Help regarding the Height of a GSD male puppy - Page 1

Hi,

I need help from all of your friends. I have a GSD Male puppy of 16 months of age. He is a very good show quality puppy and is the Grandson of VA1 Zam vom Thermodos and VA6 Nando Vom Gollerweiher with a Linebreading of 3-4   Kevin Vom Murrtal and 4-3 VA3 Esko Vom Danischen Hof.

He has a great show potential. But his current height at the age of 16 months is only 60 CM. Is there any way to get his height further increased by 4 to 5 CM.

Awaiting your kind comments.

Thanking you for your time and cooperations.

At only 16 months old your pup will most likely still be growing - gradually or in spurts. I used to think my middle GSD wasn't growing properly but he's just stopped growing at 2 1/2 years old and he's the perfect height according to the breed standard.

I think the only thing you can do is wait and see how tall he is when he's fully mature physically.

My big boy (120 lbs) also kept growing until between 2 and 3 years old.  Be patient.  You want him to grow and mature slowly as they stay together better and their bodies hopefully last longer. 

60 cm is on the lower scale, but within breed standard! Good to see you don't have one of those oversized guys! I have not seen a male growing  more than 1 cm in heigh atfter 18 months.
The GSD is a medium-sized dog so it's great to see that some dogs still stay within the medium range! Once he is titled and had his breed-survey you can breed him with a taller female...and there are many...

I'm highly doubtful he will grow much more in height.  He will just fill out.

Sorry,but dogs grow tall till about 14 months old, then fill out.....are you sure you measured him correctly??..hard to believe as Zamp and Nando produce mostly oversized dogs,especially both combined...good luck

A GSD stops gaining height at around 12 months old, if it gains height after that it won't be more than a cm usually. He will keep filling out till 2 years old or a little beyond that age. A 60 cm high GSD is still within the standard parameters but he is considered small. when a male is 62.5-63.5 cm he is considered medium and many wl breeders consider this the good size and when 64-65 he is considered large and many sl breeders call the 64-65 the correct size. Till recently a 1 cm above or minus was acceptable, but not sure what the case is now after SV judges started paying more attention to correct size. Measuring a GSD is done with a special measuring tool and perpenducular from level floor pass the mid line of arm upto the withers which is the highest point inbetween the two shoulder blades.

Ibrahim

I suspect you listened to overzealous folks who told you to underfeed your pup so as to slightly reduce his chance of hip dysplasia.  When people take pups from normal German stock and feed them healthfully and well (so as to maximize their brain development), their dogs tend to be oversized.  60 cm usually means you have underfed your dog and will have a reduced chance of joint problems.  But he will not grow more than another 2 cm or so even if you feed him well from here on out, unless he is starving (under 65 lbs or 30 kilos).  If he is under 30 kg at this age, he may grow more with a very substantial, high quality diet.  Give that dog plenty of protein and calories if he is underweight as well as short.

Not sure I agree with MVF- I have mostly German lines and always feed correctly and I have males that have been oversize which is due to their bloodlines  and  males the correct size again due to their bloodlines.  If the male has been measured correctly at 60cms then that's all he has at 16 months old, overfeeding will not increase any chances of growing if his growth plates have closed.  It is unusual for the Zamp/Nando lines to produce a smaller animal but it does happen.  

I'm not sure I understand what MVF is saying.  Height is genetic, how fast you get there may be related to food, but personally, I think overfeeding just makes them fat.
Neutering does make a dog taller.