How Fast Do German Shepherds Grow
German Shepherds are medium-large dogs and therefore grow at a fast rate over the first six to seven months leading up to adolescence. Adult German Shepherds are 22 to 26 inches tall and weigh 50 to 95 pounds.
Reputable weight charts suggest your German Shepherd puppy will have attained three-quarters of their final weight over these first six to seven months.
This is A LOT of growing to do in a short amount of time when you brought your puppy home, it was probably only eight inches tall and weighed around 15 pounds.
By 12 to 15 months old, a German Shepherd is within an inch or less of their adult height. By the 18 month mark, it will have reached 98% of its adult weight.
Therefore, your male German Shepherd will be 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh 59 to 93 pounds by his first birthday.
What To Be Given To My Puppy After 4 Months
The food should be reduced to thrice a day, after 4-6 months of age.
The packaging of quality commercial dog food will detail the appropriate suggested amount of food for the puppy, depending on its age and weight.
Fresh food, such as meat, fish, or vegetables, can be mixed with the commercial dry feed. Beware of forbidden foods for dogs.
Some people ask about a raw diet for a German shepherd puppy, but we recommend these such foods should always be cooked and never given to a dog raw.
Avoid chicken, rabbit, and fish bones, as they can shatter and harm a dogs teeth.
Human food contains salt, sugar, and seasoning contents which are very harmful to a dogs health. Besides, if you do offer your dog your food, it will pester you during meals.
Is My Puppy The Right Weight
You can also refer to German Shepherd puppy growth charts to see if you puppy is gaining weight and within the normal range.
However, keep in mind that some dogs will be unusually small or large but still be perfectly healthy.
Do not try to maximize growth rates as this can lead to health problems later.
But if you puppy is not showing a steady increase in size, or your puppy lacks appetite, consult with a veterinarian.
Ensure that you are familiar with how to assess the body condition of your puppy. You can ask about your puppys condition at veterinary wellness examinations.
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Making Their Own Space
Your puppy needs a warm, quiet, and safe spot to sleep and rest. One of the most important things for your pup to know is that they have a place thats all their own.
The first few weeks this place at night may be a crate next to your bed. But at your pup grows this could be another room where they are safe and warm.
Set up your puppys area with these tips in mind.
- Set aside an area in your home thats quiet and away from heavy traffic. Loud noises and activities can cause anxiety in your pup.
- Place their bed in the corner of a room or by the side of your bed and offer them a warm pad or blanket. Watch they dont chew these fuzzy items!
- Encourage your pup to sit on their bed and when they do offer a good dog and reward with a tasty treat.
Its not too early to crate train your baby German Shepherd. Even if you dont plan on using a crate, your dog will be in and out of them at your vets and groomers.
So, its a wonderful skill to master early on.
Read this guide on stress-free crate training for your German Shepherd puppy to make you and your dogs life easier.
What Is The Best Way To House Train A German Shepherd Puppy
Here are some pointers to help you toilet train your GSD properly.
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How Much Is A German Shepherd Puppy Cost
Are you considering adding a German Shepherd puppy to your home and wondering How Much Is A German Shepherd Puppy costs? Well, this breed isnt inexpensive and deservedly so.
With the ideal blend of intellect, athleticism, courage, and loyalty, the German Shepherd is one of the most popular dog breeds today. And whats more, these elegant and proud dogs can ideally be anything from loving family pets to capable military dogs, assistance dogs, or skillful herders.
Therefore the immediate answer to the questionhow much is a german shepherd puppy? is pricey. Nevertheless, it is possible to find puppies without papers for a cheaper cost . Still, these puppies are usually from lines that have not undergone health and temperament testing.
Given this, it is far more preferable to spend a little more on the initial purchase price and buy a well-behaved puppy with excellent genetics! Lets take a closer look at why German Shepherds are so expensive and what factors influence their purchase price.
How Much Are The Vet Expenses For A German Shepherd
As with any dog, your puppy will need vet visits throughout his life.
How much you spend depends on the puppys age and gender. The breed qualify may also determine the costs you incur in vet expenses, especially for show dogs. In this case, you might incur costs for routine health care charges such as vaccinations and dental cleaning. These extra expenses might add up to $400 per year while regular dogs may incur less than half of this amount.
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Why Are German Shepherds So Expensive
Breeding dogs entails much more than just mating two adults of the same breed, producing puppies, and selling them.
