1. Noble Look

Sporting a domed forehead, long muzzle, erect ears, and bushy tail, German shepherds exude a handsome yet dignified appearance. They often come across as stately and self-confident. Moreover, the breed’s appearance offers tremendous diversity, as German shepherds have a variety of color combinations (black/tan, black/red, black/gray, etc.) and coat lengths ranging from short to long.

2. Remarkable Intelligence

German shepherds were bred specifically for intelligence, and the end result does not disappoint. Among the smartest of all canine breeds, German shepherds tend to be easily trainable, learning basic tasks with few repetitions and obeying commands with impressive regularity. In fact, German shepherds were ranked the third most intelligent breed by American Kennel Club judges. Their intelligence level explains their high degree of functionality (more on this later), as well as their success within the entertainment industry. Rin-Tin-Tin – a German shepherd who lived from 1918 to 1932 – remains one of the most notable canine movie stars of all-time, having appeared in 27 Hollywood films.

3. Unparalleled Functionality

It’s safe to say German shepherds like to have a purpose in life. Originally bred in Germany as sheep herders, they demonstrated the versatility necessary to transition into many other occupations. Today the German shepherd’s combination of intelligence and strength makes him the preferred breed for many lines of work: military and police service, search-and-rescue missions, assistance for disabled individuals, and household protection.

4. Heroism

This courageous breed deserves to be commended for the many heroic feats these canines have contributed through service to society. German shepherds have been responsible for loyal military service during times of war, for alerting deaf people when the doorbell has rung, and for locating missing children. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, German shepherds were utilized for search-and-rescue attempts amidst the rubble of the fallen World Trade Center.

5. Family Appeal

Under the right circumstances, German shepherds can make excellent household pets. In addition to being intelligent and trainable, this breed tends to be highly sociable and fairly energetic in nature. They serve as proud companions once loyalty develops. Perhaps the ideal guard dog, ever-devoted German shepherds often become protective of their beloved family members, as they’re not particularly fond of strangers. Their medium-to-large size (50 to 90 pounds) means they can provide adequate family protection without proving cumbersome around the house.

6. Physical Prowess

An impressive physical specimen, the German shepherd boasts an extremely muscular physique. This breed is like the LeBron James of the canine family, possessing a rare blend of strength and agility. The German shepherd’s strong frame becomes raised during times of excitement and lowered when the canine is moving at a quick pace. They can reach top speed quickly, yet round corners with ease. Because of their physical attributes, German shepherds are well-suited for athletic competitions like agility trials and obstacle courses.

Common Diseases and Disorders of German Shepherd Dogs

Even though the German shepherd dog is a strong muscular breed, they may be prone to a variety of ailments.

• Gastric torsion, also known as bloat, is a life-threatening sudden illness associated with the stomach filling with air and twisting.
• Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint that results in pain, lameness and arthritis.
• Elbow dysplasia is the abnormal development of certain parts of the elbow joint during the growing phase.
• Epilepsy is a seizure disorder, which develops between the ages of 2 to 5 years.
• Panosteitis is an inflammation of the long bones during growth. It results in pain and lameness until the dog matures.
• Pyoderma refers to deep skin infections.
• Hot spots are areas of itchy moist skin irritation.
• Pannus is a disease of the eye resulting in inflammation.
• Corneal dystrophy is a primary, inherited, bilateral (both sides), symmetrical condition of the cornea that is not accompanied by corneal inflammation or systemic disease.
• Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive degenerative disease of the spinal cord that slowly results in weakness and eventually inability to use the rear legs.

• Intervertebral disk disease is a disorder that affects the spinal disks resulting in pain, difficulty walking and possibly paralysis.
• Diabetes is a disease of the pancreas related to insufficient amounts of insulin production.
• Pancreatic insufficiency is another pancreatic disease that results in inability to digest food properly.
• Malassezia Dermatitis – is a yeast infection of the skin caused by Malassezia pachydermatitis.
• Food Allergy can occur in some pets. Affected pets develop skin lesions secondary to some food ingredients
• Perianal Fistula – is an infection and development of fistulas of the anal glands and tissues around the anal area.
• Aortic Stenosis – this disease is caused by stenosis of the aorta and causing symptoms such as weakness, collapse and sudden death.
• Pericardial Effusion – is an accumulation of fluid within the pericardial space. It can be caused by tumors of the heart or idiopathic (no known cause).
• Congenital Idiopathic Megaesophagus – is a dilatation of the esophagus caused by decreased contraction of the muscles, causing food regurgitation.
• Lymphocytic plasmacytic enteritis (LPE) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease
• Lick granuloma is a condition in which the dog licks an area excessively, usually on the front leg, until a raised, firm ulcerated lesion is formed.
• Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma is an adenocarcinoma of the anal glands.
• Testicular tumors are tumors that involve the testicles in intact male dogs.
• Dwarfism is a deficiency of growth hormone (GH), which is normally secreted by the pituitary gland.
• Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to loose transparency and can result in blindness.
• Lens luxation is a dislocation or displacement of the lens within the eye.In addition, German shepherds have a higher incidence of allergies, ear infections and malignant cancer such as hemangiosarcoma and Lymphoma.

Life Span

The average life span for a German shepherd dog is 10 to 13 years.

We realize that each dog is unique and may display other characteristics. This profile provides generally accepted breed information only.