Choosing between a male and a female German Shepherd is one of the most challenging first choices owners face when deciding which dog to pick for their family. While both sexes of German Shepherds share many traits, there are some ways that males and females of this breed are different.
Male German Shepherds should be chosen when selecting a dog for guard duty, and females should be selected for family pets. Male and female German Shepherds are alike in many ways, but they do tend to behave a bit differently. Male are typically more territorial and aloof towards strangers, while female German Shepherds are friendlier and gentler with family.
German Shepherds are a great breed of dog no matter whether you get a male or a female, but each is better suited to different living arrangements. Keep reading to learn more about male versus female German Shepherds and when you should choose each one.
How Are Male And Female German Shepherds Different?
There are only a few differences between males and females in the German Shepherd breed, and most of them only become present in the dogs after sexual maturity. The main differences between male and female German Shepherds are in their temperament.
Here’s a break down of the main differences between male and female German Shepherds:
| Characteristic | Female German Shepherds | Male German Shepherds |
|---|---|---|
| Aggression | More aggressive with other female dogs. | More aggressive with people outside of the family. |
| Temperament | Gentle and friendly with the family and outsiders. | More likely to be aloof towards strangers and attached to one owner. |
| Size | 22-24 inches tall, 50-70 pounds. | 24-26 inches tall, 65-90 pounds. |
| Training | Trains more easily for rally and obedience. | Trains more easily in guard duties and protective work. |
| Behavior at Sexual Maturity | Will go into heat twice a year without being spayed. | Can become territorial and aggressive unless neutered; also prone to humping behaviors. |
Even though females generally tend to be less aggressive with people than males, many of the temperament differences in male and female German Shepherds occur due to the hormones they are subjected to when they reach sexual maturity. This can increase problematic behaviors in both sexes of dogs, no matter the breed.
The main similarity between the two German Shepherd sexes is their need for physical activity; without proper exercise, they can become rowdy. As to which German Shepherd sex you should choose? It comes down to what you want out of your dog’s temperament.
Male Vs. Female Temperament In German Shepherds
Male and female German Shepherds tend to vary most in temperament outside of their sexual behaviors—other than temperament, you would be hard-pressed to tell a male and a female German Shepherd apart without sexing them.
In general, female German Shepherds possess the following temperament traits:
- Affectionate towards all members of the family.
- Tolerant and protective of family members, especially children.
- May have a somewhat dominating personality with other dogs.
- May show aggression towards other female dogs, mainly if sexually intact.
Male German Shepherds are the members of the breed that are most often used in service work. Male German Shepherds are also affectionate with the family but tend to latch onto one handler versus showing attention to the family as a unit.
Here are some of the other temperament traits of male German Shepherds:
- Tends to be territorial and protective of property, vehicles, belongings.
- Good with family members but can be distrustful and even aggressive towards strangers.
- Usually has a playful and exuberant personality, even goofy.
- May show aggression towards other male dogs, mainly if sexually intact.
Do Male Or Female German Shepherds Have A Better Temperament?
Even though the males and females of the German Shepherd breed may tend to have the same overarching personality traits, potential German Shepherd owners need to remember that these dogs are individuals. Just because most female German Shepherds are affectionate with children doesn’t mean they all will be, for example.
The most crucial determinant in a German Shepherd’s temperament (other than genetic predisposition) is socialization. Dogs that are well-socialized starting from around six weeks of age up until they are two years of age are more likely to be friendly around strangers and more trusting of people in general.
German shepherds that are not adequately socialized around people during their puppyhood and adolescence can be prone to several behavior problems, including the following:
- Overprotective nature
- Excess territoriality or even aggression towards strangers
- Leash reactivity
- Intolerance of children or other animals in the household
- Aggression towards humans or other animals
- Fear-based behavior towards unfamiliar stimuli, such as storms
No matter whether you get a male or a female German Shepherd, making sure that the dog is exposed to a wide range of unfamiliar stimuli and has a positive interaction with as many different people and kinds of animals as possible can make them much more friendly and trusting toward their environment. This can lead to a dog with a better overall temperament.
