Everyone loves the charming and hardworking German Shepherd, but do they ever stop growing? They are a large breed of working dog that loves their family and can be a good watchdog.
German Shepherds are nearly fully grown by one and a half years of age. They continue to fill out until three years old and have their most significant growth spurt from two to six months of age. You can get an idea of how big they will get by their parent’s size, their paw size, and how big they are for their age.
However, a few other factors should be considered, including diet, exercise, and specific health concerns. For the most part, their growth is genetic, but diet can play a role.
How big do German Shepherds get?
German Shepherds are considered fully grown at around 18 months. Males can continue to grow and fill out until about two and a half years old, while females tend to fill out by two years. Since males are slightly larger, they tend to require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen.
The expected height and weight of a male German Shepherd at:
- 3 months is 9-11” and 22-30 pounds
- 6 months is 16-18” and 49-57 pounds
- 1 year is 22-24” and 71-79 pounds
- 1.5 years is 23-25” and 71-79 pounds
As you can see, there is rapid growth in the early months and still large amounts of change from six months to one year.
For example, a male German Shepherd will finish its first and largest growth spurt at six months and should be around 17 inches tall to the shoulder and weigh 53 pounds on average.
The expected height and weight of a female German Shepherd at:
- 3 months is 8-10” and 17-26 pounds
- 6 months is 15-17” and 44-49 pounds
- 1 year is 20-22” and 60-64 pounds
- 1.5 years is 21-22” and 60-66 pounds
Female German shepherds follow an identical growth pattern to the males at these ages except with slightly lower overall numbers.
A female German Shepherd will finish its first and largest growth spurt at six months and should be around 16 inches tall to the shoulder and weigh 47 pounds on average.
Both genders can continue to fill out up until their 3rd year. However, if they are still putting on weight after three years, it may be prudent to talk to your vet about whether their weight gain is any cause for concern.
Why do some German Shepherds grow at different sizes?
There are a few things you can look at to help figure out how large a German Shepherd will grow. Of course, their genetics are the primary determinant of their size, so their parents’ size and gender will be the most significant factors in their overall size.
The first and easiest is to know the puppy’s age and gender and compare its measurements with the average for its age. If it is more significant than average, it is more likely to grow to a larger overall size.
You can also check their paw size. A puppy with large paws still has a lot of growing to do, and the more oversized the paws, the more they will grow into them.
Finally, knowing the size of the German Shepherd’s parents will also help to determine their final size. Dogs tend to grow to a similar size as their parents, so that will give you an idea of your German Shepherd’s full growth potential.
What is the average weight and height of a German Shepherd?
Once they are fully grown, a typical adult male German Shepherd will be around 25 inches tall and 83 pounds. Likewise, a typical adult female will be 23 inches tall and 70 pounds. These standards are according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard.
The height standard is more stable than the weight standard, which varies considerably. A healthy adult German Shepherd’s weight can range all the way from 55 to 90 pounds, depending on a variety of factors.
Even these measures are just estimates for the standard of the breed. Some dogs may be quite a bit bigger or smaller than the standard, especially if their parents were extra big or small. Genetic and environmental factors can also be variable and don’t always precisely answer a dog’s final size.
Is it possible for a German Shepherd to grow again after they have stopped?
If a German Shepherd has reached three years of age, it is doubtful it will grow anymore during its lifetime. However, if their growth has slowed down considerably before one and a half years old, there could be a dietary or health reason they are not growing.
If it’s a parasite and the parasite is removed, or if it’s a dietary deficiency and it’s fixed, it’s possible for a young German Shepherd to grow again after its growth has slowed considerably.
Is there anything I can do to help my German Shepherd grow taller or bigger?
Generally speaking, your German Shepherd’s genetics are going to be the main factor (80% or more) of its growth potential. However, proper nutrition and health are critical to making sure they reach that potential.
If your German Shepherd is not getting enough calories or the right nutrition, its growth can become stunted. Infections and parasites can also stunt growth.
When they are a puppy, a specialized puppy diet helps make sure they get all the nutrients they need. Their food shouldn’t contain soy, wheat, or corn which can be hard to digest. Look for large breed dog foods without these ingredients included. Soy is a hazardous ingredient for German Shepherds as it can contribute to stomach gas that leads to bloat.
Puppy food is good up until about 18 months when they stop growing. After that, it provides a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat for a growing large breed dog. German Shepherds, in particular, do best with dog food that is mostly muscle meat, usually chicken or beef.
German Shepherds are also prone to binge eating, and as such, their diet should be broken up into a few different small meals during the day to prevent their overeating tendencies.
Also, nutritional changes take a while to take effect. Don’t switch their food every few weeks if you’re not seeing an impact because it can often take a month or two to see results. Six weeks is a reasonable time frame for examining the effects of a new diet.
If their health seems to be deteriorating badly, see a vet.
How much exercise should German Shepherds get each day?
Ideally, German Shepherds should get around 2 hours of exercise per day. You can split that up between about 1 hour of walking and 1 hour of play each day. During play exercise, some mental stimulation is preferable, as German Shepherds can become mentally restless.
If you can’t do 2 hours, then 1 hour split between a rigorous walk and mentally stimulating play is the next best thing—the more time and space they have to use their energy, the better.
German Shepherds need a lot of physical and mental exercise due to their size, hardworking breeding, and intelligence. Other factors such as your particular dog’s age, health, and individuality can play a role.
Too much exercise can be harmful to very young dogs, so be careful when they are puppies. They can overwork themselves to exhaustion, so be sure to be looking out for signs that they are overdoing it.
What type of diet should you provide your German Shepherd?
A German Shepherd’s diet would ideally be protein-rich, with at least 20% protein. They can also get their calories from grains and vegetables, but this should not be the entirety of their diet. The right mix will contain all the essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber for their body’s health.
After protein, fat is the other main nutrient a German Shepherd needs. 8% of their diet should be fat for puppies, while adults need at least 5%.
After these percentages are met, the rest of the ingredients in their diet would ideally be nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and grains. Since this is not always possible, just look for higher quality dog foods with a decent mix of ingredients and a muscle meat first ingredient list. Puppy food made for large breeds is ideal for when they are young.
Avoiding soy is also essential for German Shepherds, as it can lead to bloat.
Does a German Shepherd’s size affect its health?
German Shepherds tend to overeat, and if they fill and then do rigorous exercise, this can lead to a build-up of stomach gases that causes bloat. Bloat is quite dangerous for dogs. It can make it very difficult to breathe for the dog and even put them into shock. In extreme cases, it can be fatal.
If your dog is trying to vomit and eating lots of grass, this could be a sign of bad bloat. It is essential to take them to the vet immediately. This is especially important if they just ate a big meal.
German Shepherds that are growing fast need a lot of calories but are also prone to overeating They are not good at regulating their diet, so you will have to monitor them as the owner.
Three smaller meals a day is an excellent preventive measure for a lot of these problems. It’s also helpful to avoid strenuous exercise after a heavy meal. One of the most common health issues for German Shepherds is their gut health.
Another cause for concern is if your dog is eating normally but not gaining weight as a puppy. This can indicate a parasite or worms, which can permanently stunt their growth and cause a host of other problems. Roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms are very common in puppies in North America.
A poor-quality or patchy coat, a rounded potbelly, diarrhea, and lack of growth even after eating a lot are indications of a parasite.
Final thoughts
German Shepherds are amazing companions and loyal to a fault. They also grow up fast, and by six months are already more than half of their full-grown size. So you can expect a German Shepherd to stop growing by one and a half years old.
Genetic factors play the most significant role in their size, but diet and environment can also play a part.
