German Shepherd Guide
About the German Shepherd breed
Weight: Male 34–43 kg, female 34–43 kg
Height at the withers: Male 64 cm, female 58 cm
Energy level: Average
Life expectancy: 10 - 12 years
Tendency to drool: Small
Tendency to snore: Slight
Tendency to bark: Slight
Tendency to dig: Slight
Social needs: Medium
Intended for: Herding, guard dog
Colours: Black with reddish brown, rusty brown yellow to light gray markings. Solid black.
Health problems: Skin conditions, back and joint injuries
The German Shepherd is one of the most popular and well-known breeds. They are large, stately dogs bred to be guard and watch dogs. German Shepherds are often easily taught and intelligent, but it’s important to remember they’re large, active dogs who love to be occupied! They need daily exercise and stimulation to be at their best.
Fur care of a Shepherd
The German Shepherd's coat has topcoat and undercoat that needs regular brushing and combing. The coat comes in two varieties: "normal hair" and long hair. Only bathe or shower your dog if necessary, using a shampoo specially formulated for dogs.
Claw clipping
Your dog’s claws need looking after, of course! They should be trimmed when needed, but we recommend not waiting too long – once a month might be enough. It's better to trim a little and often than a lot and rarely. Get your dog used to having its claws clipped from an early age. In the claw clipping course in the Lassie app, we share our best tips on how to clip your dog’s claws!
Lameness
The German Shepherd is a large breed at risk of lameness issues. You can learn more about the different types of lameness and what to do if your dog is lame in our app course. German Shepherds are also at risk of hip and elbow dysplasia, which can lead to both pain and mobility problems.
Skin problems
As a German Shepherd owner, be aware that they’re at risk of suffering from skin conditions like allergies. Like us, dogs can be allergic to things in their environment or their food. Learn more about the different types of allergies and their symptoms in our app.
Weight control
The German Shepherd is a greedy eater and will happily tuck into its own food, as well as leftovers from the dinner table. Try to keep an eye on what your dog eats to prevent them becoming overweight. You can learn more about this in the weight control course. For a dog, maintaining a healthy weight is important for them to feel their best!
Socialisation
Socialising your dog is important. Start practising environmental training at an early age – let your dog experience the sounds and places they’ll encounter as adults. Find out more about socialisation and environmental training in the app.. If you have a large dog, it’s also important to practise greeting without jumping.
New training
Especially as your dog gets older, there’s an increased risk of developing lumps or neoplasms. A lump doesn't necessarily mean your dog has cancer; lumps can be benign or malignant. It’s important to detect malignant lumps early, as there’s often a better chance of recovery. So, make it a habit to feel your dog regularly. You can learn more about how to check your dog and the different types of lumps they might develop in our app course.
