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How tall is a German Shepherd?

A German Shepherd is commonly listed at 21.5 in (55 cm), the lower end of its female range.

Other reports range from 21.5 in (55 cm) to 23.5 in (60 cm); the drawing and the comparisons on this page use 21.5 in (55 cm). Each one is listed below with its source.

Side by side with an Airedale Terrier, an Alaskan Malamute and a Border Collie

German Shepherd: 21.5 in at the shoulder; the average US man’s head is 3 ft 11.5 in above it. Tallest to shortest in this lineup.German Shepherd: 1 ft 9.5 in (55 cm), measured at the shoulder. Average US man: 5 ft 9 in (175.1 cm). German Shepherd: 21.5 in at the shoulder; the average US man’s head is 3 ft 11.5 in above it. Average 7-year-old: 4 ft 0 in (122 cm). German Shepherd: 21.5 in at the shoulder; the average 7-year-old’s head is 2 ft 2.5 in above it.German Shepherd: 21.5 in at the shoulder; the average US man’s head is 3 ft 11.5 in above it. Tallest to shortest in this lineup.German Shepherd: 1 ft 9.5 in (55 cm), measured at the shoulder. Average US man: 5 ft 9 in (175.1 cm). German Shepherd: 21.5 in at the shoulder; the average US man’s head is 3 ft 11.5 in above it. Average 7-year-old: 4 ft 0 in (122 cm). German Shepherd: 21.5 in at the shoulder; the average 7-year-old’s head is 2 ft 2.5 in above it.

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What a German Shepherd’s height measures

Breed figures describe the breed, not your dog: males usually stand taller, and dogs are measured at the shoulder.

Ranked by the tallest height its standard names (23.5 in), the German Shepherd is the joint 120th tallest of the 297 dog breeds on this site. See the tallest dog breeds ranked.

Drawn at the same 21.5 in: Warthog, Dutch Shepherd and French Spaniel. Same drawing, different listings: a German Shepherd’s figure is the lower end of its female range, a warthog’s, a Dutch Shepherd’s and a French Spaniel’s each the lower end of its range.

This is a published species or breed reference, not a prediction for an individual animal. Where a range is supplied, both ends appear with the reading. Shoulder height and head height are kept apart when comparing animals.

Other herding dogs near its height

All 48 herding dogs by height, tallest first, or every dog breed. To compare your own dog, measure it at the withers.

Published heights

21.5 in (55 cm)

A German Shepherd is commonly listed at 21.5 in (55 cm), the lower end of its female range. Females: lower end of the breed range.

Source: Wikidata

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23.5 in (60 cm)

A German Shepherd is commonly listed at 23.5 in (60 cm). Higher published listing.

Source: Wikidata

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Compared with a German Shepherd

Draw German Shepherd beside WarthogDraw German Shepherd beside Dutch ShepherdDraw German Shepherd beside French Spaniel

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Cite this page
APAHeightvs. (2026, October 22). How tall is a German Shepherd? Drawn to scale. https://heightvs.com/how-tall/german-shepherd
MLA“How Tall Is a German Shepherd? Drawn to Scale.” Heightvs, 22 Oct. 2026, heightvs.com/how-tall/german-shepherd.
Chicago“How Tall Is a German Shepherd? Drawn to Scale.” Heightvs. Last modified October 22, 2026. https://heightvs.com/how-tall/german-shepherd.
Link<a href="https://heightvs.com/how-tall/german-shepherd">How tall is a German Shepherd? Drawn to scale (Heightvs)</a>

For the height itself, cite the original publisher as well: Wikidata.

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A German Shepherd, 1 ft 9.5 in (55 cm), drawn to scale beside a warthog, 1 ft 9.5 in (55 cm)