German Shepherd dogs were bred as herding dogs to protect sheep and, to this day, are one of the most popular working dog breeds. They are intelligent, task-focused and can grow to be a decent size.
German Shepherd growth continues for around 3 years and shows a slight variation in height and weight. The average height at the withers is 60-65cm for males and 55-60cm for females.
The breed can grow to be large dogs who will require plenty of space to express themselves. They aren’t suited to living in an apartment once they’re fully grown, and you may find you’ll both be restricting each other’s movement – especially if you have more than one person in your home.
Most of the German Shepherd height growth is done in their first two years, but they may gain a few extra kilos and centimetres in their third year. Male German Shepherds can take longer as their ribs need extra time to grow.
The ideal weight for a German shepherd will vary depending on its length and height. Generally, 40 kgs is a healthy adult weight for a male, while female German Shepherds weigh around 32 kgs.
The German Shepherd breed is descended from a long line of working dogs and requires plenty of exercise and stimulation to maintain a healthy weight.
Diet is also key with large breed dogs. Weight gain can snowball into several health problems, such as increasing the risk of hip dysplasia to which the German Shepherd is already predisposed.
From day one, ensuring your German Shepherd puppy is being fed age-appropriate, high-quality dog food is essential. As they develop, you’ll need to change their diet according to your dog’s weight and age.
German Shepherd puppies will rarely grow bigger than their parents, so the best way to get an indication of the final weight and height of your adult German Shepherd is to check with your breeder, who will be able to give you a good idea of the final size of a German Shepherd puppy based on its parents.
German Shepherds are naturally active, large-breed dogs that require plenty of daily exercise.
Adult German Shepherds require 60-90 minutes of thorough exercise a day that ideally provides a good amount of mental stimulation.
This dog breed is not suited to a small living environment, and though GSD puppies, like any puppy, are easy to live alongside, once they start to grow, you’ll find that you require a bigger space to share comfortably.
Ideally, a German Shepherd owner will live in a decent-sized house with a backyard for their dog to let off some steam.
German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds; their canny intelligence and protective natures make them ideal family pets that get on well with other dogs.
While they can grow to be big dogs, they sit at the lower end of the large dog scale and are given plenty of exercise, so keeping them in good shape is straightforward.
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