This is a working police/military breed sold as a family pet, and hip and elbow dysplasia are common enough that breeding-stock screening is standard practice, not a precaution — a German Shepherd bought without health-tested parents has a meaningfully higher chance of developing joint disease that shortens its active years.
11.3years, median
1.2 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 30,681 dogs of this breed (listed in the study as "German Shepherd Dog"). 95% confidence interval 11.3 to 11.4 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, large breeds as a group had a median of 11.9 years and long-muzzled breeds 12.1. This breed is large and long-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.063.43% of German Shepherds had at least one disorder recorded in 2013.
From the clinical records of 1,660 German Shepherds under veterinary care in the UK that year, read by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme.
Most often recorded, 2013
| Disorder | Share of German Shepherds | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Ear infection (otitis externa) | 7.89% | 6.64–9.29 |
| Osteoarthritis | 5.54% | 4.49–6.75 |
| Diarrhea | 5.24% | 4.22–6.42 |
| Overweight or obese | 5.18% | 4.16–6.36 |
| Aggression | 4.76% | 3.79–5.90 |
| Dental disease | 4.1% | 3.19–5.16 |
| Ear disorder | 3.19% | — |
| Lameness | 2.77% | — |
| Underweight | 2.71% | — |
| Hip dysplasia | 2.65% | 1.93–3.54 |
Age at death in this sample
Median 10.3 years (middle half 8 to 12.1), 2013 data. Of the 221 deaths with a recorded cause: Muscle, bone or joint disorder 16.3%, Unable to stand 14.9%, Cancer (neoplasia) 14.5%, Spinal cord disorder 13.6%, Lump (mass) 6.3%, Brain disorder 5%, Heart disorder 5%. Different sample and year from the measured lifespan above, which is why the two numbers differ.
Nearly half the deaths with a recorded cause came down to the back legs: joints, spine, or being unable to stand.
“The most frequent disorders in GSDs were otitis externa, osteoarthritis, diarrhoea, overweight/obesity and aggression, whilst the most common causes of death were musculoskeletal disorders and inability to stand.”— the authors, O'Neill et al. 2017, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 4:7
Health tests to ask the breeder for
German Shepherd Dog Club of America sets the tests a German Shepherd needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Temperament Test (passing GSDCA Temperament Test submitted to OFA)
When to spay or neuter a German Shepherd Dog: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is 2 years or later. For females, 2 years or later. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
- Cardiac Evaluation
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis
- Degenerative Myelopathy DNA test
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a German Shepherd near you
Shelters and rescues list German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a German Shepherd
This is a working breed at heart, and most pet German Shepherds are under-exercised for what their brain and body actually need — an hour or more of real physical and mental work most days. Without it, expect anxiety, barking, and destructiveness. They shed heavily year-round, are naturally protective and wary of strangers, and need early, consistent socialization to avoid becoming reactive as adults.
Health you should know about
- Hip dysplasia — one of the breed's defining problems; OFA data spanning decades puts US prevalence around 18-20%, while some European studies using different screening methods report far higher rates, illustrating how much detection method affects the numbers.
- Elbow dysplasia — frequently co-occurs with hip dysplasia and is likewise part of routine breeding-stock screening.
- Degenerative myelopathy — a progressive, incurable spinal cord disease causing hind-limb paralysis in older dogs; German Shepherds carry the associated SOD1 gene variant at a higher rate than most breeds, and genetic testing is available.
- Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) — a sudden, life-threatening emergency more common in deep-chested large breeds like this one; exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is also disproportionately seen in the breed.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a German Shepherd? German dog and cat names, 88 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 4 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 4 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.