Find out all about German Shepherds and their common health conditions, and then compare pet insurance options from some of Australia’s leading insurers.
Fact checked
$800–$1,500
55cm - 65cm
22kg - 40kg
Intelligent, loyal, versatile
Medium or long, thick
High
Can be
9 - 12 years
The German Shepherd, also called the Alsatian in the UK and other parts of Europe, is a highly intelligent and versatile breed of dog originating from Germany. The breed was established by Max von Stephanits, who started breeding German sheepdogs in 1899. However, after the First and Second World Wars, the breed was re-named Alsatian Wolf Dog due to its popularity with Nazis, including Hitler. The ‘wolf dog’ part of the name was dropped after breeders became worried the association with wolves might harm the popularity of the breed.
The name Alsatian remained for five decades until it was re-registered as the German Shepherd in 1977. It is now one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the world, and they are used in many roles including police work, military, search and rescue, customs detection, personal assistance dogs and as family companions.
The German Shepherd is a strong, powerful dog that is also often used as a guard dog. They have a dense, thick double coat that requires regular grooming. German Shepherds are known for their intelligence, loyalty, courage, and protective instincts. Although once considered a dangerous breed, and briefly banned in Australia, German Shepherds have recently been bred to be family pets and their aggressive nature has largely been bred out of them. They are loyal companions who traditionally come in a combination of colours – either black and tan, or red and black, although other colours such as black roan and white are also more rarely available. As an active working dog, they require a lot of exercise and a large backyard to accommodate their size and energy.
The protective nature of German Shepherds can make them reserved around strangers, so early socialisation is important to get them accustomed to a variety of people. They require very regular exercise and mental stimulation to stop them from becoming bored.
Most Australians can expect to pay between $20 and $60 a month for pet insurance. There are many factors that can influence the cost of pet insurance for your dog, including the following:
This is the most basic type of pet insurance, covering costs for accidental injuries such as car accidents, poisoning, burns, fractures, snake and spider bites, but not illnesses and other conditions.
This type of insurance provides cover for accidental injuries as well as illnesses like cancer, gastrointestinal problems and eye, ear and skin conditions, but not routine care for your pet.
This offers the highest level of protection, covering accident and illness and potentially routine care such as vaccinations, dental care, worm and flea treatments and microchipping.
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Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
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© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
