German Shepherd Dog
Pastor Alemán
- Sizelarge
- Weight34–43.1 kg
- Lives10–12 years
- Popularity in Mexico★★★★★
Character
German Shepherd Dog temperament
A large dog from the herding group, in twelve traits from 1 to 5:
- Energymarathoner
- Affection with familyglued to you
- With kidsexcellent
- With other dogsmiddle of the road
- With strangersmiddle of the road
- Playfulnessplayful for life
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitylearns on the fly
- Barkingmiddle of the road
- Mental stimulation it needsneeds a job
- Prey drivechases anything that moves
Distinguishing features
German Shepherd Dog characteristics
- Ears
- erect
- Height
- 56–66 cm
- Weight
- 34–43.1 kg
- Muzzle
- long
- Coat
- double coat
- Coat length
- medium
- Colors
- any color
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Sheddinghair everywhere
- Coat carea brush a month
Life expectancy
How long does a German Shepherd Dog live?
10–12 years
The breed sets the range; how long each dog lives depends on its weight, its exercise, its teeth and its check-ups with the vet.
The long profile
Long profile, in Spanish for now
The long version of this breed — character, care and origins, in Lord Chucho's voice — exists in Spanish and hasn't been translated yet. The hard data on this page (traits, features, lifespan) is the same in both languages.
Buying guides
What to buy for a German Shepherd Dog
What to buy, by what it needs:
What we'd give Choco
For a dog like this one
Affiliate links: it costs you the same. How they work (in Spanish)
AI image: the real product may vary KONG Classic
The classic that survives teenage-Labrador jaws. Stuff it with frozen treats and you just bought an hour of peace.
AI image: the real product may vary Chuckit! Ultra Ball
A ball that bounces evenly, floats and doesn't fall apart on day three. If your dog lives for the ball, this is THE ball.
AI image: the real product may vary Level-2 treat-dispensing puzzle
For the dog that's bored of everything: let it earn the kibble by thinking. Start at level 2; level 1 they solve in their sleep.
AI image: the real product may vary FURminator for double coats
On double-coated breeds it pulls out loose hair by the kilo. Your couch will thank you more than the dog will.
What people ask
Frequently asked questions about the German Shepherd Dog
How big does a German Shepherd Dog get?
An adult German Shepherd Dog stands 56–66 cm at the withers and weighs 34–43.1 kg.
Does the German Shepherd Dog need a lot of exercise?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5 on “Energy”: marathoner. On that scale, 1 is “couch potato” and 5 is “marathoner”.
Is the German Shepherd Dog good with kids?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5 on “With kids”: excellent. On that scale, 1 is “better without kids” and 5 is “excellent”. Even with a 5, no dog should be left alone with small children: supervising them is the adult's job.
Does the German Shepherd Dog get along with other dogs?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 3 out of 5 on “With other dogs”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “lone wolf” and 5 is “life of the dog park”.
Is the German Shepherd Dog easy to train?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5 on “Trainability”: learns on the fly. On that scale, 1 is “negotiates every command” and 5 is “learns on the fly”.
Does the German Shepherd Dog bark a lot?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 3 out of 5 on “Barking”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “nearly silent” and 5 is “reports everything”.
Is the German Shepherd Dog a good guard dog?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5 on “Guarding instinct”: born guardian. On that scale, 1 is “not a guardian” and 5 is “born guardian”.
Does the German Shepherd Dog shed a lot?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 4 out of 5 on “Shedding”: hair everywhere. On that scale, 1 is “barely sheds” and 5 is “hair everywhere”.
Can a German Shepherd Dog live in an apartment?
The German Shepherd Dog scores 5 out of 5 on “Adaptability”: settles anywhere. On that scale, 1 is “needs its space and routine” and 5 is “settles anywhere”. An apartment is fine, being shut in is not: every dog needs to get out every day.
Health
We only publish each breed's health topics after reviewing them carefully. We guide you, but we're not your vet: if something about your dog worries you, the internet doesn't replace a visit to the vet.