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German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherd Dog

One of the most easily recognised breeds in the world, the German Shepherd Dog is a muscular, alert dog with a noble, regal attitude. Agile and well balanced and carrying themselves with pride, the ‘GSD’ is a big dog with a big presence. Coats may be short or long but should not be excessively fluffy.

The need-to-know
  • Dog suitable for experienced owners
  • Extra training required
  • Enjoys vigorous walks
  • Enjoys walking more than two hours a day
  • Large dog
  • Some drool
  • Requires grooming daily
  • Non hypoallergenic breed
  • Very vocal dog
  • Guard dog. Barks, alerts and it's physically protective
  • May require training to live with other pets
  • May require training to live with kids

Key Facts

Lifespan: 9 – 13 years
Weight: 22 – 40kg
Height: 58 – 63cm
Colours: Coats come in a range of colours including black, sable, black and tan, black and gold. See Kennel Club website for the full range
Size: Large
UK Kennel Club Groups: Pastoral

Ratings

Family-friendly: 5/5
Exercise needs: 5/5
Easy to train: 5/5
Tolerates being alone: 2/5
Likes other pets: 2/5
Energy level: 5/5
Grooming needs: 4/5
Shedding: 5/5

Personality

Renowned as a ‘one man (or woman) dog’, the GSD forms a strong, affectionate and close bond with their handler and will want to be with them as much as possible. Their loyalty is undeniable, however unfortunately over the last few decades many breeders seeking to promote their natural guarding tendencies have selected for nervous animals who alert faster out of a lack of confidence and who are willing to use aggression first rather than last.

A well-bred, well-reared German Shepherd should be bold, confident, swift and intelligent, and always calm and steady enough to be able to listen to their owner or handler whatever the circumstances. They are eager to learn and easy to train with the right approach, using kindness, positive reinforcement and patience.

History and Origins

Country of Origin: Germany

Originally a herding dog, although not in the way you may think – the German Shepherd works as a living fence, walking or running an invisible boundary between sheep and land they need to be kept from, keeping livestock where they are meant to be. If they spotted a sheep straying from the flock, they would silently move them back into the fold without barking – which would alarm the whole flock. Formed from a variety of different sheep-herding dogs, they can trace their origins back to the 7th Century.

First shown in 1882, the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde, the German breed club for GSD’s was formed in 1899. Through this club GSD’s were developed for use with the police and armed forces, thus saving them from extinction during the difficult times. During the first World War, GSD’s lost favour outside of Germany and allied countries when all things German became unpopular. At this time the breed name was changed to the Alsatian in England and France to avoid this discrimination. Thankfully this is far in the past and the German Shepherd Dog has regained their original name.

Did You Know?

  • German Shepherd Dogs have had many jobs, one of the least well known however was as guide dogs for the blind, and the GSD was preferred as their height made them very suitable for blinded ex-military men, who would have found the Labradors and Golden Retrievers (and their mixes) too short! They are still used today for taller people but the amount of hair they shed makes them less popular.
  • Long before Lassie, the first canine film star was a German Shepherd Dog known as Rin Tin Tin who was rescued as a puppy in 1918 from a World War I battlefield by Lee Duncan, an American soldier. He made 26 films, had his own radio show and even his own private chef!
  • German Shepherds are super intelligent and can learn new tricks and behaviours in only a few repetitions.
  • After the World Wars, Americans and Europeans were very concerned about anything German so their named was changed to Alsatian Wolf Dogs, some still refer to them by that name today.
  • The German Shepherd is incredibly popular and are the second most registered breed by the American Kennel Club after the Labrador Retriever.
Dog with red collar looking out the window
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