How to recognise a German Shepherd
German Shepherds come in several coat lengths, colours and body types, and shepherd mixes fill shelters worldwide. Upload a photo above, then use the points below to confirm what you see.
Also known as: German Shepherd Dog, GSD, Alsatian, Deutscher Schäferhund
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About the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd Dog was shaped in Germany at the end of the nineteenth century by Max von Stephanitz, who set out to create a versatile herding and working dog. It is an FCI group 1 breed and one of the most widely used police, search and assistance dogs. It is intelligent, loyal and highly trainable, and it needs work for its mind as much as its body. Show lines often have a more sloping back and stronger rear angulation; working lines are usually straighter-backed, darker and more compact.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Large
- Adult weight
- 22–40 kg
- Life expectancy
- 9–13 years
- Exercise
- Very high
How to recognise a German Shepherd
- Large, firm, triangular ears that stand fully erect and face forward; in puppies they often flop until teething is over.
- Classic colouring is black and tan or black and red, with a black saddle and mask. Sable (grey or red, black-tipped) and solid black are also standard.
- Double coat in two accepted lengths: a short, dense stock coat, or a long stock coat with a full undercoat and tufts behind the ears.
- Body longer than tall, with a deep chest, a back that slopes gently from withers to croup, and long, well-angulated hindquarters.
- Wedge-shaped head, strong muzzle and dark almond eyes; the bushy tail hangs low in a slight sabre curve and never curls over the back.
Photo tip. A side-on standing photo shows the saddle and the angle of the back, which separate a German Shepherd from a Malinois or Dutch Shepherd. Keep both ears in the frame.
German Shepherd or look-alike?
Belgian Malinois
A Malinois is lighter-boned and squarer, with a short fawn coat, black mask and level back. It lacks the German Shepherd’s black saddle and sloping topline.
White Swiss Shepherd
Same shepherd outline and erect ears, but the coat is entirely white, with no saddle or mask. The FCI recognises white shepherds as a separate breed.
Dutch Shepherd
Similar size and build, but the coat is brindle, gold or silver with dark stripes, instead of a saddle, and the back is level rather than sloping.
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Wolf-grey only, with a pale mask, amber eyes, shorter erect ears and a straight back. It is taller, leggier and narrower through the chest than a German Shepherd.
German Shepherd mixes
Shepherd crosses are among the most common mixed dogs worldwide, from Shepskies (with a Husky) and Shepradors (with a Labrador) to the many “shepherd mix” rescues of unknown background. The erect or semi-erect ears, the black saddle and dark mask, and the long bushy tail are the traits that survive most often. Mixes may show one folded ear or a straighter back. On a photo, the identifier commonly lists German Shepherd with the other parent, or a related herding breed such as the Malinois. A DNA test shows how much shepherd there really is.
Health and care
- Hip and elbow dysplasia are known in the breed; ask for official hip and elbow scores on both parents, and keep a growing puppy lean, with controlled exercise.
- Degenerative myelopathy, a slow spinal cord disease of older dogs, has a DNA test (SOD1). Ask the breeder for results on both parents.
- Sensitive digestion is common, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is known in the breed. Change food gradually, and get weight loss alongside a big appetite looked at.
- As a large, deep-chested dog, a German Shepherd is prone to bloat. Split daily food into at least two meals and avoid hard exercise right after eating.
- They shed all year and blow their undercoat twice a year. Brushing several times a week, plus daily training or scent work, keeps them settled.