30 Large German Shepherd Breeds | Dog lovers 24

The German Shepherd – intelligent, loyal and self-confident. It is precisely because of these characteristics that he is one of the most popular dog breeds in Germany. The best known breed is the German Shepherd Dog. People have been breeding this breed with good herding skills for their sheep since the 7th century. All breeds are very stately in their build, robust and medium to large in size. But not every German Shepherd is the same and the large German Shepherd in particular is in high demand among dog lovers.

This article introduces you to the 30 largest German Shepherd breeds between 40 and 80 cm high at the withers, which amaze you with their majestic appearance.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog

The large Anatolian Shepherd Dog has its origins in Turkey and reaches a weight of around 40 to 65 kilograms with a height of up to 85 cm at the withers. Occasionally, dogs of up to 90 cm and 80 kilograms have been bred in this breed.

The large German Shepherd has a short, shiny and close-fitting top coat and usually a fur collar. His body is well muscled and his great endurance allows him to cover long distances at high speeds despite his impressive size. However, the large German Shepherd is not a dog for dog beginners.

Because he was bred as a livestock guard dog, he has great dominance, stubbornness and territorial behavior. However, if you start training the right dog very early, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog will also be a loyal companion to the family.

He is balanced and courageous and is very attached to his family due to his high level of distrust of strangers.

Mastín del Pirineo

The Mastin del Pirineo is also known as the Pyrenean Mastiff. This dog breed originally comes from the Pyrenees in Spain and is therefore closely related to the Pyrenean mountain dog found on the French side of the mountains.

However, the large German Shepherd differs primarily in the color and pattern of the fur. Its basic color is white and it has a developed, clearly defined mask of different colors. The pattern on its body is characterized by irregularly distributed, clearly defined spots. The large German Shepherd was primarily used as a guard dog.

He independently protected his house and farm from intruders and wild animals. This task is strongly reflected in his character: The Pyrenean Mastiff is attentive and independent, has a moderately strong territorial instinct, acts very independently, is loyal and deeply connected to his family.

The large German Shepherd is also a beginner's dog because, despite his habit of acting independently, he is easy to train and obedient.

Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog

The Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog is also known as Patou. It is a recognized French dog breed and was once a popular herding and livestock guard dog. Due to his natural protective instinct, he is now often recommended as a companion dog and even as a family dog.

His balanced nature, which is attentive and interested at the same time, makes him a truly loyal friend, even for children if he is raised correctly. The large German Shepherd impresses with long, white or light yellow fur that forms a mane around its head.

The thick and rough coat as well as the dense, fine undercoat require a lot of care. Despite its impressive size, the large German Shepherd is very agile and demands this from its owners. Long hikes without a leash are best for his desire to move. He also doesn't accept every command unconditionally, so obedience exercises are a worse choice for him and he needs a lot of continuity and a guiding hand in dog training.

Kuvasz

The Kuvasz originally comes from the Turkish-Asian region. His name translates to armed security guard and archer. This describes the large German Shepherd very aptly. He looks very impressive thanks to his expressive face and strong, elegant overall appearance.

Its fur is characterized by waves and curls in white color. The large German Shepherd is an independent guard dog, characterized by a strong temperament and penetrative territorial behavior. Due to its nature, it is very suitable for the companion dog test or for training to become a tracking or rescue dog.

However, he is anything but obedient. Due to his typical character traits as a herding dog, he requires persistent and consistent leadership. Socialization should begin from an early age in order to get him used to contact with people and dogs and to keep his irritation threshold as low as possible. With a species-appropriate upbringing and sufficient activity, he turns out to be a very friendly and loyal companion.

Komondor

The Komondor is a Hungarian shepherd dog and weighs up to 60 kilograms at a size of 75 cm. The large German Shepherd is particularly striking due to its appearance. It is characterized by matted, shaggy and long hair. The long ribbon-like mats and floor-length cords are the breed characteristic of the Komondor. This fur protects him from cold and enemies.

