Bigger IS better... - Page 1

...oh wait a minute, no it's not.

I have some friends in my neighborhood w/ 2 longcoats from an "oversized old-fashioned" GSD breeder (which seems like a contradiction--weren't old fashioned GSDs quite slight?). The husband loves the idea of having a huge male; their youngest dog, a 6.5 month old male, supposedly weighs 86 pounds. My WL is 20 months and weighs 85.

Guess what else. The husband says he already has ED, and needs arthroscopic surgery on both his elbows. So sad!

Just wanted to share.

not sure how accurate this chart is, but 6.5 months and 86lbs seems a little overweight, that may cause some hip issues really early.
I have 2 pups they are a little over 5 months and the boy now weighs 52lbs and the girl is 43lbs. Boys are usually more stocky and are a little heavier, but haven't seen one that heavy that early.

German Shepherd Dog Height & Weight Standards

Males:

• Height at the wither 60 cm to 65 cm (23.62 inches - 25.59 inches)
• Weight 30 kg to 40 kg. (66.14 pounds - 88.18 pounds; Midrange = 77 pounds)

Females:

• Height at the wither 55 cm to 60 cm (21.65 inches - 23.62 inches)
• Weight 22 kg - 32 kg (48.5 pounds - 70.55 pounds; Midrange = 59.5 pounds)

(Length of torso exceeds height at the withers by 10-17%.)
Ref.: German Shepherd Dog F.C.I. Standard, MO. 166/23.03.1991/D

German Shepherd Growth Chart by Weight & Age

	MALE			FEMALE
Age in Mos	Kilogram (kg.)	Pound (lb.)	% of Total	Kilogram (kg.)	Pound (lb.)
1	4.2	9.2	12.10	3.3	7.2
2	9.0	19.9	26.18	7.5	16.6
3	14.2	31.3	41.18	12.1	26.7
4	19.0	41.8	55	16.4	36.2
5	22.9	50.6	66.57	20.0	44.0
6	26.1	57.4	75.52	22.7	50.1
7	28.4	62.6	82.36	24.7	54.4
8	30.1	66.4	87.36	26.1	57.5
9	31.5	69.4	91.31	27.1	59.7
10	32.7	72.0	94.73	27.9	61.5
11	33.7	74.3	97.76	28.6	63.1
12	34.5	76.0	100	29.1	64.2

 

yes thats kinda silly now i do like the top end of the standard but im not overfeeding my dogs so they grow faster. i like them to take it nice n slow so their joints and such have time

i would like to know how a german shepherd grows from 1 to 2 years


no one ever comments on that and no charts talk about that anyone know? the medium for female seems small though a female can be just as big as the male and still be as healthy no?


also is it just me or the shepherds in the american and canadian shows seem a lot bigger than the working european shepherds?

I agree that the top end of the standard (88lbs.), and even 10 or so pounds beyond, looks great on a GSD and doesn't seem to hinder them in any health or work related way.

However, an 86lb. 6 month old is on track to be a 120-130lb. dog, which is just not what a GSD was bred to be as far as I've heard.

There are big dogs, 27 inches 100 pounds, OFA Hips excellent  elbow normal.

I believe it is entirely OK to have a line of 27 inch males 25 inch female that is orthopedically very sound, with careful selection.

I am not sure about anything much bigger.