German Shepherd Growth Chart – Size & Weight Chart

Understanding the German Shepherd growth chart is crucial for owners. The chart enables you to monitor the physical development of your pup as they transition into adulthood.

As a young pup, German Shepherds grow up fast, so it is helpful to know the recommended weight month by month.

German Shepherds are medium to large breed working dogs originating from Germany. They are highly intelligent and loyal dogs and are one of the most popular breeds in the US.

This article will give your more information about the growth of a German Shepherd puppy to ensure that you watch out for any signs that may affect their growth and for your puppy to grow and become a healthy adult.

When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing?

German Shepherds are not fully grown until 18 months old, similar to most dog breeds. Despite being fully grown, German Shepherds continue to fill out for many months.

Females fill out until two years of age, while males fill out until two-and-a-half years as they are larger.

As the German Shepherd size chart indicates, the majority of growth is complete by two years of age, with males reaching a maximum weight of 84 lbs, while females reaching a maximum of 68 lbs.

Beyond the 24-month mark, if your German Shepherd continues to grow excessively you should consult your vet for a check-up. While filling out is normal, excessive bulk is not expected.

German Shepherd Weight Chart

A German Shepherd weight chart provides you with the weight estimation of your puppy as they grow.

Your puppy’s weight may deviate slightly from the numbers, but you should monitor to ensure that the deviation is not too much to avoid your puppy being overweight or underweight.

At three months, a female German Shepherd should weigh between 17 and 26 pounds, weigh between 44 and 49 pounds at 6 months, and weigh between 60 and 65 pounds at one year.

A male German Shepherd on the other hand should weigh between 22 and 30 pounds at three months, 49 and 57 pounds at 6 months, and 71 and 75 pounds at one year.

For growing German Shepherds, an adjustable dog crate is crucial. Discover the best options with dividers to accommodate their growth at IPet Guides.

German Shepherd Weight Chart By Age

Best Dog Food For German Shepherd Puppies (2022)

• Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Dog Food (Editor’s Choice)
• Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dog Food (Runner-Up)

How Big Do German Shepherds Get?

The final size of a German Shepherd is dependent on the gender. Males’ final weight ranges from 71 to 84 lbs and the female final weight is significantly smaller at 62 lbs to 68 lbs.

In terms of height, the difference between male and female German Shepherds is more marginal. Males reach 24 to 26 inches while females reach 22 to 24 inches.

To predict the final weight of your German Shepherd puppy you can do a few things.

First, get information from the breeder on the parents of your pup. Their adult height and weight will be a great indicator.

Second, you can follow a German Shepherd growth chart as presented in this article to give you month-by-month estimates.

Third, you can check the size of your pup’s paws to see if they are proportionate. If not, more growth is coming.

Finally, you can get a DNA test through your vet to get genetic information and predict your pup’s final size.

Male vs Female German Shepherd Growth Chart

Male German Shepherds are heavier and slightly taller than female German Shepherds.

A male German Shepherd weighs between 71 and 84 pounds with a height of between 24 and 26 inches while a female German Shepherd weighs between 62 and 68 pounds with a height of between 22 and 24 inches. 

You can measure the height of your German Shepherd at home. Take a measuring tape and measure from the withers to the ground.

To get accurate measurements, ensure that the dog is standing straight on a flat surface. If they cannot stand still, get a family member to help you hold them.

German Shepherd Growth Stages

I think we can all agree that it’s difficult to figure out the best way to take care of your dog’s health. Not knowing about a German shepherd’s average weight and height only adds to the list of problems.

As German Shepherds grow through the stages of their life, they also develop more health risks. But are the stages of a dog’s life?

Puppyhood

The first stage is puppyhood. It can last anywhere from 5 to 6 months, but most of the time, German shepherds finish puppyhood by their 6th month.

Within these 6 months, the puppy will experience six stages. Each of them will help these puppies learn various things. While not all of them are involved with weight or height, it’s still worth knowing.

