How Big is Big?

DHau · 12-19-2007, 05:22 PM

My dog is 4 months old as of today and everybody keeps saying my little girl will be big. I ask how do you know and they keep referring to the size of her feet. Ok, how can you tell by the size of the feet? I never have seen a GS with small feet. lol. To me, she looks in proportion.

Her weight on Monday was 38 pounds. She gained 10 pounds since Thanksgiving. Is this too much too fast?

doreenf · 12-19-2007, 05:42 PM

Well I can only say that Izzy was 12 pounds when we got her(rescued from a puppy mill) and 4.5 months old. I would not be too concerned with your puppy she sounds right on track. Izzy was malnourished so her growth has been altered. But she is gaining weight, she is 28 pounds and 5 months old. Its been a struggle but she if finally coming around.

GSDextrodinaire · 12-19-2007, 06:17 PM

It is not the size of the feet that are important it is the size of the growth plates above the feet that give you an idea of how big the pup will be, and even that isn't 100%. I have a LARGE female who has the tiniest petite tight feet I have ever seen on a GSD. Then I have a medium female with large tight feet. However, the majority of dogs you can predict to some degree the size of the dog by the growth plates.

12-19-2007, 07:23 PM

Frigga weighs 64 llbs and Odin weighs 125 llbs. Their feet are exactly the same size and they wear the same size dog boots from Ruff Wear. Makes things easier not having to worry who's boot is who's when it's time to go skijoring.

**Chris Wild** · 12-19-2007, 08:49 PM

The idea that you can tell a dog's adult size by how big his feet are as a pup is a common old wives tale with no real basis in fact.

38lbs at 4 months old is a perfectly normal size, neither big nor small. But as dogs tend to grown a differing rates, some slower than others, being normal now doesn't mean she'll be normal as an adult. She could end up maturing out large, or she could be on the smaller side. Best way to guess how big she'll be as an adult is to look at the size of her parents, but even that is just a guess. You'll have to wait and see.

Romance · 12-19-2007, 10:16 PM

I think I have a mutant. at 5 months old he is 58lbs. Height 24 inches length 26 inches.

daviddrena · 12-20-2007, 07:37 PM

What are the growth plates on their paws?

DHau · 12-20-2007, 08:00 PM

I can't answer that question because I don't know anything about growth plates. Would you please explain it to me and then I'll go from there.

SunCzarina · 12-20-2007, 08:04 PM

Don't pay the comments any mind unless the people saying such things have actually raised a German shepherd or six. My girl Morgan had big feet, thick legs and HUGE knees as a puppy. All grown up, her feet are well proportioned and tight. She's tall-ish side at 24" because those thick legs turned long and skinny.

They go through weird growth stages. LOL, just wait until her ears are fully grown but her head isn't.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 12-20-2007, 08:22 PM

http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...e=1#Post218891 is a great site to compare growth and size of our pups.

12-19-2007, 05:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
DHau Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: GA Posts: 2,801	How Big is Big? My dog is 4 months old as of today and everybody keeps saying my little girl will be big. I ask how do you know and they keep referring to the size of her feet. Ok, how can you tell by the size of the feet? I never have seen a GS with small feet. lol. To me, she looks in proportion. Her weight on Monday was 38 pounds. She gained 10 pounds since Thanksgiving. Is this too much too fast? __________________ Please bear with my stupid questions. This old dog is learning new tricks. lol.

12-19-2007, 05:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
doreenf Master Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 643	Re: How Big is Big? Well I can only say that Izzy was 12 pounds when we got her(rescued from a puppy mill) and 4.5 months old. I would not be too concerned with your puppy she sounds right on track. Izzy was malnourished so her growth has been altered. But she is gaining weight, she is 28 pounds and 5 months old. Its been a struggle but she if finally coming around.

12-19-2007, 06:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
GSDextrodinaire Knighted Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NH Posts: 2,091	Re: How Big is Big? It is not the size of the feet that are important it is the size of the growth plates above the feet that give you an idea of how big the pup will be, and even that isn't 100%. I have a LARGE female who has the tiniest petite tight feet I have ever seen on a GSD. Then I have a medium female with large tight feet. However, the majority of dogs you can predict to some degree the size of the dog by the growth plates. __________________ ~Dee It's all fun and games until the freakin' flyin' monkeys attack V Gipsi Vom Sawtooth SchH3 IPO3 KKL1 HOT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQDf0W3ih2o

12-19-2007, 07:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Re: How Big is Big? Frigga weighs 64 llbs and Odin weighs 125 llbs. Their feet are exactly the same size and they wear the same size dog boots from Ruff Wear. Makes things easier not having to worry who's boot is who's when it's time to go skijoring.

12-19-2007, 08:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chris Wild Administrator & Alpha Bitch of the Wild Bunch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 12,604	Re: How Big is Big? The idea that you can tell a dog's adult size by how big his feet are as a pup is a common old wives tale with no real basis in fact. 38lbs at 4 months old is a perfectly normal size, neither big nor small. But as dogs tend to grown a differing rates, some slower than others, being normal now doesn't mean she'll be normal as an adult. She could end up maturing out large, or she could be on the smaller side. Best way to guess how big she'll be as an adult is to look at the size of her parents, but even that is just a guess. You'll have to wait and see. __________________ *Wildhaus Kennels* Kaiser ~ SchH3 CGC TDI (HOT) Raven ~ SchH3 AWD2 PD1 P1 PA T1 UCD URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Della ~ SchHA TR1 PD1 P1 PA T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Wulf ~ SchH1 PD1 P1 T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Heidi ~ BH CD UCD RN URO1 (B/HOT) Jazz ~ Superpup In Training

12-19-2007, 10:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Romance Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Acton, Ontario,Canada Posts: 1,408	Re: How Big is Big? I think I have a mutant. at 5 months old he is 58lbs. Height 24 inches length 26 inches.

12-20-2007, 07:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
daviddrena Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 252	Re: How Big is Big? What are the growth plates on their paws?

12-20-2007, 08:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
DHau Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: GA Posts: 2,801	Re: How Big is Big? I can't answer that question because I don't know anything about growth plates. Would you please explain it to me and then I'll go from there. __________________ Please bear with my stupid questions. This old dog is learning new tricks. lol.

12-20-2007, 08:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
SunCzarina Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 12,031	Re: How Big is Big? Don't pay the comments any mind unless the people saying such things have actually raised a German shepherd or six. My girl Morgan had big feet, thick legs and HUGE knees as a puppy. All grown up, her feet are well proportioned and tight. She's tall-ish side at 24" because those thick legs turned long and skinny. They go through weird growth stages. LOL, just wait until her ears are fully grown but her head isn't. __________________ -Jenn Otto von Hena-C 05/23/08 Morgan Donnermond 08/04/01 I have duct tape and I am not afraid to use it.

12-20-2007, 08:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,205	Re: How Big is Big? http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...e=1#Post218891 is a great site to compare growth and size of our pups. __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

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