How Quickly Do German Shepherds Grow

Young German Shepherd Puppies

Young puppies, on the other hand, provide more of a clean slate to bond with you if theyve been previously reared in a healthy environment. Youll still need to follow the steps below to learn how to bond with a German Shepherd, but the time it takes and the work you put in will seem easier and come with less frustration to both you and your puppy.

Given a foundation of trust, a strong companionship grows into a lifelong friendship.

Powerful Factors In German Shepherd Bonding

These 3 powerful factors in German Shepherd bonding help determine the strength of the bond.

German Shepherd owners that are in tune with their dogs see the world from their dogs point of view.

They treat the dog with understanding, responding positively to their needs and feelings.;

Their responses which reduce anxiety, help the dog to manage their behavior, and prevent behavior problems provide a scaffold for future experiences. In return, a GSD is able to manage their behavior more appropriately and without undue stress.;

Focus on opportunities to build this foundation of attachment and bonding by:

• Being available helping your dog to trust you
• Responding sensitively helping your dog to manage their behavior and feelings
• Accepting your GSD for their uniqueness builds confidence;

German Shepherds need to grow up knowing they have a secure place within the family. A place where they belong and have responsibilities in relation to other family members.;

Feeling a part of the family is an important base for emotional growth.

Your Role As Your Dogs Secure Base

Your role as your GSD caretaker and secure base includes commitment, concern, and responsibility.

An owner must be able to be a secure fixture when their dog needs them.

When their dog feels insecure and aroused their owner must appease their insecurities so their dog can relax in their environment again.

The dogs owner must focus on their behavior and be interested in their GSDs mind so they can respond by meeting the dogs needs. This gives messages about the owners availability to not only meet their dogs needs but also offer relaxation.;

If the owners responses are predictable and accurate, then:

• The dog isnt overwhelmed by anxiety or dangers
• Faith in the attachment figure is strengthened
• The owner becomes a source of security in the dogs eyes

The dog learns to trust and to wait for their needs to be satisfied. A GSD can then use this proximity attachment figure as a secure base that can be relied upon, called upon, and returned to in times of stress.

Essentially, your GSD is forming an attachment to seek:

• Proximity
• Safety
• Protection

In return, the owner bonds with their German Shepherd. This is about a sense of commitment, concern, responsibility, and love for the dog.

You should know the fundamental elements to create an attachment between you and your GSD.

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Signs That Your German Shepherds Life Is Ending

It can be difficult for any dog owner to dwell on the thought of losing a beloved friend, but eventually, that day will come, and you need to be prepared. If youve spent plenty of time with your dog, youll easily notice drastic changes with its behavior, yet some signs can be uncertain. So without further ado, we will be discussing 5 of the most prominent signs that your GSDs life is ending. Lets begin.;

German Shepherd Bonding Schedule

You can help improve the bond more quickly by spending at least 30 minutes of focused, one-on-one time together each day.;

This time doesnt include walks, although walking is also a bonding exercise. Your bonding time should be focused and centered on learning your GSDs likes and dislikes and creating an environment that takes into account their unique disposition.

Heres what a German Shepherd bonding schedule might look like.

Aim for including at least 2 bonding activities each day

In fact, theres even proven science behind getting a German Shepherd to bond with you.

Here is what you need to know about how to feel more attached to your GSD.

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Factors That Can Affect A German Shepherds Weight And Height

Since the dogs growing process takes place over a significantly smaller time period than it does in humans, any major health condition, hormonal change, or injury during this time period can have a great impact on their overall growth. Some factors that can affect the growing process in GSDs include:

Utilizing Data From Your German Shepherd Puppy Growth Chart

Take your growth data to all of your routine veterinary visits and wellness checks. You can ask your veterinarians advice about your puppys body condition and nutrition. They may contribute to health problems known to be in the Germans Shepherd lineage or that they have an increased risk of having.

Extreme deviations from the average should be investigated, particularly in very young puppies who do not appear healthy. While rare, several conditions can cause extremely poor growth and reduced adult size, such as various forms of dwarfism.

