[stephaniek]

I'm trying to figure out the age of Cyrus, the stray GSD pup that we've adopted, and am getting conflicting opinions. The vet I took him to thinks he's "no older than 5 or 6 months", based in his size, teeth, etc.

I had a trainer, who owns a GSD and works with many of them over today, who insists the vet is wrong and that he's older, closer to 8 or 10 months.

Both are pretty adamant, and I have no experience with GSDs (well, 3 weeks of experience). What are the things people look at to determine age?

Here are some pics--anyone care to venture a guess?

 

[Phay1018]

get a closer shot of his teeth for us...will be able to see if still has baby teeth or not.

If all baby teeth... under 4 months
If some baby teeth, adult incisors/canines coming in usually 4-6 months
If all adult teeth usually 6+ months

 

[stephaniek]

He has all his adult teeth... I will try to get a shot of them tmw.

 

[Fodder]

from the photos you posted he still looks to have a bit of "puppy tail" which would put my guess around 6mo. in the 3rd and 5th pics he looks really young.

 

[pupresq]

I'd go with the guess of 6-7 months. Looks too big and grown up for 5 but not so big and grown up as 8-10, at least not looking at those pics.

Gorgeous pup!!! Congrats on your new baby.

Anybody know how old Oakley on this board is? This puppy has a similar look and the OP could maybe use the pictures of her as a comparison since her age is known.

 

[DHau]

I'd go with 6-7 months as well. It still has that puppy look in the face as well. Enjoy your new baby.

 

[stephaniek]

Wow, I just checked out the pics of Oakley and they really do look alike!

 

[Mandalay]

I have no idea how old he looks, but Oh My Gosh what a GOOD LOOKING DOG!!!

I love the last picture where he looks like he is letting his locks blow in the wind.

 

[pupresq]

I thought so!

Granted she's a girl and from working lines and he's a boy and probably from different lines, but I thought she'd be a reasonable reference of the various dogs on the board since she's similarly colored and has a little bit of hair - and her person posts lots of gorgeous pictures of her!

Looking at her pictures and his, Cyrus looks older than her March beach pics but younger than her 6 months and 6.5 month pictures. As a boy he may be taking a longer to fill out and stop looking all gangly etc, but even so, after comparing them both, I think your vet is probably closest. What do you think?

 

[stephaniek]

I think so, too. I'm going to call him 7 months, since it's a couple weeks since those were taken, and I do trust my vet.

 

[stephaniek]

Speaking of the working lines, and other lines, is there a way to tell by looking whether a dog is working or show line, or neither? I know the American-bred ones tend to be lower in the hind end, but other than that I don't know how to tell one from another. I'm new to this GSD world, since Cyrus just wandered into our lives!

 

[Fodder]

Originally Posted By: stephaniekSpeaking of the working lines, and other lines, is there a way to tell by looking whether a dog is working or show line, or neither? I know the American-bred ones tend to be lower in the hind end, but other than that I don't know how to tell one from another. I'm new to this GSD world, since Cyrus just wandered into our lives!

there are several things that can point towards a certain line (size, color, conformation, head, etc) however if a dog isnt a strong example of that particular line it can become difficult. you also have to entertain the fact that the dog could be of several different lines.

for me its easy to spot a german showline or ddr or am show, etc - but for all the dogs that i cant tell right off the bat, i usually dont try and guess because of the mixed heritage possibility.

my female for example has the color which is popular in one line... the size and conformation of another and a headpiece of another so she will always remain a mystery.

this site may interest you.