Whether you’re a first-time owner or a lifelong pet person, this is your happy place. Pick your pet, meet the breed, and pick up care tips, fun facts and the right food to keep them thriving.
- 1Choose your pet
- 2Choose a breed
- 3Meet your pet
Dog breed guide
German Shepherd
Clever, loyal and always ready for a job.
- OriginGermany
- SizeLarge, 22 to 40 kg
- Lifespan9 to 13 years
- EnergyHigh
- GroomingBrush a few times a week, heavy shedder
About the breed
The German Shepherd was standardised in the late 1800s by Captain Max von Stephanitz, who wanted the ultimate herding and working dog. Their intelligence and trainability soon made them a favourite for police, military and search-and-rescue work.
Personality
Confident, loyal and highly intelligent. They bond deeply with their people, can be reserved with strangers, and need a job or plenty of mental challenge to stay happy.
Care tips
Exercise
At least one to two hours a day, mixing walks, training games and play.
Grooming
A thick double coat that sheds all year and blows heavily twice a year. Regular brushing helps a lot.
Health
Watch for hip and elbow dysplasia, digestive sensitivities and bloat. Feed smaller meals and avoid hard exercise right after eating.
Recommended food
Choose a quality large-breed formula with good protein to fuel an active dog. Two smaller meals a day are kinder to their digestion than one big one. Many benefit from added joint support as they get older.
Fun facts
- German Shepherds are widely used as police, service and search-and-rescue dogs.
- Rin Tin Tin, a German Shepherd, became a Hollywood film star in the 1920s.
- They can learn a new command in just a handful of repetitions.
This guide is general information to help you get started. It isn’t a substitute for advice from your vet, who knows your animal best.