When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing? GSD Growth Chart

If you’re looking to get a German Shepherd puppy, you might have to consider several factors like the dog’s feeding habits and activity levels. Above all, you must know how big he will get and when he will be fully grown.

German Shepherds stop growing by the third year though many do not grow past the second year. Whether your dog reaches his full size before or after the final year in a German Shepherd growth chart, he is considered fully grown (an adult) at 18 months, and his growth rate past this will be slow.

In this article, you will learn more about German Shepherd size, how it increases over time, and what to expect when you get a big dog. You will also find the German Shepherd growth chart and learn how to use it to figure out how to handle things if your dog is lagging behind or overshooting the chart.

This is my all-new guide on German Shepherd size, growth, and development. Let’s get started!

German Shepherd Growth Chart

It is well known that the amount of time it takes for a growing puppy to reach adult body weight varies greatly, with larger breeds taking longer than smaller breeds. However, this study also indicated that additional growth patterns exist in breeds of similar size. For this reason, we will look at a growth chart specifically for the German Shepherd.

A German Shepherd’s growth chart tracks height and weight across time and serves two purposes. The first goal of such a chart is to set expectations. If you’re looking to get yourself a German Shepherd puppy, you might hesitate because you’re unsure how big he will grow. 

By referring to a growth chart, you’ll know what to expect. The other, less used purpose of a growth chart is to set the norm against which the dog’s growth is measured. By looking at the growth charts below, you can make sure your male or female GSD is growing at a healthy pace.

However, a word of caution…

The German Shepherd growth charts below (both weight and height) are only an approximate guideline. Don’t stress if these figures are not precisely the same as your pup’s growth as they are estimations. No two dogs are the same.

It’s a bit like the growth of babies. Although the midwife will tell you about development and feeding guidelines, the statistics they give you are not set in stone, only rough guidelines, as all babies (and puppies) are dissimilar.

For example, my GSD girl is very tall, standing 27 inches, and she weighs a whopping 88 lbs (40kg). Nonetheless, she was (and still is) proportionate to her size and was never under or overweight as she developed. But there’s no way she exactly matched the figures in the German Shepherd growth chart.

Here, it’s important to point out the consequences of improper feeding in large breeds, particularly during the vulnerable growth phase.

Due to the rapid growth of large breeds, it’s crucial to feed nutrients in their correct proportions, as getting this wrong can result in even faster growth due to excess energy. This can lead to joint diseases such as canine hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis, along with other health issues.

In a nutshell, large breeds such as the German Shepherd need a higher quantity of protein, and lower amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and fat. Learn more about feeding your GSD large breed food.

No two puppy growth spurts are the same, but if you are ever concerned about your German Shepherd’s growth, I’d always recommend chatting with your vet.

German Shepherd Weight Chart

German Shepherd puppies grow fast – very fast. You’ll be amazed how quickly they grow during their first 12 months!

I remember collecting my 8-week-old puppy from the breeder and seeing another inquisitive young pup sitting in his crate.

The young pup was sitting up looking tall, and upon asking his age, the breeder told me he was 4 months old. I specifically recall thinking to myself – there’s no way my tiny pup will be so big in another 2 months. I was very wrong!

So, here is a German Shepherd weight chart. Find your pup’s age in the first column and move along the row to check the approximate weight depending on your dog’s sex. The final column shows the percentage of weight compared to an adult dog.

For example, a 4-month-old puppy, on average, will have reached 50% of its adult weight.

