How long does a German Shepherd Dog live?

The listed lifespan for a German Shepherd Dog is 12–14 years.

How tall is a German Shepherd Dog?

The listed height for a German Shepherd Dog is 24–26 in (male), 22–24 in (female).

Is a German Shepherd Dog good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a German Shepherd Dog is 5 out of 5.

When is a German Shepherd Dog full grown?

The growth size band for a German Shepherd Dog is up to 24 months.

Herding Group

German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherd Dog is a large dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 65–90 lb (male), 50–70 lb (female), height is 24–26 in (male), 22–24 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Courageous, Confident, Smart.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

German Shepherd Dog dog — Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–14 years

Weight65–90 lb (male), 50–70 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupHerding Group

Height

24–26 in (male), 22–24 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

4 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about 0.4 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 70 lb is about 10.8 lb heavier than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Germany. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 4 out of 5, so coat cleanup is a regular job. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 4 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, and Temperament Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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