The double coat does most of the work
A healthy adult German Shepherd is one of the better-equipped breeds for winter, with a dense undercoat that traps warm air against the skin and weather-resistant guard hairs that shed rain and snow. For most Shepherds on most winter days, no coat is needed, and adding one can cause overheating on a brisk walk. That does not mean winter needs no management. The exceptions matter: puppies, lean youngsters, elderly dogs, and any Shepherd who is underweight or unwell lose heat faster, and a dog standing around in freezing wind at a training class cools far more than one trotting steadily on a walk.
Paws are the winter weak point
Snow packs between a Shepherd's toes and freezes into hard ice balls that splay the toes and make every step sore, and you will often see it first as limping or stopping to chew at a foot mid-walk. Trimming the hair between the pads short helps stop snow gripping, and a quick check and squeeze of each paw at the door prevents a miserable limp home. Grit and road salt are the other hazard, irritating the skin and stinging any small crack, so rinse paws in lukewarm water after pavement walks and dry them well. Cracked, sore pads that do not improve, or limping that persists indoors, should be seen by your veterinarian rather than walked off.
Wet is colder than cold
A Shepherd who comes home soaked from winter rain or wet snow goes cold quickly once he stops moving, especially in a cool house. Towel him down thoroughly, use a dog dryer on a warm rather than hot setting if he tolerates one, and make sure the undercoat next to the skin is dry, not just the surface guard hairs. A dog left damp under the collar or in the armpits can develop sore, smelly skin patches through winter. Give him somewhere warm and draught-free to finish drying, and postpone any bath to a day when he can dry completely indoors afterwards.
Joints, ice and dark evenings
Cold weather stiffens arthritic joints, and Shepherds are a breed where hips and elbows deserve respect as they age. Keep senior dogs moving little and often rather than in one long weekend expedition, avoid icy slopes and polished pavements where a heavy dog can splay and strain himself, and consider a supportive harness for grip on slippery steps. Winter also means walking in the dark, so a reflective collar, lead or light keeps a dark-coated Shepherd visible to drivers at crossings. At home, a thick, supportive bed away from draughty doors helps stiff joints recover overnight far more than the cold floor he may stubbornly choose.
When winter discomfort is telling you something
See your veterinarian if your Shepherd starts lagging on walks he used to manage, struggles to rise after rest, loses weight under that thick coat, or develops persistent paw soreness or skin trouble through the season. Because the coat hides body condition, run your hands over his ribs weekly in winter: you should feel them under a light covering, and a sudden change either way is information worth having. Any dog who shivers persistently despite shelter and drying, or who seems dull and disoriented after time in severe cold, needs prompt veterinary attention rather than another blanket.
Winter notes every walker can see
Shepherd winter care is mostly details: paws checked, coat dried to the skin, the senior's route shortened on icy mornings. Those details get lost when they are passed on casually between the people who walk him. In KinsLe, Family Sharing lets you give relatives you pick access to his profile, so a relative shortening a senior dog's icy route can open that profile before setting out.