German Shepherds make wonderful pets in the right homes. However, we frequently see them given up to Battersea. This is because people often underestimate the complexities of the breed, and whether they are compatible with their lives.
- Average lifespan: 10 years
- Size: Large (30-45kg)
- Time: You’ll need to dedicate a lot of time every day to training and exercise. Without committed training, German Shepherds can become sensitive to new experiences.
- Cost: You’ll need an insurance plan to cover the cost of any potential veterinary treatments, as German Shepherds are prone to health conditions. And because they’re larger dogs, you’ll need to pay for a greater supply of pet food too.
Behaviour, training and exercise
You’ll need to be physically capable and prepared to give your German Shepherd plenty of exercise, play and other mental stimulation. They have lots of energy and need to be kept busy. A healthy, full grown German Shepherd will typically need 60 to 90 minutes of exercise a day (depending on their age and health). You should always pay close attention to their individual needs, and you’ll need to be particularly careful if they have any medical issues.
You'll need to dedicate lots of time and effort to training from a young age and throughout their life. Without proactive training, they can struggle and become easily frustrated. You’ll need to direct their energy and intelligence in a positive way, by practicing training exercises like recall or lead walking. This training can make all the difference in your relationship and make owning a dog much more enjoyable.
You’ll need to socialise and train your German Shepherd to help them become familiar with different people, places and sounds. They can be nervous dogs and often bark when worried, so you’ll need to take your time to help them adjust to new people and situations.
Good to know
While a dog’s breed may influence how they behave, their behaviour will be shaped by all kinds of things, from their age to their life experiences.
Health
German Shepherds can develop problems that affect their bones, muscles or joints, including hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia and osteoarthritis. These diseases can occur from an early age.
Treatment and costs
Bone and joint problems need lifelong management and treatment. This can include regular vet visits and medication to manage mobility, pain and quality of life. Expensive surgery or hydrotherapy/physiotherapy may also be needed.
German Shepherds can develop itchy, irritated or sore ears and skin, often caused by underlying allergies.
Treatment and costs
These are often lifelong conditions with regular, ongoing vet costs. Allergies can only be managed rather than cured, so German Shepherds with these issues will need regular vet check-ups and trial treatments to keep them under control.
German Shepherds can experience both short and long-term digestive issues and food sensitivities. They can also develop emergency problems such as gastric bloat and twisted stomach (also known as gastric dilatation and volvulus).
Treatment and costs
These conditions may come with significant one-off and ongoing treatment costs.
This is a degenerative neurological disease that German Shepherds can develop, which leads to muscle weakness, lack of co-ordination, loss of mobility and incontinence.
Treatment and costs
Unfortunately, there’s no specific treatment for this disease, and in the later stages, it can impact quality of life to a level where it’s kindest to put them to sleep.
Good to know
Some reputable breeders will screen parents for certain health issues to reduce the chance of puppies developing them. We have a detailed guide on how to find a breeder which you may find helpful.
Costs to consider
The cost of owning and keeping a dog healthy and happy is a long-term financial commitment. For a breakdown of how much it costs to own a German Shepherd, check out this calculator from the RSPCA.
As there are common medical issues associated with German Shepherds which can be expensive to treat, it’s important to consider how you would fund this. Pet insurance doesn't always cover all medical treatment, so you may need to pay some costs yourself.
