Hypoallergenic

  • Cost to Buy

    $450-$1,900

  • Lifetime Care Cost

    $17,935