When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing?

German Shepherd dogs are the second most popular dog in the U.S.A. They are loyal, brave, intelligent, courageous, and great to have around families. Due to their large frame, they are also historically known to be great hunters and protectors.

If you are here to read more about them in your quest to maybe get one yourself, one question may arise: when do German Shepherds stop growing? 

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For a dog that is considered to be large, they are still quite affectionate with people, kid-friendly, easy to groom, and, overall, easy to train.

Especially if you have an active lifestyle, German Shepherds are perfect to have around- they also need a lot of activity and exercise. You could say they are very fit dogs.

Here, you will learn how big they exactly get in terms of height and weight and what months you can expect them to grow. Raising a pet occurs much faster, so best be prepared for that growth spurt!

When is a German Shepherd full grown? 

A German Shepherd is considered to be fully grown when they reach the age of about 18 months, just like most dog breeds, in fact. They reach their full size when they reach about two years (to two years and a half). In some cases, three years.

Male Shepherds are, of course, typically larger than their female counterparts. In fact, when it comes to their weight, the male is much heavier than the female.

How big do German Shepherds get? 

The adult German Shepherd males can stand at 24 to 26 inches. While the females stand at 22 to 24 inches.

At two months old, the average size of a German Shepherd will stand at 6-9 inches.

And only a few weeks later (at 4-5 months), a 4-month-old German Shepherd will already double in height at 12 to 14 inches.

So I say, hold back on getting them cute puppy clothes because they will surely outgrow them. It is no wonder they are known to be active dogs. With their big frame, they require 2 hours of walking a day. They even bark for attention when they do not get enough walking or hiking with you.

The reason for their large size is because they were bred to work rather than being bred for beauty or looks. Historically, German Shepherds were made for herding–no wonder they are often regarded as brave.

Captain Max von Stephanitz is credited for breeding these dogs in Germany in 1899 and has always been a reliable and diligent help to human beings for decades.  

Over time, as herding became less popular and common, German Shepherds were also bred and prepared to be proficient as police and guard dogs. In addition to that, they have grown to be great service dogs to those with a disability.

Also, ever noticed German Shepherds at the airport? Well, there is a reason for that-they are easy to train and fast at following rules. 

How heavy does a German Shepherd get? 

The male German Shepherd’s weight ranges from 75 to 95 pounds. A female German Shepherd notably will weigh less at 55 to 70 pounds. It is crucial to know that these are just some average numbers.

No matter what, make sure to have a few visits to your vet for a health check-up. This is a good way to ensure your dog is healthy and growing at an average pace.

An experienced vet can properly assess your pet’s overall well-being and make general health recommendations for their diet and exercise.

When you have a set of German Shepherds from the same litter, you should also compare them to each other and see if one is not growing enough. 

How fast do German Shepherds grow?

The answer to this question is a definite yes. German Shepherds, like a lot of dogs, grow pretty quickly. They are not human children! You can expect them to go through an incredible growth spurt when they reach the age of two months to five months.

A 6-month-old German Shepherd, which is still considered a puppy, will already weigh 53 pounds on average (for males) and 46 pounds for the females at the same age.

Cherish those days when they are still tiny and adorable because they will go incredibly fast. 

When do German Shepherds stop growing? 

As previously mentioned, German Shepherds stop growing around 2-2.5 years old. In some cases, even three years.

If you are wondering how much more your dog will grow, just look at how old your dog is currently (if they were not born under your watch, then simply ask your local vet what age the German Shepherd is).

If they are well below the age of two years, there is still some growing to happen! 

Another effective, and may I say, cute, way of checking your dog’s growth process is to check their paw. Suppose their paws are noticeably bigger in comparison to their legs and body. In that case, this means they are still in the puppy or puberty stage.

This is a feature of the puppy phase, and it means they still need to grow into those adorable, furry paws. If you knew the breeder of your German Shepherd, then they should be able to give you the size and weight of the dog’s parents. The dog should not grow larger than their parents most of the time. 

Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com

Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com

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