German Shepherd: everything you need to know

Veterinary and insurance guide · Petplan Spain Team · Updated 2026

The German Shepherd (Deutscher Schäferhund) is one of the most capable and recognisable dogs in the world: a large, athletic and supremely intelligent working dog, devoted to its family and famous as a police, military, guide and assistance dog. Behind that loyalty and drive, though, is a breed with a number of very specific and serious veterinary predispositions — from hip and elbow dysplasia to degenerative myelopathy. In this guide we cover its origin, its temperament, the conditions we most often see in the clinic, with particular attention to its joint and neurological problems, and the real veterinary costs worth planning for in Spain, and we explain why Petplan pet insurance is the best choice for your German Shepherd.

Origin and history of the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd was created in Germany at the end of the 19th century by Max von Stephanitz, who set out to standardise the ideal herding and working dog from regional German sheepdogs. The breed quickly proved so trainable and versatile that it moved from herding into police, military, search-and-rescue, guide and assistance work, roles it still dominates today.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognises the breed under standard number 166, in group 1 (sheepdogs and cattle dogs). Its hallmarks are its noble head, erect ears, dense double coat and powerful, ground-covering movement — together with an intelligent, confident and loyal temperament that has made it one of the most popular working and family dogs in the world.

Physical characteristics

Temperament and character

The German Shepherd is intelligent, loyal, confident and protective. It is one of the most trainable of all breeds, eager to work and deeply bonded to its family, which makes it an outstanding guardian, service and sport dog. With proper socialisation it is steady and reliable; without it, its protectiveness and drive can become reactivity or anxiety.

It is a high-energy working breed that needs a job to do. It thrives on training, obedience, tracking and protection sports, and forms an intense attachment to its people — so it does not cope well with isolation or boredom. Two key German Shepherd traits worth knowing before you adopt:

• Needs training and a purpose: it is happiest and best-behaved when given consistent training, mental work and a role; an under-stimulated Shepherd can become destructive or anxious.
• Strong guarding instinct: early, thorough socialisation is essential so its natural protectiveness stays balanced and controllable.

Common health problems in the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a powerful, athletic dog, but its size, its conformation and its genetic background create several very specific — and at times serious — veterinary predispositions worth knowing.

Hip and elbow dysplasia

This is the breed’s signature orthopaedic problem. As a large, fast-growing working dog, the German Shepherd has a strong predisposition to hip and elbow dysplasia, malformations of the joint that cause lameness, pain and arthritis, made worse in some show lines by an exaggerated sloping topline. Severe cases require surgery, which can exceed EUR 3,000 per joint. Controlled growth, weight management and buying from parents with official radiographic screening all reduce the risk.

Degenerative myelopathy

The German Shepherd is one of the breeds most affected by degenerative myelopathy, a progressive, incurable neurological disease of the spinal cord that appears in older dogs and causes gradual loss of coordination and paralysis of the hindquarters. A genetic test (SOD1 gene) identifies carriers and is very useful for responsible breeding.

Gastric torsion (bloat)

As a large, deep-chested breed, the German Shepherd is predisposed to gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat), a life-threatening emergency in which the stomach distends and twists. It needs immediate surgery (often over EUR 2,000-3,000) and is fatal if not treated fast. Splitting meals, avoiding intense exercise around feeding and knowing the warning signs all help.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and digestive disease

The breed has a marked predisposition to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), in which the pancreas fails to produce digestive enzymes, causing weight loss and chronic diarrhoea despite a good appetite; it is managed lifelong with enzyme supplementation. German Shepherds are also prone to chronic colitis and other digestive problems.

Perianal fistulas, skin disease and tumours

The German Shepherd is the breed most associated with perianal fistulas, a painful immune-mediated condition around the anus, as well as atopic dermatitis and other skin allergies, and a raised risk of haemangiosarcoma and other tumours. Annual veterinary check-ups allow many of these to be caught early.

Coat care and feeding

The German Shepherd has a dense double coat that sheds heavily, especially during seasonal moults. It needs brushing several times a week (daily when moulting) to remove loose undercoat and keep the skin healthy. The long-haired variety needs a little more attention. Regular ear and skin checks help catch allergies and infections early.

Feeding should be based on a quality food for large active breeds with measured portions to avoid excess weight, which worsens its joint problems. In puppies, a controlled-growth large-breed food helps reduce the risk of joint disease. Because of the bloat risk, split the daily ration into several meals and avoid intense exercise right before or after eating.

Exercise and stimulation

The German Shepherd needs a great deal of exercise: at least 2 hours a day of physical activity combining walking, running and structured work. It is a working athlete that excels at obedience, tracking, protection sports and canine disciplines, and genuinely needs a job to channel its energy and intelligence.

Just as important is mental stimulation: as one of the most intelligent working breeds, a German Shepherd that is bored or left alone too long easily develops problem behaviours, from destructiveness to anxiety and reactivity. The combination of physical exercise, training and family involvement is the key to a balanced, happy German Shepherd.

How much does pet insurance for a German Shepherd cost?

The price of pet insurance for a German Shepherd in Spain depends on the age at sign-up, the type of cover (third-party liability, accidents, full health), the capital limit and the geographic area. For a German Shepherd insured before its third birthday, the average Petplan premium is around EUR 360 per year on intermediate cover.

To put the value in perspective: hip or elbow dysplasia surgery can exceed EUR 3,000 per joint; emergency bloat surgery often exceeds EUR 2,000-3,000; managing degenerative myelopathy or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency means months or years of consultations, tests and medication; and perianal fistulas and skin disease recur over a lifetime. Insurance turns that unpredictable financial risk into a stable monthly payment.

Why Petplan is the best choice for your German Shepherd

Petplan has been Europe’s leading pet insurer since 1976 and operates in Spain as Petplan Ibérica. Our cover is designed specifically for the particularities of large working breeds like the German Shepherd: hip and elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, degenerative myelopathy, digestive disease, perianal fistulas and skin conditions all fall within the scope of the policy, provided the animal is insured before they show clinically.

We work with free choice of vet across Spain: you can keep going to your trusted vet or your referral neurologist, surgeon or specialist, not a closed network. Reimbursement is quick, and the policy covers your German Shepherd for its whole life as long as you renew, with no exclusions for conditions that arise with age.

If you want to know exactly what it costs to insure your German Shepherd, with its date of birth, postcode and level of cover, you can calculate your personalised price in under a minute with no obligation.