What If My German Shepherd Is Growing Too Fast
The most common cause of a puppy growing too fast is his diet. If you overfeed your puppy, your puppy will gain too much weight, but there is a bigger problem. Puppy food is so high in nutrition, that when you give a puppy too much, he will suffer from over-nutrition.
The puppies will take in too much protein, calcium, Vitamin D, and phosphorus and grow too quickly as a result. Since German Shepherds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, growing too quickly is dangerous for them. Talk to your vet about getting your puppy back on track.
Do Male German Shepherds Get Along
Common misconceptions about the German Shepherd have led to unnecessary fears and false information spreading all over the internet. One such common misconception is about their innate aggression toward people and other animals.
Were here to set the record straight. While its been proven time and time again that German Shepherds are not inherently aggressive toward people, what about other dogs?
So do male German Shepherds get along?
Because German Shepherds have big personalities, two males could get along just fine, or they could really hate one another and do nothing but fight. Early socialization is key to helping male German Shepherds get along, and neutering male GSDs can help quell aggression as well.
There is nothing quite as terrifying as seeing two huge German Shepherds having an argument. It can be noisy, brutal, and exhausting for the dogs and the people involved.
But not all male GSDs will behave this way toward other males. It comes down to natural temperament, training, early socialization, and sometimes hormones. Below, well dive into whether two male GSDs can get along, and how you can help them do so.
Seven To Twelve Months
Male dogs reach sexual maturity around seven months of age. The first signs of this are that your dog raises his leg when urinating, begins mounting any object he can find, and may even display more aggressive and domineering behaviors. Owners consider neutering male dogs at this age to reduce boisterous behaviors. Still, its also important to assert yourself as the alpha dog to ensure your puppy is aware of where he stands in terms of pack membership.
German shepherds continue to mature up until they are around 36 months old, and many do not consider a GSD an adult until they are two and a half or three years old if male, and over two years if female.
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Possessiveness In Male And Female German Shepherds
Both sexes of the breed can become possessive, but males tend to show this behavior more easily.
Possessiveness can be seen with:
- Food guarding
- Guarding an area/home/property
- People guarding
Since females tend to become less possessive than the male counterparts they are more suitable for homes with children.
Having different family members train your dog can cut down on overall possessiveness.
German Shepherds With Children
The GSD is a large breed dog. And both males and females are powerful dogs with lots of energy including jumping.
These traits could make them harder to handle around small kids or children. Generally, female GSDs interact better with children due to their maternal, less dominant nature.
And male GSDs tend to be larger, more muscular, and may become too powerful for smaller children. Their large personalities and behavior may push around the kids and they are more aggressive in nature.
Females are a better match for a family with children.
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When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing In Height
German shepherds usually grow in stages, depending on their age. Male German shepherds stop growing in height when they turn 9 months old, while female GDs reach their maximum height when they are 8 months old. That being said, they may grow a half-inch or an inch more as they grow up, but they will fully stop growing once males are 2 to 2 ½ years old, and females are 2 ½ to 3 years old. Males typically reach a total height of 5 5.4 feet while females grow 4.5 5 feet tall.
Training Differences In Male And Female German Shepherds
German Shepherds are one of the smartest dog breeds to own.
They are highly intelligent and have a natural curiosity to learn new commands and behaviors.
German Shepherds are ready for you to train them daily and are easier to train compared to many other dog breeds.
Males can also become more dominant, especially as they mature, and may become difficult for you to train. While females tend to want to appease their owners more readily and are better suited to a new owner.
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How Much Bigger Will My German Shepherd Get
There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get.
First, check your puppy’s age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing!
Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog, and means your pup is likely still growing!
If you bought your German Shepherd from a breeder, they should be able to give you a specific, estimated weight based on your puppys parents and past litters. Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents.
Where Do Black German Shepherds Originate
The Black German Shepherd or Black Shepherd is not a separate breed. They are purebred German Shepherds with a solid black color.
Even the American Kennel Club recognizes and includes them in the German Shepherd breed standard.
This breeds history started in Germany, hence the name. They come from a line of different herding canines such as Berger Picard, with the goal to make them better working dogs.