• 0 – 13 days: During the first 13 days, the German shepherd is nothing more than a helpless dog. They still haven’t developed any senses and they can’t adjust to the temperature yet. They’d need to be extremely attached to their mama at this point.
• 13 – 21 days: The next stage will feature the development of a puppy’s senses. They will start being able to smell, taste, and hear. Plus, they’ll be opening up their eyes for the first time so you can finally see those puppy eyes.
• 3 – 7 weeks: From the first few days of this stage, the puppy will discover the world through their newfound senses. Then, they’ll be showing their true nature as a dog. They must stay on their mother’s side in this stage because the mama should be the one disciplining them.
• 7 – 12 weeks: Then comes the stage that introduces the puppy to various kinds of people. It’s where they socialize away from their original family. They may also become prone to developing trauma. For example, if they are exposed to sunlight at this point, they may fear the sunlight throughout their life.
• 12 – 16 weeks: These four weeks can be called the Seniority period. This is because the pup will finally show who’s the boss. They might try biting or nipping you at this stage, but you should show who’s superior. If they’re still with their siblings, they may also undergo some fierce competition. 
• 4 – 6 months: The last stage of puppyhood is where they’ll be the most stubborn. They might not listen to you, or they may not come if you call them. The best approach for this is to ignore these actions. They’ll eventually come back to being obedient dogs.

Later in this article, we’ll show you a German shepherd puppy weight chart that features the first 12 months.

Regardless, after this stage, they can already play with you. They will energetic, active, and hardworking. The next stage, adolescence, will then enter their life.

Adolescence

The adolescence stage typically starts in the sixth month of your puppy. Since they’ve already undergone many changes, there might not be much development in this stage.

The following are the milestones that a German shepherd typically experiences in this stage.

• 6 – 14 months: This will be the second time that dogs experience extreme fear, especially on new things (the first one being trauma development). Your best bet is to ignore their fears. Avoid consoling them since it may come as a gesture of saying that it’s okay to be scared.
• 14 – 18 months: Within this stage, the dog will be encountering some breakdowns, particularly with their memory. For example, they may not be able to do things that you taught them before.
• 18 – 24 months: This is the young adulthood stage. In this stage, your dog may display some more aggression. Don’t worry, though, because it’ll eventually pass as the dog transitions to adulthood.

Adulthood

The adulthood stage starts from 1 to 3 years since the birth of your puppy. You may also find that their size will already be that of a typical German shepherd adult.

However, they may still grow bigger than their current size. But this time, the growth in the weight and height of your dog may not be as noticeable as before.

So this might be the answer to the question – how big do german shepherds get?

This stage will also cause the German shepherds to be more active. Therefore, they’ll need to do exercise more often than before. This is so that they can remain in high spirits.

There won’t be any change aside from this until they enter the last stage.

Seniority

This is the last stage of a dog’s growth. It typically occurs when the German shepherd reaches six to ten years. Dogs that enter this stage may be considered as seniors rather than adults.

Unfortunately, this stage will focus on the health of your dog. Senior German shepherds will exhibit signs of health issues, such as joint pain, decreased stamina, and especially hip dysplasia.

Knowing about this is helpful since you now know that they need to be sent to the vet more often once they enter this stage.

Through these four stages, their weight and height will change. However, there is an average weight of German shepherds and the next topic shows how long German shepherds can grow.

Will Neutering/Spaying My German Shepherd Affect His Growth?

Spaying removes the ovaries from female dogs while neutering removes the testicles of male dogs. Both procedures are common and conducted by a vet.

The procedures are designed to calm your dog as they enter adolescents as well as protect them from health conditions such as ovarian or testicular cancer.

If conducted at the right time, spaying or neutering should not impact the growth of your German Shepherd.

The recommended age to spay or neuter a German Shepherd is from 6 months to 24 months. If conducted too early, growth may be affected as reproductive hormones are connected to growth hormones.

Belgian Malinois vs German Shepherd Size

The German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois are almost similar in height, but the German Shepherds are slightly taller. Also, German Shepherds are heavier because they have more muscle while Belgian Malinois are leaner.

On average, a male Belgian Malinois has a height of between 24 and 26 inches with a weight of between 60 and 80 pounds while the females stand at a height of between 22 and 24 inches with a height of between 40 and 60 pounds.

On the other hand, a male German Shepherd weighs between 71 and 84 pounds with a height of between 24 and 26 inches while a female German Shepherd weighs between 62 and 68 pounds with a height of between 22 and 24 pounds. 

German Shepherd Height Chart

Just like with their weight, German shepherds stop growing typically reach the end of their growing process as they reach their first year.

That’s also why we’ve only shown the German shepherd puppy’s weight chart since there won’t be any significant change past that.

However, 1 year isn’t how long German shepherds can grow. They will still grow after this point,  but not as much. Here’s a chart of the average height of a German shepherd (male and female).

