Socialization Period: 3 Weeks 12 Weeks
Now that puppies can interact with the world and creatures around them, they begin to do so. Its vital to begin socializing puppies at this point to become accustomed to humans.
Puppies should remain with their mother during this entire period even if theyre already weaned. There are dog social skills that the mother teaches her puppies during this stage. If they are taken from their mother too early, they may have trouble interacting with other dogs later in life.
Here are some of the milestones of this period:
- Walking well
- Begin playing with littermates and humans
- Have most if not all of their teeth
- Demonstrate adult behaviors including mounting and greeting by sniffing tails
- Fear response
- Can begin housebreaking
- Ears begin to stand upright
Check The German Shepherds Pedigree
A dog pedigree isa certificate of your dogs birth that also records the dogs bloodline, going back at least three generations in the dogs family tree.
Your purebred German Shepherd papers should include the dogs registration certificate and pedigree papers. In addition, pedigree papers will show your dogs physical details like the coat color and any titles the dog or previous dogs in the bloodline may have won.
Compared to a simple dog registration certificate, a dogs pedigree has more proof that your German Shepherd is purebred.
Transition To Adult Period: 16 Months 36 Months
At this point, there are no more major milestones for your German Shepherd to reach. They will, however, continue to grow during this time.
Female German Shepherds arent considered to be fully-grown until they are at least 24 months whereas some males arent seen as adults until 36 months.
Throughout this period, you should continue to feed them a high-quality food for German Shepherds to ensure that they grow at the proper rate, allowing their hips to develop normally. By the end of this period, they should reach their adult weight.
Heres a video showing how quickly a German Shepherd goes from being a puppy to a very adult-looking dog:
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German Shepherd Breed Standards: Characteristics
The German Shepherd Dog should be well-balanced, firm in nerves, self-confident, utterly calm and impartial, and amiable.
They must possess courage, willingness to fight, and hardness to be suitable as a companion, watchdog, protector, service dog, and guardian.
They have a wedge-shaped head that is large but in proportion to the body and a forehead that is domed these dogs have an elongated square-cut muzzle with lips that are tight against the teeth and dark in color, and a nose that is large, wide and black.
The jaws on these dogs are strong they have a bite that can be compared with a scissor-like cut.
The eyes of the German Shepherd are medium in size, almond-shaped, and sparkling brown with an intelligent look that is self-assured.
The ears are generally large and always stand erect they are open at the front and parallel but are frequently pulled back throughout the movement.
The necks on these dogs are long, and it is lifted when they become excited, lowered when moving at a fast pace.
The German Shepherds tail is bushy and fairly long. The shoulders slope into a straight, strong back, and movement is effortless and long, with a smooth trot.
Are German Shepherds Easy To Train
#7 German Shepherds are obedient and easy to train German Shepherds are obedient, making them easier to train compared to other dog breeds. Not only do German Shepherd perform well in task training, obedience training wouldnt be any problem for them as well. They will listen and obey to your commands.
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Breed Standards Of Various German Shepherds Registries Agree About Gsd Size
The original GSD breed size standard, formulated by the SV or German Shepherd Association , says females must range between 55 and 60 cm and males between 60 and 65 cm tall.
There is no specific weight standard, but Germans Shepherds are slightly rectangular, 10 to 17% longer than they are tall, according to Germanshepherdguide.com.
From the shoulders to where the tail starts, a 24-inch tall Shepherd would be 26.4 to 28 inches long. The FIC and United Kennel Club follow SV standards.
According to the AKC, males should weigh between 65 and 90 pounds and stand 24 to 26 inches at the shoulders. Females are a little smaller at 22 to 24 inches tall and weighing 50 to 70 pounds.
The Canadian Kennel Club has the same size standards. The length ratio to height is 10 to 8.
Some Famous Types Of German Shepherd Wolf Mix
Saarloos Wulfhund
This type of wolfdog came from the cross breeding of a German Shepherd Dog and a timber wolf. This was the result of Leendert Saarloos experiment in dog breeding. This is a very strong and large German Shepherd wolf mix which can be 76 cm tall and weighs around 36-45 kg. Saarloos possesses a pack mentality and actually enjoys being with other group of dogs.
This breed is not advisable to be a family pet due to its demanding personality and high maintenance which requires cautious and professional training. Sarloos Wulfhund puppy price ranges from $800-$1000.
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
This breed of dog came from the combination of a German Shepherd and a Carpathian Wolf. It is very athletic and energetic with thick coat. It is very effective as rescue and guard dogs because of its agility. It is also usually assigned as an attack dog for special military operations.