Feeding Differences Between Male And Female German Shepherds
When feeding a male and a female German Shepherd, there aren’t many differences, and feeding shouldn’t affect which sex of dog you choose. Males are slightly larger than female German Shepherds as a general rule, so they can eat a bit more if allowed to. If they are on the heavier side of the German Shepherd weight range (95 versus 75 pounds), they may need the extra food.
Both female and male German Shepherds have healthy appetites since they are large breed dogs and have a high activity level. This means that unless they’re confined, these dogs will burn off tons of calories per day and will need to take in a bunch of calories to make it up.
Both male and female German Shepherds can be prone to health problems due to being overfed, such as hip dysplasia and arthritis. When feeding a German Shepherd, owners should follow the instructions on their chosen dog food carefully to ensure that their dog isn’t overfed. Often when people feed their dogs by “eyeballing” it, they end up feeding the dog a lot more than necessary.
Size Differences Between Male And Female German Shepherds
As far as size differences in German Shepherds go, males can be slightly bigger than females. Males only average around two inches taller at the shoulder than female German Shepherds. Male German Shepherds range between 65 and 90 pounds, while females range between 50 and 70 pounds. (Source: AKC)
Some lines of German Shepherd run smaller, while others run slightly larger:
- Smaller bloodlines of German Shepherd are often used for herding activities since they tend to be more agile.
- Larger bloodlines of German Shepherd are bred for military and police work since they need physical size and strength to do their jobs.
Female German Shepherds tend to weigh a little less than their muscular male counterparts. Still, generally, the size difference between male and female German Shepherds isn’t enough to make it a consideration when choosing between the two. You can read more about the size difference in this German Shepherd Growth Guide.
Activity Levels In Male Vs. Female German Shepherds
The activity level is another area where male German Shepherds and female German Shepherds are relatively equal. Both sexes of this breed are high energy and made for near-constant activity since they are working dogs. That means if you’re looking for a breed of dog to lounge around on the couch with you, a German Shepherd isn’t the breed you should be looking at.
If, on the other hand, you’re interested in doing agility, obedience, hiking, jogging, or other strenuous exercises and activities, a German Shepherd can be the perfect trainable partner for your athletic endeavors. These dogs are natural athletes and love a good sense of competition. These dogs are also highly intelligent, which means that their mind needs to be exercised as well as their body.
Both male and female German Shepherds are prone to mischievous behavior when they become frustrated or bored due to lacking proper exercise.
Here are some of the negative behaviors that can crop up in German Shepherds that aren’t given a physical outlet for their energy:
- Digging: While German Shepherds don’t tend to dig as much as some other breeds, German Shepherds may get into digging if left in the backyard for long hours without physical and mental stimulation. German Shepherds have also been known to dig underneath a fence to escape when frustrated or bored.
- Escaping: German Shepherds left in crates or fenced off in the backyard alone for extended periods may become accomplished escape artists. You must remember that these athletic dogs can jump a six-foot fence like a deer if they get a running start, so they can escape most fenced yards if they get bored enough.
- Jumping: German Shepherds that aren’t given an outlet for their physical energy will often get overexcited when their owners come home. This usually leads to them jumping all over their masters (and houseguests) if not exercised regularly to relax them. Training can also help prevent a German Shepherd that has a problem with jumping up to put their paws on people.
- Chasing: German Shepherds have a high prey drive because they are herding dogs, leading to them chasing cats or smaller animals in the household. In some German Shepherds, this chasing behavior can lead to killing action. Chasing should be heavily discouraged, and the dog should have other mental and physical outlets so that they aren’t tempted to do it.
- Aggression: Some high-strung German Shepherds may become frustrated and even snappy when they don’t have appropriate outlets for exercise and mental activity. This is especially true of dogs left tied out on a chain, which can skew the dog’s already territorial nature into dangerous territory.
- Destructive chewing: More than many other breeds, German Shepherds can be prone to destructive behavior and chewing if not given enough exercise, mostly if left alone for long periods. These dogs are bred to work hand-in-hand with humans all day and are prone to separation anxiety if left alone.
German Shepherds may be prone to some problematic behaviors when they don’t get enough exercise. Still, there are plenty of ways for both male and female German Shepherds to get their fair share of physical activity during the day.
