

I’ll do this by giving you real examples of costs for different care items and the real costs that others, including myself, have incurred when caring for German Shepherds. To help you compute your figures for owning a German Shepherd, this article breaks down not only the buying cost but all other care expenses that bringing home a GSD will put on your tab, such as food, vet care, and grooming. The buying and caring costs make up the lifetime total cost of ownership. Therefore, the lifetime cost of owning a German Shepherd over 10 years can be up to $12,230, for both the cost of the puppy plus all food and care expenses.īuying your puppy is only the first of many ongoing costs of owning your GSD. The cost of owning a German Shepherd can be around $85 per month once you have paid for your pup (the average initial buying cost is $2000).

German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications.German Shepherd owners will agree with the saying, “buying a dog is not a big deal – the real deal is the cost to own it!” As a proud owner of a German Shepherd, I can certainly relate to that, and potential new owners often ask me, “how much does it cost to own a German Shepherd?” Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in 1899 and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in 1908.Īlthough they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. They selectively bred strains of German herding dogs from the central and northern districts of Germany to create what would lead to today’s German Shepherd. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs.īreed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world.
