Will my 6 month old GSD male's head grow larger?

muso · 12-19-2012, 03:08 AM

I have a lovely big boofy male German shepherd called "Buster" he is 6 months old exactly and 75 pounds (34 kg) on the vet's scales and 61cm (2 feet) at the shoulder. (sorry about the metric I am in Australia)

He does however seem to have a smallish head compared to the body, and his ears are HUGE.
I'm referring to the length and width of the skull between the ears, it just seems that the body has grown quicker than the head, but 6 months is still quite young I have heard that the head get slowly larger over time. I must admit I really love the big male German shepherds with large head neck and chest...they are so handsome and dominant looking

I have attached a picture of him at 8 weeks and then a picture of him at 5 months old, then a current picture of him at 6 months old with a friend's labrador, I am biased but I think he is very handsome

Catu · 12-19-2012, 03:29 AM

Yes, his head will grow a lot more after maturity.

Still, one of the reasons why his head looks smallish is because from what I can appreciate from the pictures, your pup seems to be a bit overweight, at least on the second pic.

carmspack · 12-19-2012, 03:36 AM

by no means does this dogs head look small or narrow !!
beautiful dog and beautiful head .
I agree a tad heavy - which can be solved by mobility.
looks to be a hale and hearty dog - great condition .

muso · 12-19-2012, 03:37 AM

This photo taken at about 5 and a half months old better shows the relationship between the small head/large body thing. He is actually a black and red rather than black and tan.

muso · 12-19-2012, 03:40 AM

Thanks guys, it may just be the photo making him look overweight, he may have just eaten to, the vet said his weight (34 kg) is ok for his large size, but yes you do need to keep an eye on it they are better on the lean side...just like us

He gets good exercise but I may have to cut back his feed a bit.

Yes he is a beautiful dog...but I'm biased

**jocoyn** · 12-19-2012, 06:39 AM

Mine went through some wonky stages where the head seemed to small for the body. I took comfort in seeing other pictures that same way and it caught up. Had to have room for all those teeth!

ponyfarm · 12-19-2012, 07:17 AM

Very handsome..he looks normal to me! They do go thru funny, awkward stages just like people.

I have learned thru dentristy that humans go thru growth windows where there face and jaw have big grow spurts. That is when orthodontia is most effective. I would imagine dogs have growth spurts for their head and jaws too..and they have big jaws to grow!!

bianca · 12-19-2012, 07:39 AM

Wow he is going to be a big boy! My 14 month old is 32 kg! Anywhoo, Coopers head certainly filled out a lot more from 6 months of age. He has a nice broad head (compared to my female).

Grizzpup · 12-19-2012, 10:12 PM

His head looks fine to me. It will get bigger, and if you think he is skinny he will fill out till he is 2 years old! I agree with you, he is very handsome!

muso · 12-20-2012, 11:32 PM

Thanks everyone for your kind words and advice

12-19-2012, 03:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
muso New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: South Australia Posts: 19	Will my 6 month old GSD male's head grow larger? I have a lovely big boofy male German shepherd called "Buster" he is 6 months old exactly and 75 pounds (34 kg) on the vet's scales and 61cm (2 feet) at the shoulder. (sorry about the metric I am in Australia) He does however seem to have a smallish head compared to the body, and his ears are HUGE. I'm referring to the length and width of the skull between the ears, it just seems that the body has grown quicker than the head, but 6 months is still quite young I have heard that the head get slowly larger over time. I must admit I really love the big male German shepherds with large head neck and chest...they are so handsome and dominant looking I have attached a picture of him at 8 weeks and then a picture of him at 5 months old, then a current picture of him at 6 months old with a friend's labrador, I am biased but I think he is very handsome Attached Thumbnails Last edited by muso; 12-19-2012 at 03:13 AM.

12-19-2012, 03:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Catu Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Valdivia, Chile Posts: 4,536	Yes, his head will grow a lot more after maturity. Still, one of the reasons why his head looks smallish is because from what I can appreciate from the pictures, your pup seems to be a bit overweight, at least on the second pic. __________________ Diabla, my Daemon; SchH A, RH-T A Akela, my Direwolf; IPO-A1

12-19-2012, 03:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
carmspack Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: ontario - Posts: 5,511	by no means does this dogs head look small or narrow !! beautiful dog and beautiful head . I agree a tad heavy - which can be solved by mobility. looks to be a hale and hearty dog - great condition . __________________ Carmen ******** Carmspack**

12-19-2012, 03:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
muso New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: South Australia Posts: 19	This photo taken at about 5 and a half months old better shows the relationship between the small head/large body thing. He is actually a black and red rather than black and tan. Attached Thumbnails

12-19-2012, 03:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
muso New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: South Australia Posts: 19	Thanks guys, it may just be the photo making him look overweight, he may have just eaten to, the vet said his weight (34 kg) is ok for his large size, but yes you do need to keep an eye on it they are better on the lean side...just like us He gets good exercise but I may have to cut back his feed a bit. Yes he is a beautiful dog...but I'm biased Last edited by muso; 12-19-2012 at 03:43 AM.

12-19-2012, 06:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
jocoyn Zombie Queen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 11,812	Mine went through some wonky stages where the head seemed to small for the body. I took comfort in seeing other pictures that same way and it caught up. Had to have room for all those teeth! __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Beau -NAPWDA Certified Cadaver Dog Waiting at the Bridge (italics=GSDs) (hemangiosarcoma=blue):Grim , Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

12-19-2012, 07:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
ponyfarm Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 984	Very handsome..he looks normal to me! They do go thru funny, awkward stages just like people. I have learned thru dentristy that humans go thru growth windows where there face and jaw have big grow spurts. That is when orthodontia is most effective. I would imagine dogs have growth spurts for their head and jaws too..and they have big jaws to grow!! __________________ Max Von Zahnderhaus -CGC- DOB 2/14/2012 http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/dog.html?id=1353416 Tim the Collie- RN -DOB 4/01/2010

12-19-2012, 07:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
bianca Knighted Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 3,472	Wow he is going to be a big boy! My 14 month old is 32 kg! Anywhoo, Coopers head certainly filled out a lot more from 6 months of age. He has a nice broad head (compared to my female). __________________ Miss Molly Moo (aka The Piranha/The four legged Mouth) GSD 31/10 Raennik Hassan (Cooper) GSD 19/10/11 Paris Tabby Cat 15 years Texas Tabby Cat 15 years

12-19-2012, 10:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Grizzpup Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 112	His head looks fine to me. It will get bigger, and if you think he is skinny he will fill out till he is 2 years old! I agree with you, he is very handsome! __________________ Train Don't Complain

12-20-2012, 11:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
muso New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: South Australia Posts: 19	Thanks everyone for your kind words and advice

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