Protective Behaviors In Male And Female German Shepherds
Both male and female German Shepherds are protective, and many bloodlines of German Shepherds have been bred specifically to guard both people and property. For this reason, the German Shepherd is incredibly popular as a working dog with military and law enforcement.
These are the main differences in protective attitudes in male versus female German Shepherds:
- Males tend to be more protective of their favorite person (males of the breed are more likely to be a “one-man dog”).
- Males also tend to be more territorial and protective of property.
- Female German Shepherds tend to be more protective of the family in general, especially children.
- Females can become protective of their puppies and may show uncharacteristic aggression in defense of their litter due to surging hormones.
- Both male and female are equally susceptible to resource guarding, and this is a behavior that should be deterred from puppyhood to prevent aggression later on.
- Both male and female have a generally protective nature over their family and may become dangerous to outsiders if left unsocialized.
The protective nature of male and female German Shepherds can make them great dogs for keeping the home safe, but it also means that these dogs need to be carefully trained.
The high-strung nature of German Shepherds and their innate drive to find a “job” may lead to excessive protective behaviors, so it’s up to owners to rein them in and keep them well-trained to make sure that they don’t decide their job parameters include biting people.
Training Male German Shepherds Vs. Female German Shepherds
One significant advantage of getting a German Shepherd, whether you choose a male or a female, is that both sexes of this breed train very easily compared to other dogs, and German Shepherds rank high in intelligence tests in comparison to other breeds. (Read: How Smart Are German Shepherds?)
Here are a few of the key differences when it comes to training male German Shepherds vs. female German Shepherds:
- Females are reportedly easier to housebreak than male German Shepherds. While this can vary from dog to dog, male German Shepherds tend to mark their territory with urine, while females do not mark territory.
- Females are considered more agile and more focused when competing in obedience rallies and other agility competitions. Their smaller size also makes them easier to transport for agility competitions.
- Males are most often trained for police and military work due to their intimidating size, their higher levels of aggression, and their greater physical potential in a fight or conflict with humans
While both male and female German Shepherds are trainable dogs, the same qualities that make German Shepherds easy to train (intense levels of focus and high levels of intelligence) can also lead these dogs to develop problematic behaviors if their focus isn’t channeled into positive training outlets that exercise their minds and their bodies.
German Shepherds will respond best when provided with plenty of foundational obedience training from an early age. Nonetheless, the high intellect of these dogs means that they achieve their true potential when they are exposed to an even more advanced level of training such as flyball, scent work, or other dog sports.
Aggression In Male Vs. Female German Shepherds
German Shepherds have a somewhat undeserved reputation for aggression due to their commonplace use as military and police dogs. In these capacities, German Shepherds are often trained to chase down and bite people. However, German Shepherds of both sexes that are raised as household pets and are well-socialized are friendly dogs that can be trusted not to be aggressive around most people. (Source)
These are some of the aspects of German Shepherd aggression that differ between male German Shepherds and female German Shepherds:
- Males are more likely to be aggressive towards strangers or people outside of the family than female German Shepherds. This is especially true of people they consider intruders on their territories, such as delivery men and meter readers. Working lines of German Shepherds may show higher levels of aggression than show bloodlines of the breed.
- Female German Shepherds can have a problem with aggression towards other female dogs in a family pack, especially if all the dogs in question are sexually intact.
- Female dogs may show heightened levels of aggression right after birthing a litter of puppies since their hormones will drive them to protect their puppies irrationally, even against people they usually wouldn’t view as a threat. Female dogs should be left alone with their puppies until they are relaxed enough to tolerate their puppies being handled.
- Aggression in both male and female German Shepherds should be strongly deterred through training and socialization. Even in dogs being owned to guard property, aggression should not be tolerated since it is a severe safety risk and a financial liability.
Aggression may crop up more often in German Shepherds than other breeds, but it doesn’t affect whether you choose a male or a female. Instead, owners should choose the sex they want the most, then focus on making sure that their chosen German Shepherd is as well-trained and well-socialized as possible to avoid dangerous problems with aggression.
