On 20 September 1899, a newly formed association in Frankfurt am Main set out how a German Shepherd should look and behave. The aim was written alongside it: a working dog with the potential for high performance. This became a herding, guarding and service dog now often living with families, quickly struggling without a job.
| FCI | Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs), Section 1 Sheepdogs, Standard No. 166, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Size (height at the withers) | males 60 to 65 cm, females 55 to 60 cm |
| Weight | males 30 to 40 kg, females 22 to 32 kg |
| Life expectancy | median 11.3 years in a UK analysis of 584,734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024); 10.3 years in UK veterinary records (O’Neill et al. 2017) |
| Coat | double coat or long double coat, both with undercoat |
| Colours in the standard | black with reddish brown, brown, yellow to light grey markings; solid black; grey with darker overlay, black saddle and mask; white not permitted |
Origins
According to the FCI standard, the breed developed from central and southern German herding types. The Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde adopted the first standard at its first general meeting, following proposals by A. Meyer and von Stephanitz. Repeated revisions followed; the current version dates from 2010.
Temperament
Balanced, steady-nerved, confident, completely natural and good-natured outside a provocative situation, attentive and responsive: the standard asks a great deal. At best, you gain a dog keen to work with you and reliably watchful over family. Poor socialisation or insufficient activity can produce suspicion and difficult handling.
Exercise and activity
The standard describes a trotter with ground-covering, enduring movement. Two hours daily including mental activity is a good framework: tracking, obedience, searching games and club dog sports. Jogging is suitable only once fully grown.
Grooming
Both coat types have undercoat and shed noticeably, heavily during shedding season. Two brushing sessions weekly keep it manageable; long double coats need a little more.
Health
A Royal Veterinary College VetCompass study found the most frequent German Shepherd diagnoses were ear infection (7.9 percent), osteoarthritis (5.5 percent), diarrhoea (5.2 percent), overweight (5.2 percent) and aggression (4.8 percent). Leading causes of death were musculoskeletal disease (16.3 percent) and inability to stand (14.9 percent) (O’Neill et al. 2017). Notably, the standard itself warns that over-angulated hindquarters reduce strength and stamina. Look for a straight topline and ask for the parents’ hip and elbow results.
Who is a German Shepherd right for?
Active people and families with training time, who enjoy attending a dog school or club and appreciate clear rules.
Who should look elsewhere?
People with little time, those leaving the dog alone for long periods and anyone chiefly seeking an imposing guardian. Anyone unable to tolerate hair indoors should also reconsider.
Read why so many German Shepherds reach shelters, and how to avoid it, in the detailed German Shepherd breed profile. Assess whether the breed fits your life through the breed quiz or our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German). For the start of puppyhood, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Capture your Shepherd through our dog portraits from your own photo or as a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- German Shepherd: why so many reach shelters
- Malinois: a working service dog who ends up in the living room
- Older dog, new rules: how to give your senior their best years
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 166 Deutscher Schäferhund (fci.be, version dated 23.12.2010); O'Neill DG et al., Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2017; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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