Country of origin: Germany
F.C.I. - Classification: Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs
Usage: multi-purpose working-, service- and sheepdog, family- and sportsdog
Nature: balanced, secure, self-confident, robust, open, watchful, physical and mental resilient
Expectation of life: 10 to 13 years
Common diseases: herniated disc (HD), Ellenbogengelenksdysplasie (ED), shepherd-keratitis

appearance:

Body: strong, full of muscles, deep chest, straight back, slightly falling off croup
Colours: breeding standard: black-yellow, black-grey, black
Height: male dogs: 60 to 65 cm, she-dogs: 55 to 60 cm
Weight: male dogs: 30 to 40 kg, she-dogs: 22 to 32 kg
Coat: close underfur and straight, close-fitting guard hair
Teeth: incisors forficate on top of each other - a puppy has 28, an adult shepherd 42 teeth
Ears: medium-sized, at the basis relative wide, tapered, highly set standing ears
Eyes: medium-sized, almond-shaped, mostly dark brown
Nose: always black
Rod: medium lenght, bushy and low set rod
Back: straight, strong, hard
Pads: roundish with curved toes, well developed bundles and dark claws

Sportive, multifunctional, resilient and spirited - those are the key data of the German shepherd. With that it is an ideal member of a family as well as a sports parter or a service dog. Condition: At any rate it needs sufficient care, enough action and a task which demand it again and again.

The family dog

The German shepherd is perfect as a family dog - it needs a consistent and species-appropriate education as well as a clear position within its spare herd but on its part it has high claims in matters of manners. Did you chose it as your four-legged partner, leave some days time to it, to find its way in the new environment - then it integrates itself fast and without any difficulty into its future family.

For friends of fitness the German shepherd is the right choice also: jogging, hiking or bicycle tours - the long-distance runner likes to accept every sportive challenge.

Dog and Child

Shepherds are fond of children - but: The youngest member of the family
have to learn how to treat a dog the right way! A demand that is not only made by educators but also by behaviour scientist and cynologists.

An animal housemate supports the development of a child positive: It helps to learn social behaviours, develop the sense of responsibility as well as the ability to communicate.

Job variety

Hardly a quadruped is versatile like the German shepherd: Helper for the police and border control, rescuer in emergencies, reliable companion for blind humans - that is only a small part of the jobs, which it fulfills gladly and absolutely reliably.

Service dog

Its pronounced ability to recognize, to smell and to hear combined with speed, reactivity and Wehrhaftigkeit made the German shepherd – all are airworthy and can start their work within the shortest time at every place of the earth. Several thousands of them were already distinguished with the plaque for successful employment - through the sports association, in agreement with the responsible authorities. In each regional committee is a delegate for the service dogs.