LEGO Reviews BrickHeadz40440

German Shepherds

Name: LEGO German Shepherds 40440
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 40440
Rating: 4.68 (165 reviews)

65 · MIXED REVIEWSINVESTMENT GRADE: BB2021247 pcsHigh agreement · 95%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

165

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Mixed Reviews

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"Cute, affordable, and quick to build, the BrickHeadz German Shepherds earn a BrickScore of 64.7 largely because the finished models look more like pugs than the breed they represent. Owners rate it 4.68 out of 5 and enjoy it as a display piece, but if accurate breed representation matters to you, temper expectations."

The BrickHeadz German Shepherds earned a BrickScore of 64.7 (Mixed Reviews), and the reviewer feedback reflects exactly that tension: the set is undeniably cute and fun to build, but a notable portion of reviewers and owners candidly note that the finished models look more like pugs than German Shepherds. Agreement among critics is rated high, landing on a consensus that the set is charming but falls short on breed accuracy. Owners are considerably more enthusiastic, scoring it 4.68 out of 5 across 165 ratings, with 91% recommending it.

Where they split: The clearest divergence is between the set's charming shelf appeal (widely praised) and its breed accuracy (widely questioned). Owners rate it 4.68 out of 5 and 91% recommend it, yet a notable thread of both owner and critic reviews specifically flags the pug resemblance. Critics land at a Mixed Reviews BrickScore of 64.7 while owners skew much higher, suggesting casual buyers are satisfied but hobbyists notice the design shortfall.

Where to Buy

Amazon

Out of stock

Buy

Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Max Profit Opinion PREMIUM

Is this a smart buy? BrickPicker's data-grounded investment verdict.

Unlock the Max Profit Opinion: our stance (buy / accumulate / hold / pass), the reasoning, the exact data behind it (eBay + BrickLink comps, CAGR vs MSRP, our retirement model), and whether the reviewer community agrees.

Unlock with Collector or Reseller

LOVED (7)

01Adorable display presence on a shelf or desk, especially alongside other BrickHeadz Pets
02Easy, relaxing build suitable for all ages including young children with a grandparent or parent
03Articulated tails that can be posed up, down, or horizontal
04Dog cravat detail on the adult using sand green triangular tiles adds personality
05Sturdier bed base than the cats set, achieved by overlapping bricks on corner joints
06Two sticker design options with a spare 1x4 brick
07Strong price-to-piece ratio at $14.99 for 247 pieces ($0.061 per piece)

CRITICIZED (4)

01Multiple reviewers and at least one owner independently noted the dogs look more like pugs than German Shepherds
02The bed background is the same as the cats set; some reviewers wished for a more dog-specific backdrop such as a yard or park
03Appeal depends heavily on being a dog person, giving the set a niche audience
04One reviewer noted a missing tail piece, though acknowledged this was an isolated incident

What reviewers are saying

"German Shepherds are a popular breed in America and, again, I suspect were chosen because their distinctive colouring can be effectively reproduced in LEGO form."

Brickset Reviews

"I really liked building the German Shepherds – after humanoids, it was a much more interesting build that flips the Brickheadz formula on its head."

Jay's Brick Blog

Ecosystem

40441 Shorthair Cats — The German Shepherd set has a sturdier bed construction due to overlapping bricks on corner joints, compared to the cat set which has loose corners.

Chinese New Year Pandas — Pets line is more successful and interesting; reviewer did not like the Pandas as much

40441 Shorthair Cat and Kitten — Part of the same new Pets sub-theme; reviewer notes this is available for cat owners as an alternative

LEGO Go Brick Me set — The Pets BrickHeadz sets are the official realization of what fans attempted manually with Go Brick Me

BrickHeadzTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

"German Shepherds are a popular breed in America and, again, I suspect were chosen because their distinctive colouring can be effectively reproduced in LEGO form."

Key Pros

✓Recognizable dog breed design
✓Sturdier bed structure than cats' set
✓Tail articulation

Key Cons

✕Appeal depends on being a dog person; may have niche audience
✕Tan coloring may not be entirely accurate for typical German Shepherd appearance

READ FULL REVIEW

Jay's Brick Blog

Editorial Source

"I really liked building the German Shepherds – after humanoids, it was a much more interesting build that flips the Brickheadz formula on its head."

Key Pros

✓Cute and expressive design with good use of ears
✓Much more interesting than humanoid Brickheadz
✓Inexpensive and great for gifts

Key Cons

✕Puppy looks more like a Pug than a German Shepherd, lacks signature pointy snout
✕Would prefer more dog breed variants

READ FULL REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (1)Wait for sale (0)

Exclusivity

Brickset Reviews: Available at LEGO.com standard retail

Jay's Brick Blog: LEGO.com and LEGO Brand Retail Stores exclusive

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Sand green triangular tiles
Used to form the adult dog's cravat; an unexpected creative part application
cheese slopes
Used on back and sides of head to give furry texture
sand green bandana and collar
Distinctive color accent making dogs look smart and well-dressed
Hinge plates for rear legs
Allows poseable rear legs on the adult dog, a notable exception to typical BrickHeadz construction
1×2 bricks with studs on two sides
Typical BrickHeadz studs-not-on-top (SNOT) elements
1×1 bricks with 2 studs
SNOT bricks contributing to the set's building techniques

What Owners Say · summarized from 17 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners love the easy, relaxing build and adorable final product, but consistently note the German Shepherds look more like pugs and lack breed likeness.

COMMON PRAISE