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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+13
Dogs
# The Altdeutscher Schäferhund: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Germany
An old-type German Shepherd, rustic, versatile and very attached to its owner.
Size LargeLife expectancy 10–14 yearsBudget ≈ €141/monthPuppy €1,200 – €2,500
[Find a breeder 47](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=altdeutscher-schaferhund)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs Very high
Apartment living Fair
First-time owners Fair
Other pets Good
Tolerance of being alone Fair
Guarding instinct Excellent
Strengths and weaknesses
- Versatility: He can be a family dog, a sports dog, and a dog for sensible guarding.
- Intelligence: He learns quickly and likes working with his owner.
- Attachment: He is loyal and very involved in family life.
- Relative hardiness: His more natural type often makes him more at ease at work than certain extreme lines.
- Very high activity needs: Without sport or a mission, he gets bored and can become intrusive.
- Possible wariness: Insufficient socialization encourages an overly guarding temperament.
- Coat care: Long-haired individuals require frequent brushing during shedding.
- Not an easy first dog: He requires consistency, time and a structured education.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Sporty owners: It is suitable for people who walk, run, or do dog sports several times a week.
- Homes with a fenced yard: It benefits from a secure space in addition to outings.
- Experienced households: It thrives with people who are already comfortable with herding dogs.
Not recommended for
- Sedentary people: His energy and his need for a mission are incompatible with a daily life that is too calm.
- Very long absences: He suffers from loneliness and may develop guarding behaviors.
- Apartment without real sport: The lack of space and exercise sets him up for failure.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
61 cmAltdeutscher Schäferhund
- Height at the withers
- 55–66 cm
- Weight
- 22–40 kg
- Coat
- Medium-long to long, dense, often with breeches and ruff
- FCI group
- Shepherd dog
- Origin
- Germany
- Grooming
- Moderate grooming needs
## Photos and videos
See the Altdeutscher Schäferhund in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Altdeutscher Schäferhund refers to lines of German Shepherds that have remained close to the old working type, before the very angulated and standardized selection of the modern German Shepherd. In Germany, breeders have preserved more natural dogs, often longer in the loin, more varied in colors and more oriented toward use than toward showing. The breed is not a simple synonym for the official German Shepherd: it represents a popular continuity of the traditional German herding dog. It then spread in Europe among families looking for a sporty companion and a reliable guard.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
It is a large dog, harmonious, more natural than the very angulated German Shepherd. The body is elongated without excess, the chest deep, the back firm and the croup less sloping. The head is proportionate, with erect ears and an attentive look. The coat, often medium-long to long, forms a ruff and full breeches. The coat colors are varied: black and tan, sable, wolf grey, black, sometimes piebald.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Intelligent, loyal and very close to his family, he needs a mission and a clear framework. His herding and guarding instinct remains pronounced: he observes, warns and shows distrust towards strangers if he is not well socialized. With the children of the household, he is generally patient when he is taught respect. He is not a couch dog: inactivity frustrates him quickly.
Affectionate Playful Intelligent Easy to train Sociable Protective
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
On a daily basis, it requires long outings, scent work or obedience work, and regular presence. It thrives in the countryside or in a house with an enclosed garden, but can live in the city if the activity is truly sufficient. Without occupation, it may bark, dig, or watch over in an excessive manner. Broad socialization from the youngest age prevents overly strong distrust.
Training
## Training and socialization
Training must start early, with consistency, firm gentleness and plenty of positive reinforcement. His intelligence makes learning easier, but he sometimes tests inconsistencies. Recall, control of excitement and release are priorities. Brutal methods break the trust of a dog so sensitive to the relationship.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Altdeutscher Schäferhund
The price of an Altdeutscher Schäferhund varies depending on the working lines, health tests and socialization. A well-bred puppy is often between 1 200 and 2 500 euros. You should also plan the budget for a very active large dog.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/altdeutscher-schaferhund/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
Overall more rustic than certain highly type-specific German Shepherd lines, it remains a large athletic dog whose hips, elbows and back must be monitored. Growth that is too rapid, excess weight or repeated jumping in the young dog are detrimental to the musculoskeletal system. A serious breeder documents the joint checks of the breeding dogs.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/altdeutscher-schaferhund/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Altdeutscher Schäferhund needs a complete, digestible diet adjusted to its age, its activity and its body condition. Protein quality and control of energy intake matter as much as the volume of the ration.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/altdeutscher-schaferhund/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
Its German name simply means “old German shepherd dog”. Many families choose it precisely because they want a less extreme shepherd than certain show lines. It is often seen in dog sports, in sensible guarding and as a very involved family dog.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Altdeutscher Schäferhund
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the Altdeutscher Schäferhund the same dog as the German Shepherd?
No. It belongs to the same historical family, but it retains an older type, often more natural and more work-oriented than the highly angulated show German Shepherd.
### Can it live in an apartment?
Only with a very athletic owner, long daily outings, and plenty of mental stimulation. A house with an enclosed garden remains more suitable.
## Find a Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté10](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/bourgogne-franche-comte) [Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine7](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/nouvelle-aquitaine) [Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders in Occitanie7](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/occitanie) [Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders in Grand Est5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/grand-est) [Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/auvergne-rhone-alpes) [Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders in Île-de-France3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/ile-de-france)
### Altdeutscher Schäferhund breeders by country
[134 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/germany) [47 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund) [18 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/netherlands) [12 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/italy) [11 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/austria) [6 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Finland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/finland) [3 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Poland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/poland) [3 breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Switzerland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/switzerland) [1 breeder of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Romania](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/romania) [1 breeder of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in Slovakia](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund/slovakia)
[All breeders of Altdeutscher Schäferhund in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund)
## Ready to welcome a Altdeutscher Schäferhund?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-altdeutscher-schaferhund)
## Discover other breeds
[German Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/german-shepherd-dog)
[White Swiss Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/white-swiss-shepherd-dog)
[Dutch Shepherd
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/dutch-shepherd)
[Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
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[Saarloos Wolfdog
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