As the dog grows bigger in size and weight, problems like behavior can be observed easily. These problems might never have been seen in the life of a dog as a puppy. Once these problems are solved, they become a sign of development, growth, and becoming disciplined.
Being a German Shepherd owner, you might be concerned about the weight of your dog. It is a general perception that a German Shepherd belongs to a large breed of dogs so, it must be a heavy dog. It is not a fact. German Shepherd is the dog breed that has a medium build. It means that a German Shepherd would not be weighing too much. To keep your dog, active, slim, and trim, it should have a certain kilogram of weight.
Weight of a Male German Shepherd
A male German Shepherd is heavier than a female. The weight of a male German Shepherd is about 66 to 88 pounds. In kilograms, it is about 30 to 40 kg. this is usually equal to the weight of a smart teenage boy or a smart middle-aged woman.
A German Shepherd is sexually dimorphic. It means that the weight and height are different for a male German Shepherd and a female German Shepherd. The weight of a German Shepherd varies according to age. With every passing month, a specific weight gain can be observed in a German Shepherd puppy until it becomes a Mature dog.
Weight of a Female German Shepherd
A female German Shepherd is comparatively delicate and lighter than a male. The weight of a female German Shepherd is about 48 to 70 pounds. It is 22 to 32 kg when measured in kilograms. This is similar to the weight of a weak teenage boy or a teenage smart girl.
How much weight a German Shepherd gains from a puppy to an adult?
A healthy dog, at the age of 1 year starts looking exactly like an adult dog but it is still at the adolescent stage. Do not get deceived by its huge size.
While purchasing a German Shepherd puppy, you might be concerned about the weight gain to be observed as your puppy will grow and become an adult. The exact weight of a dog varies from breed to breed and from individual to individual, but the estimated weight will remain the same as it is marked on the high ends of the range.
The growth of a German Shepherd in terms of weight gain is explosive as a puppy in the first few months. In the duration between 6 to 8 months, this process of growth slows down and ends till the dog gets matured at the age of 3 years.
You can consult a vet to check if the growth rate of your dog is normal or is there any problem with its growth rate.
The following table will show how a German Shepherd puppy gains weight while growing through several months and years.
AGE | MALE WEIGHT | FEMALE WEIGHT |
1-3 Months | 5.5-30 pounds | 4.5-26 pounds |
4-6 Months | 35-57 pounds | 31-49 pounds |
7-9 Months | 57-71 pounds | 49-60 pounds |
10-12 months | 70-75 pounds | 57-64 pounds |
1-2 year | 75-84 pounds | 64-66 pounds |
2-3 ½ year | 84-90 pounds | 66-70 kg |
GSD Detail Weight Gain by Age
Now let us see the weight gain of a German Shepherd by age in detail.
A German Shepherd is said to weigh about 1.1 lbs. at the time of birth. It is about 503 grams, half a kg. The puppy’s weight at the time of birth can range from 0.8 to 1.3 lbs. depending upon the litter size as well as the size of the mother.
After a week, the weight of a puppy doubles from the birth weight. It becomes from about 1.6 to 2.1 lbs., which is about 1 kg. This weight increases to 4.5 to 9 lbs., almost 2.5 kg as the puppy gets 1 month old and in the second month, it reaches 11 to 20 lbs., making around 10 kg.
At the age of 4 months, the weight of a German Shepherd becomes 28 to 40 lbs., about 14 to 16 kg, which is half the weight of a grown-up dog.
By the six months, the weight reaches 53 lbs. (25 kg) for a male and 46 lbs. (22 kg) for a female GSD. In the 9th month, the male German Shepherd gains weight and becomes 64 to 70 lbs. (29-32 kg) heavy and a female gets around 55 to 59 lbs. (25-27 kg)
After 9 months, the weight gain of a German Shepherd slows down and it starts gaining 2 to 3 pounds every month.
At the age of 3 years, where a German Shepherd becomes an adult, its weight stops increasing making it about 88 to 90 pounds heavy. It is about 38 to 40 kg of weight.
Problems with an Overweight German Shepherd
[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=””]Is your dog Overweight? A German Shepherd dog has a specific body structure and shape that indicates that the dog has a normal growth rate with normal weight. A German Shepherd has a slim shape, with a deep rib cage and a prominent taper at its waist.
If your dog will get overweight, this defined shape will start disappearing. With a normal weight, you can feel the ribs of your dog if you press the coat with a gentle touch. If you can’t feel the ribs, your dog is overweight. If the ribs jut out and look too prominent, then your dog is underweight.
[/box]A German Shepherd remains healthy and active when it has a normal healthy weight. It plays and runs freely and lives a healthy life. Getting overweight is quite dangerous for a dog.
A German Shepherd is a large breed therefore, it should not be overfed. It can cause a rapid increase in weight and makes your dog overweight.
This weight becomes a hindrance between a dog and its playful activities. This also makes the dog inactive, dull, and unresponsive. In this situation, a German Shepherd dog becomes vulnerable to numerous diseases like heart disease, Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia(Link to how long GSD Live) leading to osteoarthritis.
Overweight in dogs is mostly due to overfeeding and less exercise. This makes a dog fat and lazy just like humans.
How to ensure perfect weight for your German Shepherd?
To ensure a healthy and perfect weight for your German Shepherd dog, you should make sure about the following few things like:
- Do not provide a free feed for your dog. It will develop a habit of eating the whole day, even without having an appetite.
- Divide your dog’s feed into different meals of small quantities. It will discipline your dog and will keep it healthy.
- Use specific large-breed dog food.
- Be very specific in selecting the quantity of dog food as the excess of calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus can lead to joint problems.
- You can use a slow feeder bowl or a toy to make your dog eat gradually, not in haste.
- With a growing dog, metabolism also keeps changing. So, keep adjusting the food accordingly. The needs of a dog keep changing from a puppy to an adult and from an adult to a senior.
- The maximum amount of treats and a minimal amount of human food keeps a German Shepherd just in the right shape and healthy.
- Take your dog for a daily walk. Let it play, run, chase, and sniff freely. It will help to burn the fats and will keep your dog slim and active.
- To encourage a dog for exercise, you can reward your dog with treats or dog toys. It will help you in a struggle with your dog to take exercise regularly.
- Play fetch, hide and seek, hurdle run with your dog in the backyard to keep it healthy and active.
Take Away Note!
Having a healthy pet enhances the excitement and pleasing experience of keeping a pet at home. If you follow the above tips and keep an eye on the growth rate of your dog, you will let your dog grow naturally and healthy without getting overweight.
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