How long do German Shepherd Dogs live?

The median lifespan of the German Shepherd Dog is 11.3 years, based on the 2024 McMillan et al. study of 584,734 UK dogs.

Is the German Shepherd Dog a healthy breed?

On the Breed Health Score the German Shepherd Dog scores 59 out of 100 (grade C), compared with an average of 71 across 155 breeds.

59/ 100

German Shepherd Dog Grade C

Q: What health problems do German Shepherd Dogs have?

Commonly reported conditions in the German Shepherd Dog include Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia, Degenerative myelopathy, Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, GDV (bloat).

Median lifespani 11.3 yr · large · 22-40 kg

⇆ Compare German Shepherd Dog

The German Shepherd Dog is a large breed with a median lifespan of 11.3 years, which places it among the shortest-lived third of the 155 breeds we rank for longevity. Commonly reported health conditions include Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia, Degenerative myelopathy, Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Its overall Breed Health Score is 59/100 (grade C), against an average of 71/100 across all breeds.

Score breakdown

Longevityi 65%

Conformationi 20%

100

Hereditary burdeni 15%

Higher is healthier. See methodology.

Common & hereditary conditions

Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Degenerative myelopathy Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency GDV (bloat)

Red marks a life-threatening or major-welfare condition. Click a condition to see which breeds it affects. This list reflects commonly reported conditions, so better-studied breeds may show more; hereditary burden is the lightest-weighted part of the score. Source: RVC VetCompass / AKC / PDSA (indicative).

Thinking of a German Shepherd Dog? A breed's health profile affects insurance cost. Comparing pet insurance early, before any conditions become pre-existing, usually gets the best cover.

Compare with similar-size breeds

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<div style="font:12px -apple-system,Segoe UI,Roboto,sans-serif;margin-top:4px"><a href="https://breedhealthscore.com/breed/german-shepherd-dog/">German Shepherd Dog health score on Breed Health Score</a></div>

Data & citation. Median lifespan: McMillan, K.M. et al. (2024) "Longevity of companion dog breeds", Scientific Reports (584,734 UK dogs). Data CC-BY 4.0. Source. Machine-readable: developer API. These are independent estimates for comparing breeds, not veterinary advice. Photo: Inge Van den Heuvel via Pexels.