German Shepherd Puppies for Sale

Adult German Shepherds weigh 50–90 lb and stand 22–26 in tall. Parents of Pawrade German Shepherds typically weigh 70–110 lb (fathers) and 60–90 lb (mothers).

Males are bigger, at about 65–90 lb and 24–26 in tall, against about 50–70 lb and 22–24 in for females. Males also tend to reach full maturity later.

White is a German Shepherd color, though it is outside the AKC breed standard; the UKC accepts it. The white line is also recognized as its own breed: the White Shepherd (UKC) or Berger Blanc Suisse (FCI).

A German Shepherd puppy's ears usually stand by about 4 months. They may go up and down while the puppy is teething, and the standard calls for upright adult ears.

German Shepherds are confident, steady and eager to please, and the standards describe a fearless, attentive dog that is neither timid nor hostile. They are reserved with strangers and bond closely with their people.

Most German Shepherds are reserved with strangers at first, and the breed is not given to making friends with everyone. A well-socialized German Shepherd should still be approachable, and the standard calls for a self-confident dog, not a shy one.

German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs that need a daily job. Give yours daily exercise plus mental work, such as obedience, scent games or puzzle toys.

It depends on training, because a bored German Shepherd may chase cats and other animals. Teach self-control, such as sitting for food and toys, and a reliable recall early.

A German Shepherd needs more than 2 hours of exercise and play a day. Mix walks, jogs, hikes or play with mental work such as obedience or agility, because a bored German Shepherd turns destructive.

Not for long stretches, because German Shepherds are people-oriented dogs that need a job, and boredom leads to destructive behavior. Short crate breaks from puppyhood help prevent separation anxiety.

It can work with a lot of daily exercise and training, but it is not the easiest fit for a high-energy dog that needs a job. Almost all German Shepherd buyers on Pawrade have a yard.

Forced, repetitive running should wait until your puppy has finished growing, which in large breeds takes until about 18 months. Growth plates in a puppy's legs stay soft while it grows, and strenuous exercise can hurt them. Until then, keep play free and varied, and keep your puppy lean.

German Shepherds shed heavily, and they blow their coat about twice a year, in spring and autumn. They are not a low-shedding breed.

Brush a German Shepherd more than once a week with a de-shedding brush, and daily during the heavy sheds. Bathe only when needed.

Never shave a German Shepherd, because the double coat insulates it. In hot weather, move exercise to the cooler hours instead.

German Shepherds are intelligent, eager to please and quick to learn. Use food, games and praise, given calmly and consistently, because harsh methods backfire.

German Shepherds do well in obedience, rally, agility, tracking, herding, scent work, flyball, dock diving, IGP (Schutzhund) and therapy work. As a tending herder, a German Shepherd can take an AKC herding instinct test with no prior training.

Boredom is the usual reason, because an under-exercised German Shepherd barks, digs and chews destructively. Daily jobs, such as scent games, puzzle toys and chase-then-stop toy games, give that energy an outlet.

A German Shepherd puppy can usually hold its bladder for about an hour for each month of age, so a 3-month-old can wait about 3 hours. Take young puppies out first thing in the morning, last thing at night and after naps.

Put the crate in a room where the family spends time, or in your bedroom at night. Short, calm spells in the crate teach a young German Shepherd to settle and help prevent separation anxiety. Breeders on Pawrade report whether they have started crate training, so ask how far your puppy has got.

Adolescence usually starts at about 6–8 months, and many dogs test boundaries and seem to forget their training for a while. It is a normal phase, and consistent training, patience and plenty of exercise help. Keep training calm and reward-based, because harsh methods backfire with this breed.

German Shepherd breeders on Pawrade report a typical litter of 7 puppies, usually between 4 and 10.

Set up a crate in a room where the family spends time, and buy a large-breed puppy food to feed in measured meals. Book a first vet visit that checks the heart, bite and weight, and ask about a DNA panel that includes MDR1.

Start the day your puppy comes home, because the first 3 months are the most important time for learning that new people, places and animals are safe. Puppy classes can start as early as 7–8 weeks, as long as your puppy stays away from sick dogs. For a protective breed, plenty of friendly strangers matter most.

Most German Shepherd litters on Pawrade meet other dogs and children before the puppies go home. Breeders report socializing 93% of litters with large dogs, 81% with young children and 71% with older children. Most also get their puppies used to car rides and household sounds such as pots and pans. These figures come from what breeders reported for 320 litters.

Feed a large-breed puppy food in measured meals rather than leaving food down all day. Growth food slows the rate of growth, not the final size, and helps protect the joints.

Large breeds reach most of their adult size by their first birthday and full height by 12–18 months, then keep filling out. Full maturity comes at 2–3 years, and young dogs often look lean until then.

Spaying or neutering is a decision to talk through with your vet, because the right timing depends on things like sex and expected adult size. In large breeds the timing can affect joint health, so ask your vet about it early.

The puppy vaccine series usually finishes at about 16 weeks, as your vet advises. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record. Puppy classes can still start before then, as long as your puppy stays away from sick dogs.

The Veterinary Health Report is the record of your German Shepherd puppy's exam before it goes home. The breeder's licensed vet gives the puppy itself a full hands-on exam to PetPay's exam standards and writes down what they find. It gives you and your own vet a clear starting point for your puppy's care.

The breeder's licensed veterinarian examines every puppy before it goes home, to PetPay's exam standards. The results are recorded in the puppy's Veterinary Health Report, and a copy travels with your puppy for your records.

The breeder's vet examines the whole puppy and pays close attention to a few things that matter in German Shepherds. The vet listens to the heart for a murmur, looks at the bite and the teeth coming through, and compares the puppy's growth with its littermates.

Before travel, every puppy follows PetPay's vaccination and deworming schedule as far as its age allows: deworming at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks, and the distemper, parvo, adenovirus and parainfluenza combination shot at 6–8, 9–11 and 12–14 weeks. Bordetella and corona are given at the vet's discretion, and no vaccine is given within 3 days of travel. Rabies is given by a licensed vet on the schedule your state requires. Your own vet completes the series. Your puppy's vaccination and deworming records are separate documents that travel with your puppy. Bring them, with the Veterinary Health Report, to your first visit so your vet starts from the same record.

If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays with the breeder until it's resolved. Problems that can be treated before travel are treated by the breeder's licensed vet first. Anything else the vet notes is shared with you.

Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. In German Shepherds, conditions such as hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy show up as a dog grows or ages. The report is a strong early look at your puppy, and your own vet builds on it at every checkup.

Every puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.

German Shepherd buyers rate their Pawrade experience 4.7 out of 5 on average, from 341 reviews, and about 82% of those reviews give 5 stars.