Age	Male Weight Range	Female Weight Range	% of Adult Weight
1 Month	5.5 – 9 lbs / 2.5 – 4 kg	4.5 – 8 lbs / 2 – 3.5 kg	10%
2 Months	16 – 20 lbs / 6 – 9 kg	11 – 17 lbs / 5 – 7.5 kg	22%
3 Months	22 – 30 lbs / 10 – 14 kg	17 – 26 lbs / 8 – 12 kg	40%
4 Months	35 – 40 lbs / 16 – 18 kg	31 – 35 lbs / 14 – 16 kg	50%
5 Months	40 – 49 lbs / 18 – 22 kg	35 – 44 lbs / 16 – 20 kg	60%
6 Months	49 – 57 lbs / 22 – 26 kg	44 – 49 lbs / 20 – 22 kg	70%
7 Months	57 – 62 lbs / 26 – 28 kg	49 – 53 lbs / 22 – 24 kg	80%
8 Months	62 – 66 lbs / 28 – 30 kg	53 – 57 lbs / 24 – 26 kg	85%
9 Months	64 – 71 lbs / 29 – 32 kg	55 – 60 lbs / 25 – 27 kg	90%
10 Months	66 – 73 lbs / 30 – 33 kg	57 – 62 lbs / 26 – 28 kg	92%
11 Months	66 – 75 lbs / 30 – 34 kg	60 – 64 lbs / 27 – 29 kg	95%
12 Months	71 – 75 lbs / 32 – 34 kg	60 – 64 lbs / 27 – 29 kg	95%
18 Months	71 – 79 lbs / 32 – 36 kg	60 – 66 lbs / 27 – 30 kg	98%
2 Years	71 – 84 lbs / 32 – 38 kg	62 – 66 lbs / 28 – 30 kg	98%
3 Years	79 – 88 lbs / 36 – 40 kg	66 – 70 lbs / 28 – 32 kg	100%

German Shepherd Height Chart

Like the weight chart above, you also have to look at the below German Shepherd height chart as an approximate guide. Again, taking the dog’s age, look across the row, and you’ll see a rough height range for both males and females.

The final column also shows an estimated percentage of adult height. So a 9-month-old puppy will have grown to around 90% of its eventual adult height.

The percentage columns in both the German Shepherd weight and height charts are a great way to see how quickly puppies grow in their early months and how growth dramatically slows down from 7 months onwards.

Age	Male Height Range	Female Height Range	% of Adult Height
1 Month	4 – 6” / 11 – 16 cm	3 – 6” / 8 – 14 cm	24%
2 Months	7 – 9” / 17 – 22 cm	6 – 9” / 14 – 22 cm	31%
3 Months	9 – 11” / 23 – 27 cm	8 – 10” / 20 – 25 cm	40%
4 Months	11 – 14” / 29 – 35 cm	10 – 12” / 26 – 31 cm	50%
5 Months	14 – 16” / 35 – 40 cm	12 – 14” / 31 – 36 cm	60%
6 Months	16 – 18” / 41 – 46 cm	15 – 17” / 37 – 42 cm	70%
7 Months	19 – 20” / 47 – 52 cm	17 – 19” / 43 – 48 cm	80%
8 Months	20 – 22” / 51 – 56 cm	18 – 20” / 45 – 50 cm	85%
9 Months	21 – 23” / 54 – 59 cm	19 – 21” / 48 – 53 cm	90%
10 Months	22 – 24” / 55 – 60 cm	19 – 21” / 49 – 54 cm	92%
11 Months	22 – 24” / 57 – 62 cm	20 – 22” / 51 – 56 cm	95%
12 Months	22 – 24” / 57 – 62 cm	20 – 22” / 51 – 56 cm	95%
18 Months	23 – 25” / 59 – 64 cm	21 – 22” / 53 – 55 cm	98%
2 Years	23 – 25” / 59 – 64 cm	21 – 22” / 53 – 57 cm	98%
3 Years	24 – 26” / 60 – 65 cm	22 – 24” / 55 – 60 cm	100%

How To Weigh a German Shepherd Puppy

To weigh a German Shepherd puppy, weigh at home using your own scales. For young puppies, hold the dog safely in your arms and deduct your own weight from the total. For a more accurate reading, have the dog weighed at the vets using professional scales that have a bigger base.

When my German Shepherd puppy, Willow, was developing, I took her to the vets every month to have her weighed. It also allowed me to ask any questions on how she was developing.

German Shepherd Development

Knowing the stages of German Shepherd development will help you provide better care for your new German Shepherd. Here’s a summary of the stages of German Shepherd development and a brief resume of what each step entails.

