New puppy size questions

Thinblueline · 12-04-2012, 04:19 AM

Im new to this site so i apologize if i am posting in the wrong spot... Its crazy the wealth of knowledge on here and its really great to see people so willing to share information and help so much. Anyways about 1 1/2 months ago i bought a male gsd from another a fellow police officer that breeds t i have had 2 gsds throughout my life but its been awhile since the last one. My new dogs name is Troy and he comes from a gigantic mother and father his mom was about 100lb and dad was 115lb i would guess very tall parents and dad was crazy muscular. My question is how big do u think my boy will get he is just over 3 months and weighs 40lbs he exercises 3 times a day and his appetite is unbelievable he is not overweight as Dar as i know. I am a bit worried about his size i don't want him to have health problems in the future. Any info would be much appreciated. Fyi sorry about the pics Im a cop and definitely not a photographer!

Anuk · 12-04-2012, 04:40 AM

Hi, I have 2 GSD's ... one an 8.5 year old male weighing 104 lbs and just 2 weeks ago I bought a female, 4-month old from Germany and her weight is now 41 lbs (she will be 5 months old on the 11th). So I would think with yours being a male, he's at the right weight. I am no expert so I'm sure you will get different opinions, which is what's good about this site - you learn such a lot ! I think that as long as you feed him the right sort and amount of food for his age, you will be fine

Freestep · 12-04-2012, 01:19 PM

Likely he will be large, since both parents were large, and he is big-boned. I'd guess 95+ lb. at maturity. Just don't let him get fat!

To keep him healthy, keep him on the lean side as he grows. He is big-boned and doesn't appear overweight (though it's hard to tell from the photos). Of course he will be starving all the time, but don't feed him as much as he will eat. Too much food will spur faster growth, and what you want is slow, steady growth, so that his body doesn't get too big for his joints to handle.

Avoid hard exercise while he is young. Walks and hikes are great, ball play is great, swimming is excellent. You don't want him running a lot on hard surfaces, jumping, or going up and down stairs.

When he gets a bit older, say around 6-9 months, you can get x-rays of his hips and elbows, just so you know what they look like, and if you can expect problems later on. Size alone does not cause hip dysplasia, you just have to remember that the more weight he is bearing, the more stress there is on the joints--another reason to keep his growth slow and controlled, to give his joints time to develop properly, so that they can effectively bear his adult weight.

Cute pup, I like his face in the first pic.

12-04-2012, 04:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Thinblueline New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2	New puppy size questions Im new to this site so i apologize if i am posting in the wrong spot... Its crazy the wealth of knowledge on here and its really great to see people so willing to share information and help so much. Anyways about 1 1/2 months ago i bought a male gsd from another a fellow police officer that breeds t i have had 2 gsds throughout my life but its been awhile since the last one. My new dogs name is Troy and he comes from a gigantic mother and father his mom was about 100lb and dad was 115lb i would guess very tall parents and dad was crazy muscular. My question is how big do u think my boy will get he is just over 3 months and weighs 40lbs he exercises 3 times a day and his appetite is unbelievable he is not overweight as Dar as i know. I am a bit worried about his size i don't want him to have health problems in the future. Any info would be much appreciated. Fyi sorry about the pics Im a cop and definitely not a photographer! Attached Thumbnails

12-04-2012, 04:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Anuk New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 6	Hi, I have 2 GSD's ... one an 8.5 year old male weighing 104 lbs and just 2 weeks ago I bought a female, 4-month old from Germany and her weight is now 41 lbs (she will be 5 months old on the 11th). So I would think with yours being a male, he's at the right weight. I am no expert so I'm sure you will get different opinions, which is what's good about this site - you learn such a lot ! I think that as long as you feed him the right sort and amount of food for his age, you will be fine

12-04-2012, 01:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Freestep Crowned Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,158	Likely he will be large, since both parents were large, and he is big-boned. I'd guess 95+ lb. at maturity. Just don't let him get fat! To keep him healthy, keep him on the lean side as he grows. He is big-boned and doesn't appear overweight (though it's hard to tell from the photos). Of course he will be starving all the time, but don't feed him as much as he will eat. Too much food will spur faster growth, and what you want is slow, steady growth, so that his body doesn't get too big for his joints to handle. Avoid hard exercise while he is young. Walks and hikes are great, ball play is great, swimming is excellent. You don't want him running a lot on hard surfaces, jumping, or going up and down stairs. When he gets a bit older, say around 6-9 months, you can get x-rays of his hips and elbows, just so you know what they look like, and if you can expect problems later on. Size alone does not cause hip dysplasia, you just have to remember that the more weight he is bearing, the more stress there is on the joints--another reason to keep his growth slow and controlled, to give his joints time to develop properly, so that they can effectively bear his adult weight. Cute pup, I like his face in the first pic.

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