In the 1900s, the German Shepherd arrived in the United States. The breed was gaining popularity, but it was cut short by the First World War. The term German became a taboo, so they were renamed to American Alsatian or Shepherd dog.
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Dog Crate Sizes Chart For All Popular Breeds
This is a dog crate size guide for common dog breeds, designed to help you choose the right size crate for your pet. But first, let me tell you two things:
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Where Did The King Shepherd Originate
As his name suggests, the King Shepherd is a king-sized Shepherd hybrid. This large breed was developed by Americans Shelley Watts-Cross and David Turkheimer.
The King Shepherd was initially bred from American and European German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes and Great Pyrenees. They started breeding them in the early 1990s, however, an official breed club was only established in 1995. And the rest as they say, is canine history.
The King Shepherd won an instant appeal for his high intelligence, unfailing loyalty, vigorous effort, and his attractive appearance.
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What Does A German Shepherd Look Like
German Shepherds are muscular and strong with a sloping body that slants backward. This breeds teeth meet in a strong scissor bite, and the eyes are almond-shaped. The German Shepherd has ears that point upright and forward, but they may not peak upwards until four or five months of age. This working breed has a bushy tail and thick rear legs.
Working Vs Show German Shepherds Size Comparison
When adopting a German Shepherd puppy, you will need to consider whether you are looking for a working dog or a show dog.
While you might just be looking for a nice addition to your family, GS puppies have been bred for specific purposes for many years, resulting in dogs that are made to work and dogs that are not.
Working dogs need to have a lot more stamina and energy because they need to do a job. They do not have the same cosmetic attributes that you will find with show dogs, instead making up for it with incredibly athletic bodies that can move all day long.
Meanwhile, show GS are bigger and bulkier and a lot less energetic. They have thicker coats, more color uniformity, and are bulkier in size. These make for better family pets, because they do not require the same level of work to keep them happy.
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Male German Shepherd Health Risks
Like the female, neutering your German Shepherd boy is important unless you are going to be breeding the dog. More so in the male than in the female, neutering can help calm their aggression, reduce anxiety and restlessness, and help with a domineering personality.
Beyond that, fixing your GSD will also reduce the risk of male diseases that are common to most boy dogs. Here is a list of different issues that can develop with a male German Shepherd:
- Prostate cancer
How Does A 10 Month Old German Shepherd Behave
Many people notice that that is the moment in German Shepherd life when they look like complete goofballs. They are much more strong and clever than before, but they completely lack agility. The behavior also starts to change. The dog at this age can behave, well, exactly like teenager. Be crazy, or not wanting to move from his place.
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At What Age Is A German Shepherd Fully Grown
German Shepherds require more time to fill out their adult size in their abdomen and chest as well as reach their full height. Female German Shepherds are fully grown when they reach the age of around two years.
On the other hand, male German Shepherds grow to be bigger than female German Shepherds and are fully grown when they are about two and half years old.
Some German Shepherds may continue to grow until they reach the age of three years, but most of the growth happens by 2 to 2½ years old.
There Are Other German Shepherd Dog Look
The King Shepherd is not the only German Shepherd look-alike that might have you confused. There are a few different breeds that are larger that can easily be confused for a GSD.
- Belgian Shepherds This breed looks like a black GSD and is pretty comparable in height. They do tend to weigh slightly less and generally have longer fur.
- Shiloh Shepherds This breed is not yet recognized by any international organization such as the AKC, but back in 1991 the first official breed club formed in the US. They tend to be slightly larger and have longer fur than the GSD.
- Bohemian Shepherds These guys are actually slightly smaller than the average GSD, topping out at a GSDs minimum height.
- East European Shepherd This larger breed was directly bred from the German Shepherd and is a dead ringer for the GSD. They are quite a bit larger and are distinguished by their long rough fur. They were bred to tolerate very cold climates.
- American Alsatian This is another easy dog to confuse for the GSD, but the Alsatian is quite large in comparison. They are distinguished by their longer fur and larger size.
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Five Main Types Of German Shepherds
There are five main types of German Shepherds that you will come across:
Are Male Or Female German Shepherds More Protective
The first German Shepherd was founded in 1899 and was bred to herd and protect sheep. The modern dog continues its desire to protect due to this innate trait. But are males and females equally as protective?
