Dog breed
German Shepherd
From Germany, 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder and 49 to 88 pounds.
The fact file
- Where it comes from
- Germany
- Height at the shoulder
- 22 to 24 inches
- Weight
- 49 to 88 pounds
- Size class
- Large, by the weight above
- Typical lifespan
- around 10 years
- Litter size
- around 6 puppies
- Also called
- Schäferhund, Deutscher Schäferhund and Berger Allemand
- American Kennel Club
- A recognized breed
Most common names for a German Shepherd
In the pet license records we use, 6,477 dogs are listed as a German Shepherd or a German Shepherd mix. These are their most common names.
Names that lean German Shepherd
Each of these is more common among German Shepherd dogs than among all the dogs whose breed we can read in the records.
From pet license records published by New York City, Seattle, Cambridge in Massachusetts, and Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. How the names data works
Eight ways we draw a German Shepherd
Each one prints on a poster, a bandana, a bed, a mat and more. Pick a style to see it on a poster.
A German Shepherd's life stages
A German Shepherd is a large dog by its recorded weight, and the age the senior years may start depends on size.
- PuppyBirth to 6 months
- Puppy or young adult6 to 9 months
- Young adult9 months to 3 years
- Young or mature adult3 to 4 years
- Mature adult4 to 7 years
- Mature adult or seniorFrom 7 years
Stages from the American Animal Hospital Association life stage guidelines. How the life-stage calculator works
A German Shepherd's age in human years
For a large dog, on the same method as our dog age calculator.
| Age | In human years |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 15 |
| 2 years | 24 |
| 3 years | 30 |
| 5 years | 42 |
| 7 years | 54 |
| 10 years | 72 |
| 13 years | 90 |
| 16 years | 108 |
Related breeds
The same size, or from the same country.
For your German Shepherd
Breed facts in the fact file: Wikidata, read 2026-10-03, which anyone may reuse.
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