The large German Shepherd is not only well muscled, but also has heavy bones and a robust appearance. It was bred primarily as a guard dog and livestock guard dog, so it bravely guards and defends with strong territorial behavior. This also makes him very suspicious of strangers.

In terms of character, he is a very frugal and loyal dog. His fur makes him incredibly insensitive to the weather and he loves to spend long periods outdoors.

Proper fur care is crucial for the Komondor: you have to make sure that a large, connected felt mat is prevented.

Caucasian Ovcharka

The Caucasian Ovcharka has its origins in Russia and has been found in the Caucasus for more than 600 years. With a height of at least 64 cm at the withers, he weighs over 50 kg. It is characterized by its high resistance and robustness and loves being outdoors.

For him, keeping him in an apartment is not species-appropriate because guarding a property becomes his life's work. His fur appears simple with different shades of gray and light to rust-colored fur markings.

The large German Shepherd comes in three different coat types: long-haired with a mane, short-haired with thick fur, and a mix of longer hair but without a mane. With species-appropriate training and sufficient activity, he is a very balanced, affectionate family dog ​​who loves children and reacts sensitively.

Because of his breeding trait of independence, he will never act submissively. This requires patient training from its owner with consistency and an authoritarian demeanor from puppyhood onwards.

Ciobănesc Românesc Carpatin

The Ciobănesc Românesc Carpatin is a Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog and a rare natural breed. It is primarily used as a working dog because it is very agile and strong. It is characterized by a rectangular body structure, with males being significantly larger. Their fur is dense, straight and harsh in a pale yellow. The flanks are often lighter in color and the back is darker. His appearance is strongly reminiscent of his ancestor, the wolf.

The large German Shepherd has a calm and balanced nature and, despite his pronounced distrust of strangers, is by no means aggressive. He is a sociable house, yard and family dog.

Maremma-Abruzzo Shepherd Dog

The Maremma-Abruzzo Shepherd Dog is named after its two places of origin in Italy. He is still used there today exclusively as a sheep herding dog. His tasks are to independently protect the herd from wolves and bears.

The large German Shepherd has a strong but not cumbersome build and long, white hair. Due to its size, fur and head shape, it closely resembles a bear. His behavior depends heavily on his socialization. If he is trained towards people and not sheep from puppyhood, he will become a very attentive protector of the family.

He doesn't shy away from loudly defending his owners in the smallest encounters with strangers. Due to this strong, innate behavior pattern, he is rarely found as a family dog, but is still a pure working dog in sheep herds.

Beauceron

The Beauceron is a French dog breed and comes in two different varieties: Blasrouge with black and tan fur or the Harlequin, black and tan with gray spots. His hair is always strong, short and thick. In the past it was used in transhumance. Due to its coat colors, the large German Shepherd is reminiscent of a stockier version of a Doberman or Rottweiler.

As an original working dog, he is very independent in his nature, which is often misinterpreted as stubborn. Experienced owners with consistency and sensitivity are the basic requirements for their attitude. As a very sensitive dog breed, he does not tolerate a harsh hand.

Keeping it as a family dog ​​is advised with caution: its pronounced herding behavior can quickly lead to a pervasive control mania towards its family.

He needs enough activity to lead a happy dog ​​life.

Due to his good handling and high resilience, he is also very suitable as a tracking dog, medical dog, avalanche and disaster dog.

Central Asian Ovcharka

The Central Asian Ovcharka, also called Alabai, originally comes from Russia and is now a popular dog breed in Central Asia for guarding the house and yard.

The large German Shepherd is still relatively unknown in Germany and its breeding locally is only in its early stages. Due to the wide living space, there are different mixed types of this dog breed: light and agile subspecies differ greatly in their anatomy from more massive dogs from mountain regions.

Thanks to its fur, it has the ability to acclimatize and is ideally suited to the climatic conditions in Central Asia, depending on the region…