Unfortunately, due to poor breeding practices, some lines of German Shepherd do have excess aggression as a result of unbalanced prey drives, fear-based aggression, or heightened protective instincts. Therefore, owners should choose carefully when sourcing a German Shepherd for a pet, no matter which sex of German Shepherd they choose.
Sexual Puberty In Male German Shepherds Vs. Female German Shepherds
Sexual maturity—known as puberty—is the point of development in both male and female German Shepherds where their hormones can lead them to develop unwanted behaviors depending on their biological sex. (Source)
Here are some of the ways that male and female German Shepherds deviate in behavior when it comes to sexual puberty:
- When female dogs enter puberty, they will begin to go into heat twice a year, which is the period during which they are receptive to mating from male dogs. Female dogs in heat will attract males by giving off pheromones and be prone to other behaviors, such as howling and escaping. If a female dog is mated during heat, they will usually conceive puppies.
- When male dogs enter puberty, they will become more territorial and display heightened sexually-based aggression and dominance towards other male dogs. This may include fighting or humping, and humping behaviors can also be projected onto humans. Adolescent male dogs are also more prone to marking their territory with urine.
- Male German Shepherds who aren’t neutered may become more reactive on the leash when they see male dogs out on the street, and they may become aggressive toward male dogs that they previously got along with.
Both male and female German Shepherds can adopt some troublesome behaviors in response to sexual maturity, so the best option for German Shepherds of either sex that aren’t going to be used in a breeding program is to be spayed or neutered as early as possible. This can help prevent the behavioral problems that arise as the result of hormones in adolescence.
Can You Keep A Male And A Female German Shepherd Together?
Dog owners should know that sexually intact male and female German Shepherds will breed freely. To avoid unwanted pregnancies, male and female German Shepherds kept in the same household should be spayed and neutered. Backyard breeding may seem tempting, but German Shepherds are prone to many congenital health defects that need to be monitored appropriately in breeding lines.
Male and female dogs usually get along well if both are spayed and neutered. Their temperaments are often compatible enough that the dogs will bond strongly to one another if raised alongside each other.
Male German Shepherds kept with other male dogs are more likely to fight for dominance, especially if the dogs are left sexually intact. Female dogs are more likely to fight with other females.
While it can be a good idea to raise a neutered male German Shepherd and a spayed female German Shepherd together, it’s not usually a good idea to raise two puppies from the same litter. This is because dogs can become prone to a temperament issue called littermate syndrome, making it more difficult for the puppies to train and bond with humans. (Source)
How To Choose Between A Male and A Female German Shepherd
When it comes to choosing between a male and a female German Shepherd, potential owners should ask themselves a series of questions to see which might be the better match for their household:
- How many people are there in the household? If the household consists of only one person, either a male or a female German Shepherd will work. If there are many household members, a female German Shepherd will probably be more affectionate with the group than a male.
- Are there children in the household? Female German Shepherds have a reputation for being more affectionate and tolerant of small children than male German Shepherds. However, neither sex of this breed should be left around small children unsupervised.
- Will the dog need to guard people or property? Male German Shepherds are usually chosen for guard duties since they are naturally more territorial and aggressive than females. Their larger size is a better advantage in case of a physical fight.
- How much time do you have to dedicate to training and exercising your German Shepherd? Both male and female German Shepherds require a high level of physical activity to remain relaxed and well-behaved. If a person cannot offer that level of activity, a lower-activity breed would probably be a better choice.
Ultimately, a German Shepherd’s behavior, whether it’s a male or a female, will come down to how well the dog is trained and how well it is socialized from puppyhood on.
People who take on older German Shepherds from rescues or shelter operations usually have to work against ingrained bad habits that resulted from inadequate training or poor socialization by a previous owner, so these dogs are better taken on by experienced dog handlers. If you are adopting an older dog, a female German Shepherd is usually a safer choice to avoid aggression or territoriality.
German Shepherds Of Either Sex Are A Major Commitment
There are a few differences when choosing between a male and a female German Shepherd, but these two sexes of the breed are alike in the ways that count when it comes to their behavior. Both males and females need lots of exercise, training, and mental stimulation to live up to their best behavioral potential in a family unit.