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The German Shepherd is a large, active working dog, and keeping one healthy comes down to a handful of habits: measured meals, sensible exercise, a healthy weight, regular vet checks and early training. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as “a large, agile, muscular dog of noble character and high intelligence”.
The AKC lists a male as 24-26 inches (about 61-66 cm) tall and 65-90 pounds (about 29-41 kg), a female as 22-24 inches (about 56-61 cm) and 50-70 pounds (about 23-32 kg), with a life expectancy of 12-14 years. Your own dog may sit outside those ranges, so use them as a guide only.
This page covers feeding and weight, the bloat emergency, joints and exercise, check-ups, and training. It is general information, not veterinary advice: talk to your vet about your own dog, because needs differ with age, size and health.
One supplement option is described from its Amazon listing at the end; we have not tested it.
Feeding And Healthy Weight
There is no single amount that suits every German Shepherd, so ask your vet how much to feed for your dog’s age and activity, and check the label of the food you buy. Weight is worth watching: the PDSA says nearly half of dogs in the UK are overweight, and that being overweight is linked to several health problems and a reduced lifespan.
The PDSA suggests a simple body check. Gently feel the base of the tail, where there should not be a build-up of fat; look at your dog from the side and from above, where you should see a waist; and feel under the tummy, which should go in rather than bulge out. If your dog is gaining, our guide to dog food for weight loss is a starting point, and your vet can set a target weight.
Meal Times And Bloat
Bloat, also called gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is a problem for large dogs. The AKC calls it “a medical and surgical emergency” in which the stomach fills with air and can twist. Signs it lists are an enlarged abdomen, retching, salivation and restlessness, and it says that if you believe your dog has bloat you should call your vet or emergency vet immediately.
The AKC says dogs with a deep, narrow chest suffer most often. On feeding, it reports that dogs fed one meal a day are twice as likely to bloat as those fed two meals a day, and that fast eaters have five times the risk of slow eaters; stressed and hyperactive dogs are also more likely to bloat. It adds that studies on raised food bowls conflict, so it makes no firm recommendation. It does not name the German Shepherd, so ask your vet whether your dog’s build puts them at risk, and whether a preventive operation is worth discussing.
Exercise, Joints And Mobility
The PDSA says hip dysplasia is a painful condition in which the hip joints develop abnormally while a puppy is growing, that it is more common in medium to large pedigree breeds including German Shepherds, and that most affected dogs inherit it from a parent. Its advice for breeds at risk is to speak to your vet about how to exercise a growing puppy, because “too much of the wrong type of exercise can make hip dysplasia worse”, and to feed an appropriate food so the puppy does not grow too fast or get overweight.
The AKC describes degenerative myelopathy (DM) as a spinal cord disease that usually appears in middle-aged or older dogs, starting as weakness in the hind legs. It says DM seems more common in some breeds, German Shepherd Dogs among them, and that there is no effective treatment or cure. If your dog has a wobbly back end, or struggles to rise or climb stairs, see your vet rather than waiting.
Check-Ups And Vaccines
Book regular check-ups and ask your vet which vaccinations, parasite control and health screening are right for your dog and your country, as the schedules differ between places. Tell the vet early if you notice limping, a change in appetite or weight, or any change in how your dog moves.
Training, Company And Mental Exercise
This is a working breed, so start training and meeting people and other dogs in puppyhood, and give your dog jobs to do: scent games, puzzle feeders and short training sessions. Our guide to leash training a puppy covers the basics. A trainer or your vet can point you to a local puppy class.
Supplements: Ask Your Vet First
Many owners ask about skin and coat supplements. We have no veterinary source showing that any supplement helps a healthy German Shepherd, so speak to your vet before starting one. The two Zesty Paws products below are described from their Amazon listings: check each listing for ingredients, dose and the age of dog it is made for.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link — Dog Fluffy may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link — Dog Fluffy may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The Bottom Line
Keep your German Shepherd lean, split their daily food into two meals if your vet agrees, learn the signs of bloat, exercise a growing puppy carefully, and see your vet for regular check-ups and any change in how your dog walks. For more on the breed, see our German Shepherd guide and our fluffy dog breeds page.