Male

• 1-month old German shepherd: 15.5 centimeters: 24.6% of total growth.
• 2-month old German shepherd: 22.62 centimeters: 35.9% of total growth.
• 3-month old German shepherd: 27.13 centimeters: 43% of total growth.
• 4-month old German shepherd: 35 centimeters: 55% of total growth.
• 5-month old German shepherd: 40.73 centimeters: 64.7% of total growth.
• 6-month old German shepherd: 46.5 centimeters: 73.8% of total growth.
• 7-month old German shepherd: 52.38 centimeters: 83.1% of total growth.
• 8-month old German shepherd: 57.43 centimeters: 91% of total growth.
• 9-month old German shepherd:59.9 centimeters: 95.1% of total growth.
• 1-year old German shepherd: 63 centimeters: 100% of total growth.

Female

• 1-month old German shepherd: 14.17 centimeters: 25% of total growth.
• 2-month old German shepherd: 21 centimeters: 37.1% of total growth.
• 3-month old German shepherd: 25.5 centimeters: 45% of total growth.
• 4-month old German shepherd: 31.49 centimeters: 55.6% of total growth.
• 5-month old German shepherd: 36.72 centimeters: 64.8% of total growth.
• 6-month old German shepherd: 42.34 centimeters: 74.8% of total growth.
• 7-month old German shepherd: 48.62 centimeters: 85.9% of total growth.
• 8-month old German shepherd: 53.43 centimeters: 94.3% of total growth.
• 9-month old German shepherd:54.1 centimeters: 95.5% of total growth.
• 1-year old German shepherd: 56.64 centimeters: 100% of total growth.

How To Check A German Shepherd’s Proportion?

While the American Kennel Club does not have a standard for weight, German shepherds are typically longer than tall.

To be exact, the ideal proportion of their length to height is 10:8.5. For example, if a female German shepherd is 64.5 centimeters, then they should be 54.825 centimeters high. The female German shepherd’s weight has nothing to do with this.

If your dog is not of this proportion, then there might be an existing problem. To learn if your German shepherd is of the right proportion, multiply the length of your dog to 0.85. The result of this will be the ideal height of your dog.

While this calculation may be useful, it’s not that reliable. You should also check your German shepherd for yourself rather than relying on numbers.

How To Evaluate Your German Shepherd’s Weight?

There are three ranges of a German shepherd’s weight. You’ll need to determine where your dog belongs to so you can act accordingly.

Categories of German Shepherd’s Body Mass

• Underweight: In the underweight range, the dog can be simply Thin, but the extreme version will be Wasted. Both of these are under the underweight category and are bad proportions for your dog.
• Ideal: What you should aim for is the Ideal weight of a German shepherd, which is 35 kilograms for a male and 30 kilograms for a female.
• Overweight: Under the overweight range belongs the simply Heavy German shepherd and at the end of the spectrum you’ll see the Obese. Such dogs are also prone to panting due to too much stress.

Checking Your Dog’s Weight

There are different ways to check if a German shepherd is underweight or overweight.

For example, you can find out if your dog is underweight by checking their sides if their ribs are visible. But if you think they’re overweight, you can look at them from above. If they look like a barrel of some sort, then your guess is right.

Some cases may lead to their appearance being not too obvious. So it’s also important to feel their ribs so you can check if your German shepherd’s size is normal.

If there’s too much skin at a point where you can’t feel their ribs anymore, they’re overweight. If you can feel their ribs with the addition of a layer of skin, they’re likely to be of the ideal weight. But if the layer of skin is too thin, they are underweight.

So what exactly can you do if you found out that they’re underweight or overweight?

Getting Your German Shepherd Back to Normal Shape

Whether a German shepherd is underweight or overweight, you’ll need to do something to change their situation. And one of the best ways to do this is to change their diet.

• Underweight: Obviously, you’ll need to increase the content of their food. However, make sure you don’t force them because this might lead to more bad than good.
  Slowly transition to providing higher fat content. A simple trick for this is to mix their normal food with that of higher fat content.
  You might also consider feeding them puppy food since it’s typically made to provide plenty of nutrients.

• Overweight: When it comes to overweight German shepherds, you should simply cut off their food.
  However, don’t take it too far since their behavior may also change. Instead, take it slowly so they won’t notice.
  Don’t worry because if you continually do this, they’ll eventually end up eating half the amount of food they were eating originally.

Factors That Affect German Shepherd Growth 

Genetics & Gender

Genetics plays an important role in dogs as the size of the parents can hugely influence the final weight and height of a puppy.

Therefore, if your puppy’s parents are larger or shorter than average, then your puppy will likely be the same.