Keep in mind that any serious congenital problems will often be detected before the age of eight weeks when puppies begin to be adopted.

You should not be concerned about minor deviations from breed average or brief growth spurts if your puppy appears happy and healthy. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

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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.

Decreased Mobility And Balance

A loss in mobility and balance means that your dogs muscles are growing extremely weak upon old age, more so, the absence of its natural fun and outgoing behavior may only imply the nearing end of its life. Soon, youll notice that your dog will find it challenging to move from one place to another; it will only feel unsteady on its feet; hence, youll find it resting on the ground more often than not.;

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German Shepherd Growth Chart By Weight & Age

Again, these are approximations and your own puppy growth chart may not absolutely reflect these numbers. If you have any doubt that your puppy is not changing according to the above German Shepherd growth chart, the best thing to do would be to contact your trusted vet.

If you are providing adequate exercise and quality dog food, your German Shepherd’s dog growth should be normal and she will have no trouble reaching her full potential.

Not sure if you’re feeding your GSD enough? Check out this breed specific dog food calculator to make sure.

German Shepherd Body Types

Just like with humans, there are various body types for German Shepherds. The ideal type is based on what humans decide is preferred and healthier for a German Shepherds needs.

To begin with, it is important to remember that German Shepherds are considered working breeds and need bodies that can perform their jobs well. A balanced frame will have a straight, flat spine with bones that are balanced between the front and back of the dog.

Dogs should be able to run and jump without any issue, which is true of most dog breeds.

For a German Shepherd, they need to be ready to hunt, guard, herd, and track. Their bodies need to help them complete their jobs without any physical limitations.

Show dogs will not be looked at for their work capabilities but based on the show standards. Unfortunately, often these standards of body types will not help your dog as active and healthy as he needs to be.

German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia as well as a roached back, which means a curved spine. Both of these conditions will affect the movement of your dog as he ages, making it difficult to run and walk well, let alone completing a job that they might attempt to do.

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Does A German Shepherd Only Bond With One Person

No, German Shepherds dont only bond with one person. A German Shepherd can bond with each member of the family in different ways. But, they will form a stronger working bond with one individual who they look to for direction and cues over other people. German Shepherds bond with people during the time they spend together on a one-to-one basis.

Essentially, a German Shepherd needs to have confidence in their handlers abilities as a leader and feel secure that their handler is committed to their welfare.

It is the interactions between the leader and the GSD that strengthen and help form the bond.

Creating a strong bond between an owner and a German Shepherd doesnt only involve caring for the dogs basic needs, but requires a deeper understanding of a GSDs innate drives and behavior.

This is where the knowledge of knowing how a German Shepherds mind works and having a strong foundation in dog training comes into play. How an owner responds to situations influences the bonding process during the first few months of their relationship.

Creating a healthy environment in which the owner offers their German Shepherd the confidence and security they need will enable the dog to develop trust in their owners.

German Shepherd Height Chart

When looking at the German Shepherd height chart, you will get a good idea on how quickly they grow and what you can generally expect as far as their height goes.

Looking at the German Shepherd height chart, you will notice that the puppies double in height between months 1 and 3 and again between months 2 and 4.The first 4 months of your puppys life is when you will see the largest amount of growth.

The height growth rate will slow down by 6 months. While your dog is nowhere near his final size, the amount that he grows each month will gradually reduce, so he will be growly less dramatically, while still growing.

This will help especially with feeding since you will be able to get him on a fixed amount after he has done his largest growth periods. You will notice on the charts that they keep going up until 3 years, taking into account any last bit of growth.

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How Much Should A Young German Shepherd Puppy Eat

How many cups of food you should feed a young German Shepherd puppy is dependent on factors such as the dogs weight, growth rate, age and recommendations from your vet.

However, the generally accepted guidelines for feeding young German Shepherd puppies are:

• From 8 weeks old to 12 weeks old 1 to 1½ cup of food per meal
• From 12 weeks old to 6 months old 1½ to 2 cups of food per meal
• From 6 months old to 12 months old 2 to 3 cups of food per meal
• 12 months old and above 3 to 3½ cups of food per meal

Average Adult German Shepherd Height

You measure a German Shepherds height from right above their shoulders , which is the tallest spot on a German Shepherds back when he is standing up.