GSD Growth Phase	Age	Key Milestones
Neonatal	First 2 Weeks	Most reach adulthood by 18 months, but some can continue to develop up to 3 years old. Ongoing training is advised.
Transitional	Weeks 2-4	Eyes open. He learns to stand and begins to explore. Has an awareness of mother and littermates. Weaning starts.
Socialization	3 Weeks – 6 Months	Start of early socialization, the first experience of fear. Learning social skills and early training. Rapid growth from 2 months.
Adolescent	6-18 Months	Learns the ranking hierarchy, teething, and chewing stage. These are dog teenage years. Sexual maturity is reached between 6-12 months.
Adult	18 Months – 3 Years	Most reach adulthood by 18 months, but some can continue to develop up to 3 years old. Ongoing training advised.

To learn more about this topic, check out this article, German Shepherd Development: From Birth to Two Years Old.

How Tall Should a 6-Month-Old German Shepherd Be?

A 6-month-old German Shepherd should be between 16-18 inches tall for males and 15-17 inches tall for females. This is derived from measuring 70% of the adult height of the dog as German Shepherds reach this percentage mark in both height and weight by the sixth month.

The common misconception among those who have never had a German Shepherd or a big dog is that the dog will grow consistently. German Shepherds go through uneven growth spurts that are uniform across the species (and hence, predictable) but inconsistent across the years.

Compare the example of an 18-inch tall male GSD at 6 months. The same dog would be 16 inches the month before. But if he were to continue growing at this pace, he would be an impossible 38 inches by adulthood, and that doesn’t happen.

German Shepherds grow only 30% more from the 6-month mark to the three-year mark.

How Much Should a 6-Month Old German Shepherd Weigh?

Again, when considering the weight of your 6-month-old German Shepherd, don’t worry if your pup is slightly out of the recommended range. Every puppy will grow at a different rate, and these figures are average guidelines.

A 6-month-old German Shepherd should weigh between 49-57 lbs for males and 44-49 lbs for females. Similar to most large breeds, GSDs have their most intense growth spurt between 2 to 6 months of age. At 7 months, their growth rate slows down considerably until they reach full adulthood at 3 years.

How Big Do German Shepherds Get?

While German Shepherds reach adulthood at the 18-month mark, their growth doesn’t stop until three years old. This growth is nominal from the two-year point to the three-year point (an inch or less).

On average, fully grown German Shepherds are 24 to 26 inches tall (for males) and 22 to 24 inches (for females). Males will weigh between 49-57 lbs, and their female counterparts will weigh 44-49 lbs. Most GSDs are assumed to be fully grown by the end of the second year.

Whether a GSD is expected to grow beyond the second year can depend on how big the dog already is.

Regardless of your dog’s sex, if their height is less than 20 inches by the end of year two, you should get them checked for growth deficiency, as they should be just an inch short of their final height.

How Can You Tell How Big a German Shepherd Will Get?

Not all German Shepherds are built alike because not all of them are bred alike. While most GSDs reach their full height by the third year, you cannot sit in suspense wondering what your dog’s final size will be. Fortunately, you don’t have to.

You can tell how big a German Shepherd will get by first considering the parent’s genetic makeup and looking at the parents’ size. You can also refer to a GSD growth chart and check for consistent lag or lead. Additionally, paw size can be an indication of future size, although this is unreliable.

If your dog has consistently been an inch shorter than the chart’s standard, then you can assume he will be an inch shorter than the chart’s projected final size.

This also applies to the weight category as well. If your dog is a few lbs over the standard weight, he might weigh as much more by the third year. Weight fluctuates even past the complete development, though.

And that brings us to the alternative scenario: what if your dog is not consistently smaller or bigger than the projected growth chart?

If you notice that your dog is an inch smaller at one stage and half an inch smaller at the next, chances are, your dog is experiencing regular growth spurts as any other German Shepherd except that he is shorter by a set percentage.

In that case, you should refer to the percentage of full weight or height in the German Shepherd growth chart. The chart says that a GSD is at his 50% height by 4 months, for example. 

If your dog’s 4 months old, you can simply double his height to figure out how big he will be as an adult. This is better than seeing the chart’s projected adult height and subtracting a set number of inches.

I had a pretty good idea of how big my German Shepherd would be from seeing her parents when I initially visited the breeder. Let’s just say they were BIG!

Here they are…

I took these photos at the very first meeting. “Vonziu Willow” is my girl’s UK Kennel Club name.