Unfortunately, German Shepherd puppies can also inherit health conditions from their parents, so ensure that the breeder gives you the parents’ medical records.

Male German Shepherds are generally larger than female German Shepherds.

Nutrition

The type of diet that you feed your puppy can affect their growth. Giving your dog a properly balanced diet that meets their developmental requirements is essential in ensuring that they achieve their optimum growth.

Most people may feed large portions of food to their German Shepherds because they are large dogs, however, you should note that overfeeding can lead to unnecessary weight gain causing diseases such as osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia.

Physical Activity & Health

Because they are active dogs, German Shepherds require a lot of exercises to stay healthy and active.

Younger puppies require about 20 minutes of exercise per day while older dogs need between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise per day.

When your dog is in their growing stages, do not overexercise them as they could develop joint and ligament issues.

Slow walks are recommended when your puppy is less than 5 months old. From 5 months onwards you can introduce jogging and trekking.

How Big Is A German Shepherd When He Is Born?

A German Shepherd puppy is usually about 1 pound (0.45 kg) and 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 cm) long when it is born.

But this can change based on things like the size of the parents and the size of the litter. 

German Shepherds are big dogs that can grow up quickly in their first few months. At 8 weeks old, they can weigh anywhere from 5 to 9 kg and be between 6 and 10 inches tall at the shoulder.

To make sure animals grow and develop in a healthy way, it’s important to give them the right food and veterinary care.

How Big Should A 6-Month-Old German Shepherd Be?

At 6 months old, a German Shepherd should weigh between 44 and 60 pounds and be between 15 and 26 inches tall at the shoulder. It’s worth noting, however, that genetics, nutrition, and activity may all contribute to a wide range in canine body size.

To grow and develop in a healthy way, a puppy needs to eat well and get plenty of exercise. Talking to a vet can help you figure out what size and weight your dog should be, and you can then make changes to their diet and exercise routine as needed.

Is The German Shepherd A Large Or Giant Dog Breed?

The German Shepherd is a large breed of dog, but not a huge one. The American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards say that a male German Shepherd should be 24-26 inches (60-65 cm) tall at the shoulder, while a female should be 22-24 inches (55-61 cm) (55-60 cm).

Males should weigh between 65 and 90 pounds (30–40 kg), and females should weigh between 50 and 70 pounds (23-32 kg). Even though German Shepherds are not considered giant breeds, they are still strong and muscular dogs with a strong, agile build.

German Shepherd Body Condition Score (BCS)

The Body Condition Score (BCS) is a way to measure a dog’s weight and body condition as a whole. The scale goes from 1 to 9, with 1 being very thin and 9 being very fat.

A BCS of 4-5 is thought to be ideal for German Shepherds. This means that you can feel their ribs and that they aren’t covered in fat.

When you look at them from above, you can see their waist behind their ribs, and when you look at them from the side, their stomach is tucked up.

A German Shepherd needs to eat well and exercise to keep their BCS in good shape. This is important for their overall health and well-being.

How Much to Feed A Growing German Shepherd Puppy?

The amount of food that you feed your German Shepherd depends on their age, activity level, growth, hunger levels, and your vet’s recommendations.

There is a general guide that you can follow when feeding your German Shepherd puppy.

Up to 16 weeks old, they need between ½ to 1 cup of food per meal. Between 16 weeks and 9 months, they eat between 1 and 1¾ cups per meal.

Between 9 and 12 months, they eat between 2 and 2½ cups per meal. From 12 months onwards, they need 2 ½ to 3 ½ cups per meal.

The feeding frequencies vary as your puppy grows. During the weaning period, they eat four times per day then after the age of 8 weeks old, they can eat three times per day. From 8 to 12 months, they transition to two meals per day and you can stick to that for the rest of their life or change according to your vet’s advice.  

What Are the Most Common Conditions To Be Aware Of In Growing German Shepherd Puppies?

As your German Shepherd grows, there are common conditions that may affect them and you need to be aware of them. Bloat is a common condition because German Shepherds have deep and narrow chests.

Bloat causes the stomach to fill up with gas and it can be life-threatening if not treated. If you notice signs such as salivation, retching, enlarged abdomen, and restlessness, contact your vet immediately.

Another condition that is prone to German Shepherds is skin allergy which may be caused by food or fleas.

Changing to a different brand or protein source can cause itchy and inflamed skin. Fleas cause skin allergies through their bites as well as excretion.