You never measure them by their head, because dogs cannot consistently keep their heads completely upright, so the shoulder is just easier.

Normally, male dogs are larger than female dogs, but that is not always the case. On average, a male German Shepherd will be 24 to 26 inches tall and a female German Shepherd would be 22 to 24 inches tall. The difference between the sexes is minimal when compared to other breeds.

It is important to remember as well that these are only averages. Your German Shepherd might be bigger or smaller, just as humans come in all shapes and sizes. Much of it will have to do with how large your dogs parents were as well as the type of German Shepherd he is.

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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.

Juvenile Period: Three Months To Six Months

Starting around the age of three months, your German Shepherd puppy heads straight into serious puppyhood, with all the rambunctiousness, curiosity, high energy, short attention span, and dis puppy owners have come to expect.

Obedience training and training, in general, should be introduced promptly, and before your GSD starts to mature sexually at around the age of five months.

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Average German Shepherd Weight By Age

The most reliable numbers when it comes to a German shepherds measurements come from German Shepherd Dog FCI. It will also be the ones that well be using in this section.

Its also important to understand that males and females typically have different weights. This is a chart that shows the average weight of a German shepherd with 1-month intervals.

However, this German shepherd size chart will skip some months to show you how a full-grown German shepherd should weigh normally.

German Shepherd Weight Range And Growth Chart

Below you will find a chart that breaks down the overview above into more specific heights and weights, also including growth as a percentage to indicate how far along your German Shepherd is towards becoming a full grown adult.

This chart is a guideline, and as long as your GSD reaches the goals set forth in it, it doesnt matter if they are reached a bit sooner or a bit later as long as they are healthy during the process.

If you are concerned that your dog is gaining too much weight too quickly, or its growth seems to have halted, you should take your German Shepherd to a veterinarian to be checked out.

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Brush Your German Shepherd Regularly

To keep a handle on normal shedding, brush your German Shepherd at least twice a week throughout the year. During shedding season, you may need to brush him daily or even twice a day until the entire inner coat has been removed.

Obviously, brushing your German Sheperd outside is preferable, since the loose hair wont immediately form tumbleweeds in your home. If you dont have a suitable outdoor space thats easily accessible or the weather prevents outdoor brushing, confine your brushing sessions to the garage or a small, easily cleanable room like a bathroom.

Always brush your dogs fur in the direction that it grows and be gentle so you dont pull any hairs that arent ready to shed. Since youll be spending a lot of time brushing your German Shepherd, itll be easier for you both if he enjoys it and doesnt come to expect pain when he sees the brush.;

You can also motivate good behavior by providing high-value treats during brushing time, or by offering a tantalizing distraction like a treat puzzle.

To remove a blown coat, youll want to use a high-quality undercoat rake .;

For everyday brushing, consider a rubber curry brush that will gently remove dead hairs. Im a big fan of this rubber curry brush from Safari .;

A Typical German Shepherd Puppy Growth Chart And Timeline

Once youve gathered as much information as possible about your German Shepherd puppys parents, genes, and prior growth timeline, you can then plug this into the typical German Shepherd growth chart.

Lets now take a closer look at the typical growth chart for an average German Shepherd puppy. Just keep in mind that this is a template you can use, not a prediction of how fast your puppy might grow or how big your dog might get.

This is very important because you dont want to over-feed your dog too early in life. Let your dog grow at its own pace and check in with your dogs breeder and veterinarian frequently if you have any questions or concerns.

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Months And Onward: Adulthood In German Shepherds

Although some female German Shepherds can reach full adulthood by 16 months, most only reach it by 18 months to 2 years. Male German Shepherds only reach full adulthood around the ages of 2.5-3 years.

Here is a great video of just what you can expect from a German Shepherds growth in terms of size as well as personality from 7 weeks to 2 years old: