German Shepherd Dog: two coat lengths, both with undercoat
The German Shepherd Dog has a powerful, muscular outline with a body longer than its height. Its FCI standard includes double coat and long double coat. Both have undercoat, so the longer-haired variety is not simply a dog with long outer hair and no second layer beneath it.
How the two coats differ
In the double-coat variety, the outer hair is dense, harsh and close-fitting. The long double coat has softer outer hair that does not lie as close, with tufts on the ears and legs, fuller hair behind the hind legs and a bushy tail.
The Border Collie also has two coat varieties, but its moderately long coat and smooth coat have their own descriptions. Looking at the neck, legs and tail helps make the distinction more concrete than a single short-or-long label.
Time and space alongside a large frame
The earlier UK guide records more than two hours of daily exercise, grooming more than once a week, a large house and a large garden. Its location category covers town or country. These entries are useful planning prompts from an earlier guide, not an individual dog’s timetable.
The Rottweiler shares the exercise and space categories but has weekly grooming in the guide. The Border Collie shares the exercise and grooming entries, with a small house rather than a large one.
Compare proportions as well as height
The FCI heights are 60–65 cm for males and 55–60 cm for females. The body is slightly elongated rather than square. Compare with the Border Collie for coat varieties, or the Rottweiler for a substantial body under a different coat.
Sources and further reading
German Shepherd Dog at a glance
These earlier UK breed guides are starting points for comparison. Details may have changed, and individual dogs vary.
- Breed group
- Pastoral
- Size
- Large
- Daily exercise
- More than 2 hours per day
- Grooming frequency
- More than once a week
- Coat length
- Short and Long
- Sheds
- Yes
- Suggested home size
- Large house
- Town or country
- Town or country
- Garden recommendation
- Large garden
- Lifespan
- Over 10 years
FCI breed standard
Standard guidance describes the breed ideal; individual dogs vary.
- Origin
- Germany
- Group
- 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs)
- Section
- 1 - Sheepdogs
- Variety covered
- Double coat and Long double coat
- Height
- Males: 60–65 cm; Females: 55–60 cm
- Weight
- Males: 30–40 kg; Females: 22–32 kg
Official FCI standard (PDF)
Standard effective from 2010-08-11; checked 2026-10-15
DogTime description
Different DogTime sections are shown separately. Read 15 October 2026; later page updates may not be reflected. These descriptions are not breed-standard limits or guarantees for individual dogs.
- Height at shoulder
- Quick facts: Males: About 24–26 in; Quick facts: Females: 22–24 in; Size: Typically 22–26 in; Statistics: 22–26 in
- Weight
- Quick facts: 50–90 lb; Size: Usually 50–90 lb; Statistics: 75–95 lb
