My female GSD is almost 9 months old, and getting along quite nicely for the most part.

She has developed a very nice build in the neck and shoulders, and seems to be taking after her sire's stocky, well-muscled build. Unfortunately, despite her large neck and shoulders, her chest is just pitiful (I can relate, LOL).

I'm almost concerned that the uneven muscle development could have a negative impact on her skeletal development- and certainly, she looks... awkward, to put it kindly.

Her neck is so disproportionately large in comparison to her scrawny little chest. I believe her neck is so well developed due to exercise. Between bitework, eating raw food and carrying around and shaking a weighted rubber ball that we play with in the yard, I think she has built muscle faster in those areas than her chest.

Is there a SAFE way to help develop her chest and other muscles without taxing her joints and causing skeletal damage?

If it wasn't so damned cold out, I'd take her swimming, but that's not an option this time of year.

Is playing in the yard or walking around the house with a slightly weighted vest too much at this age?

9 months can be pretty gawky. She'll balance out I'm sure but if you want I have a couple local suggestions for some fun.

If you want a suggestion of an open sandy shallow beach with soft sand, few rocks, pretty gentle surf, and mud flats try Mission Beach by Marysville, WA . This place is nearly empty of people and dogs this time of year and is a great place to do long line and offlead training as well. I can also wholeheartedly recommend running the dog for fetch on the tidal flats during low tide, it's nice mud that just slightly gives resistance and supports dog weight perfectly and is one of the few places where you won't be killing wildlife under the sand to run on it. You can also play some digging games with her which will definately help her front end as well as helping her dig that pit to china every dog dreams of.

Let me know if you want to go. It's a semi private beach but happily my family has a house there. You can easily be a guest and go out there pretty much whenever you want.

If you're too far away from Marysville there are some other options out there.

At 9 months old think 10-11 yr old little girl.
If the genetics are there she'll develope just fine.
If not, then not a bunch you can do for her!
In other words, let her be a puppy while it lasts!

Exercising puppies is controversial. We recently discussed this here:

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=213517

i'm with bob, alyssa--she's really still a baby, and 9 mo old is gawky (and 10, 11, 12 mo)--they grow one part up a little, then another part, then a different part--eventually it all comes together. TIME is what it takes. she'll be fine.

 Quote: Bob Scott

At 9 months old think 10-11 yr old little girl.
If the genetics are there she'll develope just fine.
If not, then not a bunch you can do for her!
In other words, let her be a puppy while it lasts!

Some super advice from Bob there! Leave the dog alone and enjoy this time while you have it. She will balance out!

My bitch was very similar to what you describe until she hit 13/14 months. Huge neck from bones and meat and not much else. Then started to fill out a bit later. Don't worry, it will sort itself out.

John

Maybe she is a late bloomer.

I know I was hahahaha.