When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing

Have you ever wondered when German shepherds stop growing? All German Shepherds are considered the best, smartest, and most desirable dogs of them all. This dog breed is well-known for its intelligence and the fact that it will do everything it can to protect its owners.

They can grow fast and reach impressive numbers. When do German Shepherds stop growing? This is going to be the main answer for today, and we will try to give you as much information as we can.

When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing?

In reality, German Shepherds will stop growing at age 9 months for male dogs and 8 months for female dogs. However, most dogs will still grow between 0.5 and 1 inch in their lives. Once they reach 2–2.5 years old, male dogs will completely stop growing. Female dogs will completely stop growing at age 2.5–3 years.

Don’t forget that the growth in this case refers to height. The weight can change and will likely change through the lifespan of your pet. You can either change it deliberately or monitor the weight and help your pet maintain a proper number. When do German Shepherds stop growing, the question is answered. 

Size and Weight of German Shepherds

In general, male dogs will reach 5-5.4 feet in height, while females are smaller and will reach 4.5–5 feet. So yes, in some rare cases, a female can be as big as a male dog, but this rarely happens with purebred dogs. The weight varies as well. Males will reach between 66 and 88 pounds of weight, while females will reach 48 to 70 pounds. Most of these live between 9 and 12 years. 

An interesting fact is that there are more differences between genders. Male German Shepherds are stronger and bigger, and they are also emotionally more stable. Female dogs are easier to train, and they are more affectionate.

Development Stages

There is one important thing we would like to discuss here. German Shepherds have development stages. Each one is mandatory and each one has a huge role in the life of your dog. Below we will reveal all of them and see the differences, main characteristics of each one, and more.

Newborn Stage

This stage will last only 14 days and consider it as a baby. Your dog will learn how to crawl and he will also make the first steps. His front teeth will start developing (front teeth in the middle of the jaw) and after 7 weeks you can see his eyes and ears starting to open fully. During this time frame, his body temperature will be lower than an adult dog. This is probably the scariest stage for some owners and also the most rewarding. 

Socialization Stage

This stage will last from 2 weeks to 2 months. It is an appealing stage in the lack of a better word. Puppies will learn how to play, fight, move around and they will also learn a lot about themselves. This is the time when they will start chewing soft food and also start biting. They will also learn how to interact and communicate with other puppies and other dogs. 

Juvenile Stage

The juvenile stage lasts between the 3rd and 6th months. During this period you can notice impressive changes. Your puppy will grow in size and he will become more active and stronger. In the period between the 4th and 6th months, a puppy will replace his teeth with permanent ones. Don’t be scared of that. It is perfectly normal. 

Yes, you can train him during this stage. But, they are still small puppies and they don’t have a long attention span. In other words, they will get bored easily and they can be distracted by almost anything. If you train your dog during this time, make sure you use short and accurate training methods. 

Sexual Maturity Stage

This is the stage at which your dog will reach sexual maturity. Female dogs reach it in the 6th month (when they get their first heat cycle), and males will become mature in the 7th month.

There are all kinds of developments here that we would like to discuss. First of all, their size and height will be significantly increased. They may reach full size they will maintain for the rest of their life. Don’t forget that in this stage they are still developing emotionally and mentally. They are not yet adult dogs. They love to run around and play, so this stage may be the most rewarding.

It is not a good idea to allow mating at this stage. They are still too young, and they are not properly or fully developed. You will probably have to wait another 6 months or even more.

Maturity Period 

Now they are fully grown and they are therefore adult dogs. There is one major difference. Female dogs will mature faster so they will reach this stage in 2-2.5 years. On the other hand, male dogs need more time so they will mature at 2.5-3 years of age. This is the time when they are ready to start with their main purpose and actions you want them to do.  

Can You ‘’help’’ Your German Shepherd Grow More? 

Most people believe that they can “help” their German Shepherd grow and reach a much higher height and weight. For instance, if you give him more food, he should grow faster and more. If you feed him bones and raw meat while he is a puppy, he will grow more. Not exactly.

Doing this will actually have a negative effect on your dog. He will have issues with behavior, weight, joints, and bones. In reality, these dogs will live much shorter lives than they should! You should know that German Shepherds are loving and adorable dogs who will be great friends to their owners. You definitely don’t want to do anything that will make this pleasant time pass faster.

All you can actually do if you try any of these things is end up with a sick dog. It is likely that he will be heavier but not grow taller. There are all kinds of additional issues. For instance, we all know that German Shepherds have distinctive rear legs and hips. With added weight, this part of the body will have severe issues and cause a lot of problems for your pet.

Some people have even used injections or hormones to make a dog grow bigger. This is just the worst thing you can actually do. You won’t get the effect you want, and you will see countless issues that are even more complicated and severe than the ones we have mentioned 

Help Your Pet Reach Optimal Size and Weight 

If you want a larger dog, you will need to choose another breed. This is actually the most recommended option of them all. Every single dog breed has a weight and size you can see within minutes online. Then just pick a breed you are most comfortable with. Trying to make your German Shepherd reach a height and weight he is not ‘’designed’’ to never work. 

The first thing you will actually have to do is talk to the breeder and see the size of the parents of your puppy. If they were big, your puppy would be as well. If they are small, your puppy will be small also. This isn’t 100% accurate, but it is a mandatory thing to consider, and it does have a huge effect on the size of your puppy.

Provide your puppy with healthy food and a lot of exercise. There are even special exercises for German Shepherds that are the most effective and will help them reach the height and weight they need. Always use proper and healthy food that will help your pet develop properly. Train your dog. This is almost mandatory when it comes to German Shepherds. They do not behave that well without training.

Always keep your eye on the weight of your pet. If he loses weight, you may want to try a different food or to add an extra meal during the day. Keep in mind that there are a lot of health issues that can cause this so you will want to take him to a vet for regular checks. This is actually something you should do with all dogs. 

What If German Shepherd And Pitbull Fight? Find out here.

Conclusion 

When do German Shepherds stop growing? Now you know the answer and you also know all about their stages in life and what to do in order to avoid possible issues and help your pet reach the optimal size. These dogs are some of the best in the world. They are smart, happy, and lovely dogs that all people like. They can protect you and they can help you feel better. Try to help them as well.