Responsible breeders present their canines as show dogs, have them cleared for any breed-specific health issues, dispense a significant amount of time and effort to selecting the appropriate mating, and provide sensory stimulation and early socialization to their puppies.
The majority of health problems that German Shepherds can have cannot be diagnosed in a single visit to the veterinarian.
Instead, more complicated diagnostics like x-rays or genetic testing are required. This isnt cheap and it will be reflected in the puppys buying price!
A competent breeder will, in particular:
- Canine opthomolagist exam
- Thyroid tests
- Elbow x rays
The AKC mandates this testing for all German Shepherd Dog breedings. Do not believe a breeder who claims that his puppies are healthy because their parents have never had any problems.
Without radiographs, it is impossible to diagnose health issues such as minor hip dysplasia.
Month Old German Shepherd
At 4 months old, you can begin introducing more live animal products into their diet. Ingredients like actual bone, pieces of liver, and raw eggs are great to help your dog pick up the nutrients that may be lacking in their dry dog food.
Avoid giving them too much, though, by following the guidelines weve given you above.
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What To Feed A 6
The best diet for a six-week-old Shepherd pup is a tested and proven kibble diet soaked in warm goats milk to soften the food.
Only some brands meet your puppys nutritional requirements and its best to purchase brands that are known to be tested for optimum nutrition.
These foods ensure your young dog gets the best nutrients possible to ensure proper growth, which is important in your large breed dog.
But only some brands pass this stringent food testing, and you need to know the best ones.
What Is The Best Diet For A German Shepherd Puppy
See files for Dogs
When such an endearing pet like a German Shepherd puppy arrives home, it’s hard not to fall in love immediately. As a particularly affectionate breed, the German Shepherd will reciprocate this love in abundance. Since they will grow up to be a medium to large dog breed and their diet is an essential way to ensure they develop properly. Common mistakes when feeding a German Shepherd puppy include giving too much or too little food and giving them food of inferior quality. For this reason, many dog guardians ask what is the best diet for a German Shepherd puppy?
AnimalWised answers this by providing information on how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy, what type of food is best and how does this change as they grow. To do this we also provide a helpful German shepherd puppy food chart for when and how to feed these puppies properly.
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What Are The Problems With Feeding Your German Shepherd Raw Meat
There are a number of different problems that come with feeding your german shepherd raw meat. And unfortunately, the problems often outweigh the potential benefits. Here are some of the main problems.
Your German Shepherd Will Struggle To Get Enough Nutrients
Dog food has been specifically designed to give your german shepherd all the nutrients they need in their diet. If youre only feeding your german shepherd raw meat, then theyre not going to get nearly enough nutrients.
German shepherds need a variety of vitamins and minerals that raw meat alone cant provide.
One of the biggest problems with a raw meat diet is they often lack calcium and phosphorous too. And even when there are adequate amounts in their food, it can still be hard for your pup to digest.
Increased Risk Of Food Poisoning
Even if you only plan on feeding your german shepherd raw meat as an occasional treat, theres still an increased risk of food poisoning.
While a dogs stomach is strong, it may not be strong enough to fight off salmonella and e. Coli. If you feed your german shepherd raw meat youre going to increase the chances of them contracting these, as well as other diseases.
As well as an increased risk of your german shepherd getting food poisoning, youre also increasing your familys risk of food poisoning as well.
Your Family May Be More Likely To Contract Food Poisoning
This is especially concerning if you have young children who often let their faces and hands get licked by your dog.
Do German Shepherds Need A Lot Of Food
Yes, German Shepherds do require a lot of food compared to other breeds. This is because they are large dogs that usually lead an active lifestyle. An adult GSD may need as much as 3 cups of food a day, but much of how much you feed your dog will depend on unique considerations such as age, size, life stage, and health.
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When And How To Change The Feeding Of Puppy To Adult
Many owners would like to know what is the best age to switch their German Shepherd puppy to adult food. The best way to shift your German Shepherd from puppy food to adult dog food is to look at his age and size.
When a German Shepherd is around 1 to 1.5 years old, he is generally considered an adult. This is a good estimate of when you could consider making the switch.
When a German Shepard has attained around 80-90% of their overall growth, is a good indicator of when the switch should be made.
It is always better to do this gradually as an abrupt switch may not be ideal. If you feed your dog twice per day, you can start giving him adult food mixed in with his usual food.
What To Avoid Feeding Your German Shepherd
Now that you know what to feed your GSD, its also important to know what to avoid.