Male German Shepherds are known to be more protective and territorial than females. Although both sexes will protect due to their genetic disposition, females tend to be more reserved and are more likely to approach guests, whereas males are more likely to doubt their intentions.
The strong dominance trait in males can become a problem if you dont tame it. If you dont introduce a male GSD to friends and family early on, you could experience problems, including many unwanted behaviors. Both genders will form an intense bond with their owner, which means theyll protect you at all costs.
Even though females tend to be less protective, theyll protect their young as well as their owners in most cases. I can certainly vouch for this, as Willow is highly protective of me! The other day, she certainly showed her protective traits when an unknown male opened the houses side gate and entered the rear yard where she was lying. Lets just say he didnt hang around for long!
Ultimately, it all depends on how you bond and build a relationship with your dog. Both males and females can be highly protective! So this leads me to the next question
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Average Adult German Shepherd Weight
While the vast majority of German Shepherds will fall in this range, there are exceptions. Your veterinarian or else an experienced Shepherd breeder can tell you if your dog is the right weight for their age and height.
The average weight of adult German Shepherds by gender as mentioned in the first paragraph:
- Males: 66 88 pounds
- Females: 48 70 pounds
Are German Shepherds Smart
According to the author of The Intelligence of Dogs,, Stanley Coren, Ph.D., ranks the German Shepherd as the third smartest dog breed. This study took a look at more than 100 dog breeds as they were judged by 200 dog obedience judges while learning new commands. Dogs were ranked based on their ability to perform commands 95% of the time or better based on less than five command repetitions.
The incredible level of intelligence in the German Shepherd, a level only bested by the Border Collie and the Poodle, makes this breed incredibly versatile. An ability to quickly pick up new commands and an intense desire to please its master means that this breed is the perfect candidate for any number of professional positions available to canines. This trait is perhaps why this is the breed of choice for both military and police work worldwide.
When theyre serving professionally, the German Shepherd can take part in police work, guard dog work, sheepdog work, service dog work, military work, and search and rescue work. German Shepherds also frequently participate in dog sports, including obedience, tracking, flyball, ring sport, and agility.
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Why Is My German Shepherd Dog Getting Older
Late-age disorders such as arthritis and dementia can also indicate that your pooch is reaching their golden years. The onset of these diseases and disorders can take a toll on your dog and might make them show other signs of aging. If your dog develops these disorders earlier in their lifespan, they might act elderly sooner than other dogs.
Do German Shepherds Have Common Health Problems
All dog breeds have a tendency toward some kind of health problem. The severity and risk will vary, however. German Shepherds biggest issue is hip dysplasia.
This is when the hip bones do not sit well within the joint, making them easy to dislocate and injure. German Shepherds can also get elbow dysplasia, where the same thing happens, but with the elbow joint.
A major health concern that you will need to watch out for with German Shepherds is bloat. This is not like the type of bloating that humans experience and it can be life-threatening. It is where the dogs stomach becomes distended to the point of cutting off air to the dog, causing trouble breathing.
It can be avoided by keeping your dog on a consistent schedule and not feeding him right before taking him out for vigorous exercise. You should also make sure your dog is not eating too quickly.
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Breeding Oversized German Shepherds Is Somewhat Controversial
Do you ever wonder why a breeder would purposely try to achieve dogs outside of the GSD standard? Oversized German Shepherds exist because there is public demand for them.
Whether Shepherd owners subscribe to the belief that bigger is better or they feel they need a stronger dog, huge Shepherds lose some of the original breeds unique attributes such as speed, agility, and versatility.
Some breeders proclaim a desire to return to the Old-Fashioned German Shepherd, who had great bone density and substance. Therefore, many oversized German Shepherds resemble Swabian Service dogs or Wurtemberg Sheep Dogs with heavyset builds and sometimes longer fur.
Oversize Shepherds can reach 25 to 27 inches tall for females and 27 to 32 inches for males, weighing 80 to over 130 pounds. Other appealing qualities are more unusual colors like white and dilute shades such as blue.
Supersized German Shepherds are still purebred dogs. Breeders simply carefully select only the largest individuals from their litters to produce future generations of puppies.