Its height is around 60-65 cm. and can weigh 25 kg. If you are planning to buy a puppy of this breed you need to prepare $800-$1500. Owners of this breed need more patience because of its stubbornness and independent personality. Remember that it is very aggressive with other pets and dogs.
Lupo Italiano Wolfdog
This German Shepherd wolf mix stemmed from the cross between a German Shepherd and a she-wolf and is also known as Italian wolfdog.
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How To Stop A German Shepherd From Jumping Over Your Fence
Making sure your fence is high enough is the most obvious way to make sure your German Shepherd cant jump over it. Having a solid fence that they cant see through also keeps them from wanting to get to the other side.
Otherwise, you might consider using an invisible fence, which is useful for homes that dont have actual fences.
Apart from having the right barrier, you should also train your GSD to not even consider jumping up a fence.
It helps to supervise them when theyre outside and then provide negative reinforcement when they try to jump. Eventually, they wont even try.
Another thing that can help keep a German Shepherd from jumping over a fence is to alleviate their boredom. Additionally, making sure they have enough physical exercise and mental stimulation will definitely help.
If theyre busy with something more interesting and are tired enough to stay put, they wont even notice the fence.
How Quickly Do Puppies Grow
You may want to get a sense of how quickly your German Shepherd puppy will grow. The following lists give estimates for male and female puppies weight over their first year these are the higher ends of the range.
For a more in-depth correlation between height and weight, it is worth it to read the book: Your German Shepherd Puppy Month by Month, 2nd Edition: Everything You Need to Know at Each State to Ensure Your Cute and Playful Puppy by Liz Palika and Terry Albert.
The exact weight will vary between different breed types and for each individual dog, but the general pattern will remain the sameGerman Shepherd puppies grow explosively over the first few months and then start to slow down between 6 and 8 months old. Stay in touch with your vet about monitoring this growth and adjusting their food accordingly. To go from pounds to kilogram: 1 pound is 0.453592 kilogram.
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Adopting A Black German Shepherd
German Shepherds are pretty common throughout the United States. It is usually not too difficult to find a normal German Shepherd breeder somewhere near you. However, not all breeders produce black dogs. Often, youll need to find someone who specializes in black German Shepherds to adopt a puppy.
Because these dogs are much rarer than the usual coloration, you can expect that they wont be regularly available. Most will also be significantly more expensive than a black-and-tan German Shepherd due to their rarity. Many people want a black German Shepherd, which means that you often have to be prepared to pay a bit extra. The supply just cant meet the demand easily.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $2,000 for a high-quality, completely black puppy. This is significantly more expensive than the $500 to $1,500 you can expect to pay for a usual German Shepherd. However, this is still much cheaper than you might expect for a large dog. As a common breed, they are usually cheaper than most.
For comparison, a French Bulldog costs anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.
It may be tempting to cut corners and purchase a cheaper puppy. However, this is not recommended, especially when it comes to German Shepherds. These puppies need socialized from the moment they are born. Often, breeders put in this time and effort.
We highly recommend only purchasing puppies form very experienced breeders. Otherwise, you may end up with an unsocialized puppy and a troublesome temperament.
Coat Color And Grooming
The German Shepherd was originally bred to herd flocks in harsh climates, and their medium-length double coat fits the job perfectly, acting as protection the dog from rain and snow and resistant to picking up burrs and dirt.
The coat types of the German Shepherd are as varied as their color. Some German Shepherds are longhaired. However, the “ideal” German Shepherd has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat is dense with straight hair that lies close to the body, and is sometimes wavy and wiry.
The coat comes in variety of colors and patterns including black black and cream black and red black and silver black and tan blue gray liver sable and white. The American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize white as a color for this breed, however, and won’t let white German Shepherds compete in conformation shows, although they’re allowed in other competitions.
Sometimes jokingly called “German shedders,” the breed sheds year-round, and generally “blows”sheds a lot of hair at once, like a snowstormtwice a year. If you want a German Shepherd, be prepared for hair on your black pants, on your white couch, and pretty much all over the house.
There’s no magic solution to shedding, and we just have to accept it. However, brushing two to three times a week will help more of the hair come out in a brush, rather than on your furnishings. And a sturdy vacuum cleaner doesn’t hurt either.
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What Happens After Your German Shepherd Puppy Turns One Year Old
As you likely have already noticed from reviewing the generic growth charts for a male and a female GSD puppy, puppies do a healthy chunk of their growth during the first six months of life.
But this doesnt mean theyre done maturing not by a long shot!
In fact, the average German Shepherd puppy will complete most of their height and length growth by the age of one.
But they may continue to pack on the pounds for as long as another 24 months.
How Tall Should A 6
A 6-month-old German Shepherd should be between 16-18 inches tall for males and 15-17 inches tall for females. This is derived from measuring 70% of the adult height of the dog as German Shepherds reach this percentage mark in both height and weight by the sixth month.