Other conditions to be aware of are thyroid disorders, seizures, progressive retinal atrophy, and osteoarthritis.

Do German Shepherds Experience Growing Pain?

Since German Shepherds are medium to large-sized breeds, they can experience growing pains that may last from two to five months.

Since your German Shepherd will be fully grown at the age of two years, they may experience episodes of growing pain during the growth spurts periods.

The severity and length of time will vary, but if it signs of lameness, pain, discomfort, and limping last longer, you should contact your vet.

Massaging your dog’s hind legs after exercising will help relieve the tension and fatigue in the leg muscles. Your vet may recommend surgery or medication depending on the condition.

German Shepherd Genetics and Common Health Problems

Even though German Shepherds are healthy and active dogs, there are health conditions that they are genetically predisposed to as a breed.

Understanding the potential health problems your dog might face will enable you to take care of them in a better way.

The following are some of the genetic health problems that affect German Shepherds:

• Sloped back – if your German Shepherd has this condition, their knees and hips come closer to the ground leading to your dog having a triangular shape and not rectangular. Other symptoms include shuffling when walking, excessive angulation of the hindquarters, and lack of muscle balance in the hind legs.
• Hip dysplasia – this is a common condition that happens when the socket and ball of the hip joint do not grow at a similar rate when your German Shepherd is a puppy. It leads to limping, reduced activity, pain in the hind legs, and bunny hopping.
• Degenerative Myelopathy – this condition affects the spinal cord and causes progressive paralysis and weakness in the hind limbs. It causes difficulty getting up, falling over easily, and the paw knuckles of the hind legs scraping the ground when walking.
• Von Willebrand’s disease – this is caused by a deficiency in the protein that helps with clot formation in case your dog is injured. It may cause excessive bleeding after surgeries or spontaneous bleed from the mouth, nose, and reproductive tracts.

German Shepherd Growth Chart FAQs

What Is The German Shepherd Height Chart

Male German Shepherds should be 24-26 inches at the shoulder, while females should be 22-24 inches at the shoulder, according to the AKC breed standard.

While dogs within this range are preferred for breeding and displaying, the breed standard does state that dogs outside of this range may be considered.

Although the AKC establishes breed standards, individual dogs may deviate from those criteria in terms of size and look due to variables including heredity, food, and activity. 

What Are The Dangers Of Stunned Or Accelerated Growth?

When a dog’s growth slows down or speeds up, it can cause a number of health problems, such as hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, and osteoarthritis.

Rapid growth can also cause digestive and metabolic problems, like bloating, being overweight, and not being able to use insulin properly. To help dogs grow and develop in a healthy way, it’s important to give them the right food and exercise.

What Is My German Shepherd’s Neck Size?

You can find out the size of your German Shepherd’s neck by wrapping a soft measuring tape around the base of their neck, where their collar would sit comfortably.

Make sure to measure snugly but not too tightly, and add an inch or two for comfort.

The average size of a German Shepherd’s neck can change based on the dog’s age, size, and weight. Usually, an adult male German Shepherd’s neck measures between 18 and 24 inches (45 to 60 cm), while an adult female’s neck measures between 16 and 22 inches (40-55 cm).

But it’s important to measure your dog’s neck size to make sure that their collar or harness fits right.

Final Words

What’s the normal weight and height of a German shepherd? How big do German shepherds get? Can they get any bigger?

These are just three of the countless questions asked by German shepherd owners. Well, it’s only natural to ask questions about a German shepherd’s size.

After all, it’s important to understand how these things work. That way, you can ensure that your full-grown German shepherd is normal. It will also help you tackle health problems concerning the German shepherd’s size.

Fortunately, the German shepherd dog FCI standards made sure to provide owners with a German shepherd growth chart so we’re able to gather data from there.

However, a German shepherd’s average weight and height can be affected by genes and their environment. Therefore, a pup may grow larger or smaller than the other. This article looks at the standard German shepherd weight and a height chart so owners may be able to understand their dogs better.

Before anything else, you should know about a full-grown German shepherd’s normal milestones.

Hopefully, this article has provided all the essential information you need to know about the German Shepherd size chart so that you feel confident in monitoring your pup’s transition to adulthood.

The key takeaway is that monitoring your German Shepherd’s growth is crucial, with the growth chart being a quick and easy tool to help you monitor every month.

If you do suspect any health issues based on your monitoring, you should contact a vet straight away.

German Shepherds are beautiful, loyal companions. As owners, do your duty to ensure they live healthy and fulfilling lives.