German shepherd insurance
Thinking about insurance for your German Shepherd? The good news is that every UK insurer we compare will insure German Shepherds, and none of them excludes the breed. What's most useful to know is which health problems German Shepherds claim for most often, so you can check a policy covers them well. Here they are by life stage, along with how long German Shepherds usually live.
What health problems do German Shepherds have?
These are the conditions most often claimed for German Shepherds at each stage of life, from Trupanion's claims data. "Likely" compares German Shepherds with the average dog in Trupanion's data.
As a puppy
- Hip dysplasiaa hip joint that doesn't develop properly2.5 times as likely as the average dog
- AllergiesAbout as likely as the average dog
- Broken tooth65% more likely than the average dogDoes pet insurance cover dental?
As an adult
- Torn cruciate ligamenta knee injury that often needs surgery20% more likely than the average dog
- Allergies35% more likely than the average dog
- Lumps and massesAbout as likely as the average dog
As a senior
- Bloat (gastric torsion)a twisted stomach, an emergency8.5 times as likely as the average dog
- Adenocarcinomaa cancer of glandular tissueTwice as likely as the average dog
- Lymphomaa cancer of the lymph system70% more likely than the average dog
Source: Trupanion, Commonly Claimed Conditions (US claims data, June 2019). From US claims, so costs aren't shown here; the conditions are the same wherever your dog lives.
What to check in a policy for a German Shepherd
Some of the conditions above have their own rules in pet insurance policies, such as longer waiting periods or exclusions if signs show early on. These guides show how each insurer handles them.
Which insurers cover German Shepherds?
All of these UK insurers will insure a German Shepherd. Click a name to see what that policy covers, in plain English, from its own documents.
- Petplan
- Admiral
- Animal Friends
- Direct Line
- Waggel
- More Than
- Agria
- Sainsbury's
- John Lewis
- Tesco
- PDSA
- Marks and Spencer
- RSPCA
- Argos
- Post Office
- Churchill
- LV=
ManyPets isn't listed because its website asked us to verify we were human, so we couldn't read its list of excluded breeds.
Your questions answered
Can you get insurance for a German Shepherd?
Yes. All 17 UK insurers we compare will insure a German Shepherd, and none lists the breed on its exclusion list. UK exclusion lists mostly cover banned and bully types; ManyPets isn't included here because we couldn't read its list.
How long do German Shepherds live?
The American Kennel Club gives a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years for the German Shepherd. It's worth choosing cover that stays with your dog for life, because the conditions German Shepherds claim for most tend to change as they get older.
Is German shepherd insurance more expensive?
We don't list prices, because they depend on your dog and where you live. Insurers do price by breed: Figo, for example, says premiums are based on the species or breed of your pet. The best way to compare is to get quotes and check how each policy covers the conditions German Shepherds are most likely to need.
What health problems are German Shepherds prone to?
In Trupanion's US claims data, the costliest conditions claimed for German Shepherds include lymphoma, bloat and torn cruciate ligament. The full list by life stage is above.
Health data from Trupanion's US claims (June 2019); lifespan from the American Kennel Club; which insurers cover the breed from each insurer's own documents and exclusion lists, read in October 2026. Check the policy before you buy. Barklopedia doesn't arrange UK insurance.
More guides to dog insurance: Pet insurance for older dogs · Third party liability insurance for dogs · Dog insurance by breed · Multi dog insurance · Lifetime pet insurance · Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions · Does pet insurance cover dental? · What does dog insurance cover? · Pet insurance excess