To learn more about puppy paw sizes and when and how they can be an indication of your German Shepherd’s final size, check out this article, Do German Shepherd Puppies Have Big Paws?

So now, let’s bring up the question of GSDs’ health in relation to height. For the most part, your dog’s height reflects his genes and not health or diet. If your dog is growing taller or shorter than what’s normal (according to a GSD growth chart), there’s usually no health concern. 

However, there can be a convenience concern. A dog who is too big might be impractical to keep for some. That’s why you must assume your dog will grow bigger than even the chart’s maximum. This allows you to decide with more room to maneuver later on.

What if My German Shepherd is Not the Correct Weight

While your dog’s height doesn’t necessarily reflect his health, his weight surely does. Some German Shepherds have a more active metabolism than others, but that’s no excuse not to try and get your dog closer to the correct weight.

If your German Shepherd is not the correct weight, you should adjust his diet and exercise to bring him close to his age’s GSD growth chart weight. You should lean more heavily on the diet adjustment for a dog younger than six months and exercise adjustment for an older one.

If your dog is younger than 18 months and is overweight compared to the growth chart, two factors could contribute to this mismatch. These factors are mutually exclusive, and usually, only one is true. The first is that your GSD’s genes or heritage make him likely to grow bigger and weigh more. 

The second is that he needs better consumption to energy use ratio to come to the ideal weight. But how do you tell if your GSD is overweight because of health or due to his genetic predisposition?

How to Increase a German Shepherd’s Weight

You must cross-reference your dog’s size with the growth chart. If both size and weight are greater than what the growth chart indicates as the standard, then your dog is simply the bigger kind, and you can chalk up the additional weight to natural body size. 

However, if your German Shepherd is the size that GSDs his age are supposed to be but is overweight, then chances are that he’s putting on unhealthy weight that needs to be worked off.

In short, the healthy weight adds to the height and overall size, whereas unhealthy weight doesn’t affect your dog’s size. The key is to discover this sooner than later. If your GSD looks like Danny Devito, you don’t need to be a canine biologist to know that he isn’t predisposed to being a big dog; he just needs to be in better shape. 

Discovering early that your German Shepherd needs more exercise and better diet management means you have to go easy on him during physical training.

German Shepherds have growth plates made of soft tissue that leaves room for limb bone growth. And if your dog runs or even goes on enthusiastic long walks outdoors, his growth plates might be at risk. That’s why you need to be careful how you exercise your GSD puppy. 

I have a post covering exercises for younger GSDs in detail but below are some principles that will help you decide your own exercises for German Shepherds whose growth plates are open.

Things to Keep In Mind When Exercising a Young GSD

• Spread activity throughout the day – Bruce Lee once said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” When you make a single session small enough, you can afford to repeat the session throughout the day with enough consistency to make an impact. Add steps to your little puppy’s day without making it a Rocky training montage.
   
• Avoid high places – The growth plates section makes it self-evident that you should keep your dog from jumping. So definitely no skipping rope for your chubby best friend.
   
• Play “seeking” games – “Detection” exercises allow you to sneak in extra steps while also helping your GSD develop better cognition. Interestingly, such games also decrease running speed as dogs are more deliberate in processing where the hidden prize is.

Size Factors to Consider Before Getting a German Shepherd

If you’ve looked up GSD sizes and growth charts before getting a puppy, you’re in the right spot to make a sound decision as long as you know what to expect. With my experience with German Shepherds, I want you to know a few other things that come with these dogs’ immense size.

• Remember, you’re not getting a cabinet, you’re getting a living, breathing animal, and the size isn’t going to be stationary. The dog will move, and he will move a lot.
  
  This means your furniture should be ready for a heavy dog; you should have a place wide enough to accommodate a crate and a crate large enough to have headspace well above the full-grown height of your GSD (read my post on best crates for German Shepherds).
   
• German Shepherds have a lot of momentum. Huge size and significant weight multiplied by a GSD’s enthusiasm equals a lot of momentum. A pile of muscles zipping around the house can cause a lot of damage, so training early is crucial.
  
  More importantly, you need to make sure your house has enough space and preferably a yard so the dog’s energy can be released productively.
   
• A GSD’s size doesn’t equal immunity. Your German Shepherd might look like he can take on anything, but he belongs to a breed prone to diseases. You must be willing to put in the required extra care when raising and living with a German Shepherd.
  
  Some of the diseases that even purebred GSDs are prone to are Canine Hip Dysplasia, Canine Elbow Dysplasia, Seasonal Allergies, and Osteoarthritis, among others.
   
• Having two German Shepherds makes life easier, so if you measure your living space for its conduciveness to a GSD, make sure you see if there’s room for another in the future. Remember, German Shepherds are smart, which makes them easily bored.
  
  Having a companion means the two dogs can engage each other, provided that you have trained them well. This is an optional addition that lowers the work you need to do, so if your home has space only for one GSD, don’t let that discourage you from getting one.

Check out this article, Will Two Female German Shepherds Get Along? to learn whether you should choose two dogs of the same sex.

FAQs About German Shepherd Growth

How Fast Will My German Shepherd Grow?

An average German Shepherd will be fully grown around 18 months old, although some will continue to grow until 24 months, eventually reaching full adulthood at 3 years of age. The growth rate slows considerably from the 7-month mark, depending on the dog’s parentage and environmental factors.

What Months Will My German Shepherd Grow The Most?

German Shepherds grow the most between 2 and 3 months. This is when they have a huge growth spurt. A 2-month-old puppy will weigh, on average, 22% of his adult weight, and this almost doubles to 40% at 3 months old. Fast growth continues up to 7 months of age, increasing roughly by 10% each month.

Are There Any Health Concerns Associated With Rapid German Shepherd Growth?

Rapid growth can put stress on a dog’s bones and joints, increasing the risk of skeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. It can also lead to an increased risk of developmental orthopedic diseases. Proper nutrition, exercise, and monitoring can help reduce these risks.

Is a German Shepherd a Large or XL Dog?

A German Shepherd is generally considered a large dog breed. According to the breed standard, the male German Shepherd’s height at the withers ranges from 60-65 cm (24-26 in), and the female’s height ranges from 55-60 cm (22-24 in).

How Do I Know If My German Shepherd Is Too Skinny?

To know if your German Shepherd is too skinny, you should not easily see the ribs or effortlessly feel them underneath the skin due to no fat. You should also be unable to feel the hips, shoulders, spinal cord, or tail base. You can also check the growth chart for any huge differences.

How Do I Know If My German Shepherd Is Overweight?

To know if your German Shepherd is overweight, you will have difficulty feeling the ribs through the layers of fat. It will also be hard to feel the hip bones, shoulders, and spine, and you should be able to locate the tail bones where the tail joins the back. Check the GSD growth chart as a guide.

Does Neutering a German Shepherd Stunt Growth?

Neutering a German Shepherd puppy will not stunt growth. Once a belief but now disproven by studies, early-age neutering of dogs does not affect growth, and German Shepherds still grow after neutering. Recovery is also faster in puppies than in adult dogs.

Do German Shepherds Gain Weight After Being Spayed?

German Shepherds do not gain weight after being spayed, nor do they become obese. They will also still grow after spaying. However, spaying is linked to increased weight gain if changes aren’t made after surgery due to changes in hormones resulting in a slower metabolism.

Why is My German Shepherd So Small?

Your German Shepherd might be small due to genetics. Other causes are a poor diet with insufficient nutrients or small portions with not enough calories. Illnesses, a sensitive stomach, or anxiety can be a factor, along with extreme exercise, such as working dogs who need extra calories.

Why is My German Shepherd So Tall?

Your German Shepherd might be so tall if its ancestors and lineage were also tall. It’s likely that a tall dog will also weigh more. However, as long as the dog’s weight is proportionate, this is nothing to worry about. Larger dogs will take longer to develop until they reach adulthood.

Final Thoughts

German Shepherds grow big and grow in stages with the rates of size and weight increase varying. As long as you have room for a fully grown GSD by the time you get a German Shepherd puppy, you’ll not have space-related problems.

If your dog isn’t growing as quickly and is underweight, you might need to get a vet’s appointment. Finally, make sure to help your dog lose weight if he is over the expected weight but is not over the expected height, as this indicates unhealthy weight.