A German Shepherd keeps track of you. Owners describe a dog who got up every time they did, followed them to the kitchen and back, and lay where they could see the door. They're vocal too: the grumbles, whines and long yawning noises that sounded a lot like conversation. When one goes, the house loses its guard and its shadow at once.
The breed was developed in Germany at the end of the 1800s as a herding and working dog. In Britain they were called Alsatians for years after the First World War, and plenty of older owners still use the name. They've worked for the police, the armed forces and as guide dogs, but most spend their lives as a family dog who takes the family very seriously.
Each Small Goodbyes portrait comes in oil, watercolour, charcoal, line or pastel, with a free preview before you pay, and is made to order for your German Shepherd. If a friend has lost their German Shepherd, see our dog memorial gifts.
| Kennel Club group | Pastoral |
|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth, UK | 10.2 years (Royal Veterinary College, 2022) |
| Coats you see most | black and tan, black and gold, sable, and all black; standard or long coat |
| Styles that suit | oil for black and tan; charcoal for sable and black |
What owners remember
The ears, mostly. Big, upright and always moving, swivelling to catch a car door three houses away. The head tilted to one side when you spoke. The sigh as they flopped down beside your chair. Shepherds are big, strong dogs who are surprisingly soft about their own people, and many owners talk about a dog who checked on the children at night.
Old age can be hard on them. Plenty of Shepherds have trouble with their hips and back legs in their later years, and owners often remember the slow walks and the help up the step as much as the young dog. Both belong in how you remember them.
Choosing the photo
A side-on photo of them standing shows the outline Shepherds are known for, with the sloping back and the long tail. If you'd rather have the face, choose one with both ears up and the eyes catching the light. Black and tan coats lose detail in very bright sun, so try a photo taken in open shade or on a bright cloudy day.
Which style suits a Shepherd
Oil brings out the warm tan against the black saddle. Charcoal is very good for sable and all-black dogs, where the drawing works from light and shadow. Line drawing gives a clean outline of the ears and head if you want something simpler.
The first few days are covered on our dog memorial portraits page, and if you're supporting someone else, what to say when someone loses a pet may help.