German Shepherd
The eager to please, intelligent and loyal dog, perfect for an active family lifestyle.



At a glance
Over 2 hours of exercise a day
Life expectancy of 10 to 12 years
Large, between 22kg and 40kg
Intelligent, loyal, obedient
Over 2 hours of exercise a day
Life expectancy of 10 to 12 years
Large, between 22kg and 40kg
Intelligent, loyal, obedient
German Shepherd – the loyal family dog
Always keen to make an impression and follow their owners' orders, German Shepherds have gone from working dog to loyal family companions. They tend to be good with children and other dogs, providing they've had plenty of exposure to both as puppies and are well trained. If you lead an active lifestyle and enjoy the great outdoors, a German Shepherd could be the four-legged friend you've been looking for.
Buying or rehoming a German Shepherd
Getting a new dog, whether you buy or adopt, is a huge commitment and there’s lots of preparation you need to do to be ready. Some things to consider are:
- Prepping your home
- Figuring out what to feed them, and buying the food
- Buying the essentials, such as leads and collars
- Prepping your family, especially any young children
- Securing your garden
- Understanding grooming routines and techniques
- Knowing how much exercise they’ll need
- Considering pet insurance
Did you know?
German Shepherds were working dogs in the First World War.
Top 5 health conditions in German Shepherds
We’ve put together the most common claimed for conditions for German Shepherds, based on MORE THAN pet insurance customer claims
Condition | Number of claims | Average paid out |
---|---|---|
270 | £942 | |
154 | £186 | |
109 | £1,428 | |
105 | £804 | |
94 | £1,099 |
Common health issues and problems in German Shepherds
Most German Shepherds are healthy dogs, with a usual lifespan of over 10 years. Some health conditions in German Shepherds can be down to their genetic history, and commonalities within the breed.
Click on the hotspots to find out more about the most common health issues affecting German Shepherds, as provided by our in-house vet team (October 2022).

Are you looking for insurance for your German Shepherd?

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