How tall is a German Shepherd?

An adult German Shepherd stands about 25 inches at the shoulder (AKC mid-range, male). Females typically run 1–2 inches shorter, and individual variation within the breed is roughly ±2 inches.

Is a German Shepherd considered a large dog?

Yes — at 25" / 78 lb, the German Shepherd falls into the large-breed size class (shoulder height 23–27"). Out of 252 breeds catalogued, it ranks #60 tallest.

How does a German Shepherd compare to a person?

At 25" tall, a German Shepherd stands about 39% of the height of an average adult (5'4" / 64"). The chart on this page draws both silhouettes at the same pixel-per-inch scale so the proportion you see is the real ratio.

German Shepherd Size Compared to a Person

A German Shepherd stands 25″ at the shoulder and weighs about 78 lb — that puts it at 39% of the height of an average adult (5′4″ / 64″). Of the 252 breeds catalogued, it ranks #60 by shoulder height and falls into the large-breed size class (Large breeds, 23–27").

German Shepherd next to a person at scale — 25-inch shoulder height, 78 lb. Drawn by iDogNames. — German Shepherd at 25″ / 78 lb, next to an average adult at 5′4″ / 135 lb. Drawn to AKC breed standards.

How a German Shepherd compares

	German Shepherd	Person	Difference
Shoulder height	25″	64″	-39″
Weight	78 lb	135 lb	-57 lb

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About the German Shepherd

This Template is the main browse page for German Shepherd dog names. The editor groups expose four useful routes: German-language heritage, working-call imagery, coat-led choices and steady human names. They are starting points, not claims that a breed determines temperament or work.

Similar-size breeds

The 8 breeds in the Large size class with shoulder height closest to the German Shepherd.

Alaskan Malamute — 25″ / 85 lb (same height)
American English Coonhound — 25″ / 55 lb (same height)
Belgian Malinois — 25″ / 70 lb (same height)
Belgian Shepherd — 25″ / 65 lb (same height)
Belgian Tervuren — 25″ / 65 lb (same height)
Bluetick Coonhound — 25″ / 68 lb (same height)
Briard — 25″ / 78 lb (same height)
Bullmasador — 25″ / 100 lb (same height)

Compare a German Shepherd with another breed

Frequently asked

How tall is a German Shepherd?: An adult German Shepherd stands about 25 inches at the shoulder (AKC mid-range, male). Females typically run 1–2 inches shorter, and individual variation within the breed is roughly ±2 inches.
Is a German Shepherd considered a large dog?: Yes — at 25" / 78 lb, the German Shepherd falls into the large-breed size class (shoulder height 23–27"). Out of 252 breeds catalogued, it ranks #60 tallest.
How does a German Shepherd compare to a person?: At 25" tall, a German Shepherd stands about 39% of the height of an average adult (5'4" / 64"). The chart on this page draws both silhouettes at the same pixel-per-inch scale so the proportion you see is the real ratio.

More on the German Shepherd

German Shepherd dog names & full breed page · All large-size breeds · Visual atlas (Large section) · Size comparison home