Dog Breed Guide

German Shepherd Dog

Profile

Size

Large

Country of origin

Germany

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Sheep herding, Police dog, Military dog, Guide dog

Height

male 60 - 65cm (24 - 26in), female 55 - 60cm (22 - 24in)

Weight

male 30 - 40kg (66 - 88lb), female 22 - 32kg (49 - 71lb)

Life span

9 - 13 years

A lean, muscular dog with large erect ears and an intelligent expression. Black and tan is the classic color, but there are also sable, black and others. The coat may be short or long.

The German Shepherd is smart, brave and extremely loyal to its owner. It learns quickly and can do almost any job, which is why it works around the world as a police dog, military dog, search and rescue dog and guide dog. It shows deep affection for its family while being cautious with strangers.

Its need for exercise and its drive to work are very high, so it must have plenty of exercise and training every day. It sheds a great deal. It is also known to be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia.

Good to know

At the end of the 19th century, German cavalry captain Max von Stephanitz set out to unite Germany's many regional sheepdogs into a single intelligent, useful working dog. In 1899 he fell for a dog he saw at a dog show, bought him and named him Horand von Grafrath. Horand became the first registered German Shepherd. Stephanitz's guiding principle was "utility and intelligence."

On the battlefields of World War I, the American soldier Lee Duncan rescued a puppy in France, named him Rin Tin Tin and brought him home to America. Rin Tin Tin became a Hollywood star who appeared in 27 films, and he is even said to have saved Warner Bros., which was struggling at the time.

In 1928 a German Shepherd named Buddy became the first guide dog in the United States and played a major part in spreading the use of guide dogs.