We already mentioned commercial dog foods that are of poor quality and a raw food diet that isnt fresh, but other things you should definitely avoid include the following:
- Uncooked bones
- Fruit seeds
- Grapes and raisins
- Macadamia and other nuts high in fat and oil
- Milk and dairy as many dogs are lactose intolerant
- Onions
- Corn, wheat and soy
- Xylitol
And the list goes on, but these are the ones that are found in many homes and should definitely be kept out of your dogs reach.
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Iams Proactive Health Minichunks Dry Dog Food
Healthy is as healthy eats. And, if your pick for puppy food for German Shepherd happens to be Iams, then your GSD is going to be a happy dog. You see, the farm-sourced chicken makes for a tasty meal. And, the wholesome fiber from the natural veggies boost the metabolism and ease digestion.
The blend has plentiful vitamins and minerals for a shinier coat, strong muscles and bones, and sharper eyesight. And, the DHA promotes brain development. Lastly, the crunchy kibble design makes for removing plaque, bad breath, and chewing for more jaw power.
So What Is The Best Raw Food For German Shepherds
Before you decide on the best raw food for your German Shepherd there are some tricks of the trade’ you’ll need to know about first.
Essentially there are 3 schools of thought in the raw feeding community.
If you can give you any advice, don’t get wrapped up in it. If you do, you’ll never make the change. Just stick to the facts and focus on the benefits.
BARF feeding or ratio feeding relies on feeding a wide variety of foods, some folks who subscribe to this style of feeding like to add plant matter to their dogs’ meals.
Prey Model Raw or Frankenprey feeding relies on feeding a whole prey animal or creating a Frankenstein style animal from various parts of different animals.
Both of the above feeding styles tend to be unbalanced in several nutrients and require heavy supplementation.
After years of studying canine nutrition and completing some of the best courses available, I no longer feed or encourage others to feed ratio or BARF diets or even exclusively PMR.
I followed my own advice and stuck to the facts as I learned more and more. From a personal perspective, I am comfortable admitting that I needed to improve on the way I was preparing my dog’s meals.
And the words of the famous American poet Maya Angelou, helped me overcome the guilt I felt once I realized I wasn’t doing the best I could.
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
I’ll be writing in more detail on balanced nutrition for dogs in future articles.
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Quick Checklist To Judge A Premade Raw Dog Food And Company
You can safely use this short checklist to find the best raw food for German Shepherds.
I’m passionate about canine nutrition and I’m constantly studying new research and development in the field. I’d like to help you if you have any doubts or questions. So feel free to drop them in the comments below.
Hi GabriellaI am enjoying reading through every link, page and article on your site. I recently lost my GSD, she was a very healthy 11 ½ year old who died suddenly from Hemangiosarcoma. We rescued her at 6 years old, so dont have much of her history, but I fed her a combination of Raw and Cooked meals. She had Raw for breakfast, mostly the Fish mixes from Tuckers and then I prepared her dinner meal by using the Just Food For Dogs Lamb or Beef Recipes.We will be getting a 4 month old puppy from a VERY reputable breeder in August and I want to make sure I feed him the best right from the start! What are your thoughts on a Raw/Cooked combo like before? Have you heard of Tuckers and Just food for dogs?
Really informativeMy GSD is 2 yes old and weighs 105 lbs. She gets fed 4 cups of Iams a day and is ALWAYS still hungry.
Why Do The Puppy Prices Of German Shepherds Vary So Much
Many people are perplexed by the vast price range of the German Shepherd dog breed, but its rather simple to grasp why the cost of German Shepherds puppy litters varies so much.
The cost of a German Shepherd is mostly determined by its size, breed, and where it is purchased. For example, you can easily obtain rescue dogs belonging to this canine breed for less than $300 from an animal shelter or between $200 and $500 through a rescue group.
A regular German Shepherd from a competent breeder, on the other hand, will cost you anywhere from $1200 to $4,000 on average , depending on its size and variety.
The most costly German Shepherds are those who have been trained as working or show dogs as adults. They can cost anything from $6,000 to $7,000 on average and much more in extreme cases.
Furthermore, if the German Shepherd puppy comes from a line of German Shepherds with exceptional hunting or exhibiting skills, you may have to pay hundreds of dollars for it.
This is due to the fact that German Shepherd puppies from a line of hunting or exhibiting champions are more likely to develop the same characteristics as compared to litters procreated from normal parents.
Even from a respectable breeder, the latter can be had for a few hundred dollars.
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