A German shepherd is not fully grown physically or mentally until after it's 3 years old. German shepherds are known for remaining puppies longer than most breeds. Even though German shepherds may be quite large at 6 months old, they still need time to develop.
When fully grown, the average male German shepherd is 24 to 26 inches in height and weighs 66 to 88 pounds, while a female German shepherd is 22 to 24 inches in height and 49 to 71 pounds. The average lifespan for a German shepherd is between nine and 13 years. German shepherds are known for their intelligence, making them common choices to act as police dogs and guard dogs, as well as search-and-rescue dogs.