The common misconception among those who have never had a German Shepherd or a big dog is that the dog will grow consistently. German Shepherds go through uneven growth spurts that are uniform across the species but inconsistent across the years.
Compare the example of an 18-inch tall male GSD at 6 months. The same dog would be 16 inches the month before. But if he were to continue growing at this pace, he would be an impossible 38 inches by adulthood, and that doesnt happen.
German Shepherds grow only 30% more from the 6-month mark to the three-year mark.
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Is The German Shepherd The Right Breed For You
When choosing a breed for your next pet, you want to make sure the dog suits your preferences but also that you can meet the dogs needs. If you love going for runs or long walks, dont have dog allergies, and love teaching your dog new tricks, a German Shepherd may be the perfect breed for you.
If you want to do a little more research, check out The German Shepherd Handbook. If youre not sure about this breed, our article on the most popular dog breeds may help you narrow down a breed that would be more suitable to your and your future pups needs.
Why do you love German Shepherds?
German Shepherd Weight And Growth Chart: Puppy To Adult
Understanding your German Shepherds physical and emotional development is an important part of dog ownership, and it is vital that you are aware of certain growth and development milestones throughout your GSDs life.
Without knowing what to expect, a German Shepherds growth may be a bit puzzling and lead you to make improper decisions about their nutrition, exercise, or socialization.
Consider the following example of fact:
When a German Shepherd reaches the weight of 70 lbs and a height of 23, you may think that it is no longer a puppy. However, German Shepherds can reach these measurements when they are only 9 months old, but they do not reach adulthood until they are 18 months to 3 years old.
This article will help guide you through what to expect from your male or female German Shepherd as they grow from young pups to adulthood, beginning with an overview and then breaking it down into the specifics.
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Sexual Maturity Period: 6 Months 16 Months
As you already guessed, this is the point at which your German Shepherd will reach sexual maturity. By the end of this stage, they will mostly look like an adult dog, though theyll still have some growing to do.
The most important thing you should do for your dog at this point is spay or neuter them. If you are planning on breeding your dog, then youll need to make sure they have good hips and overall formation to improve the breed.
Some developmental milestones during this period are:
- Have all adult teeth
- Intact females begin having heat cycles
- Ears are standing upright on their own
- Intact males reach sexual maturity
- Strong pack bonds are formed
Keeping Your Gsd To A Healthy Weight
A naturally big German Shepherd may weigh more than average while still being fit and healthy. Shepherds are often not as greedy as some other popular dog breeds, but obesity can still be a problem in this breed. Keep an eye on your dogs weight and get advice from your vet if you think your dog is piling on the pounds.
Remember that exercise is rarely at the heart of excessive weight issues in dogs. The problem is almost always too much food.
Check that you can feel your dogs ribs if you press firmly along their sides, and that they have a waist when viewed from above, and that their belly slopes upwards towards their back legs, rather than forming a straight line.
Red German Shepherd
Some slight weight loss may occur naturally in an old german shepherd. Older dogs may lose their sense of taste or smell and have less of an appetite than they did when young. But unless you have been deliberately attempting to reduce your dogs food intake or increase their exercise, then noticeable or rapid weight loss should always be investigated by a veterinary surgeon
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What Is The Average Adult German Shepherd Size
German Shepherd dogs will no longer grow in height after 36 months of age, or three years.
You should know theres about a 25 percent weight difference between males and females.
Just remember that the numbers weve given in this article are averages. Your dog may be under or over, and its fine if thats the case!
Dont feel the need to be exact. Dog individuals vary, just like human individuals do.
You can ask your vet for a weigh in and a check up to discuss any concerns
Neonatal Period: Birth 3 Weeks
During this stage, a puppy is mostly helpless, and the mother will be responsible for feeding them, keeping them warm, and helping them eliminate waste.
Here are some of the developmental milestones to watch for:
- Beginning to crawl
- Eyes and ears begin to open
- Eyes and ears fully open
- First baby teeth erupt
- Begin eliminating on their own
- Start walking
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What Age Is A German Shepherd Fully Grown By
Your German Shepherd will have acquired much of their adult size and weight by the time they have hit their first year. However, they will continue to grow, usually reaching their full adult size somewhere between 18 months to 2 years of age.
The age of maturity, though, is somewhat dependent on the specific type of German Shepherd that you have. Eastern European varieties, for instance, are particularly late bloomers and are unlikely to reach their full size much before the age of three.
Larger dogs will also naturally take longer to achieve their full size. A female German Shepherd might be expected to get there at 24 months, whereas for a male, it could be closer to 30.