German Shepherd Dog

Немецкая овчарка

FCI group 1ratings complete

Trait ratings

The 1–5 scale describes how pronounced a trait is in the breed. Both ends are named explicitly — without that the number means nothing.

Training and control

Learning speed5/5

1 — Learns new things slowly, needs many repetitions5 — Picks up new skills in a handful of repetitions

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Decision independence3/5

1 — Waits for instructions, makes almost no decisions itself5 — Acts on its own decision without looking to the handler

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Recall reliability4/5

1 — Off lead, the recall does not work5 — Comes back on the first signal even under strong distraction

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Inhibitory control4/5

1 — Acts on impulse, cannot hold back5 — Waits for the release signal even under strong temptation

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Temperament and reactivity to the environment

Excitability3/5

1 — Stays calm even during play, with guests or when getting ready for a walk5 — Gets excited instantly by any noticeable event

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Activity and exercise

Exercise needs5/5

1 — Short walks are enough5 — Needs hours of activity daily, or behaviour deteriorates

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Endurance5/5

1 — Tires quickly, cannot handle long distances5 — Can keep moving for many hours at a stretch

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Ability to settle3/5

1 — At home almost always wants something to do, never unwinds5 — Rests quietly after exercise and asks for nothing

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Risks and unwanted tendencies

Wanderlust / roaming2/5

1 — Stays close, does not extend the distance on its own5 — Readily goes far and keeps going regardless of the person

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Prey drive / chasing3/5

1 — Barely reacts to running animals5 — Launches after a moving target and ignores commands

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Barking tendency4/5

1 — Barks rarely and with reason5 — Barks often and for many reasons

Barking is mostly alerting: at strangers, sounds and movement near the boundary.

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Howling tendency2/5

1 — Practically never howls5 — Howls often and at length

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Destructiveness3/5

1 — Indifferent to belongings5 — With nothing to do, regularly takes the place apart

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Digging tendency2/5

1 — Digs rarely5 — Digs a lot and willingly, including under fences

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Separation anxiety3/5

1 — Takes being alone calmly5 — Becomes markedly distressed when left alone

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Territoriality and resource guarding4/5

1 — Guards neither territory nor resources5 — Actively guards territory and resources, reacts hard

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Social behaviour

Human orientation5/5

1 — Works and walks by itself, rarely seeks contact5 — Keeps the owner in focus at all times and seeks to work together

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Tolerance of children4/5

1 — Copes badly with children, needs to be kept apart5 — Tolerant of noise and rough handling

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Attitude to strangers2/5

1 — Wary of strangers or avoids them5 — Open and friendly with people it does not know

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Attitude to other dogs3/5

1 — Gets into conflicts with other dogs5 — Calm and sociable with any dog

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Attitude to cats and small animals3/5

1 — Treats small animals as prey5 — Lives calmly with cats and small animals

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Tolerance of being alone3/5

1 — Copes badly with even a few hours alone5 — Stays alone for a working day without trouble

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Daily life and grooming

Shedding5/5

1 — Hardly any hair around the home5 — Sheds heavily; in season the hair is everywhere

Sheds heavily all year round, with seasonal peaks.

Source: expert judgement · confidence: high

Grooming effort3/5

1 — Minimal grooming5 — Needs frequent professional grooming

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Drooling2/5

1 — Hardly drools at all5 — Drools constantly, on clothes and furniture

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Space requirements4/5

1 — Comfortable even in a small flat5 — Needs a house with a plot

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Climate tolerance

Heat tolerance2/5

1 — Copes badly with heat, high risk of overheating5 — Copes well with heat

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium

Cold tolerance4/5

1 — Gets cold, needs protection5 — Excellent in cold, can live and work in frost

Source: expert judgement · confidence: medium