 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
#223768 - 01/14/2009 01:54 PM |
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Hello Everyone! i have a question about my 1 year, two month old GSD that i was hoping someone might be able to help me with. To me, it seems like he should be bigger then he is and its actually starting to worry me. He is about 70 lbs right now, and has held that weight for a few months. Is this OK for a male this age? his dad is around 85 to 90 lbs, and his grandpa (Otis) was a Leerburg dog, so i thought someone here might know more about these bloodlines. his breeder says it may take another year or so for him to fill out, but its the fact that he seems stuck on this weight that has me concerned. I have been feeding a mix of Raw and EVO, but he is a finecky eater, and will just not eat some days.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated....
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: Brian Keefe ]
#223769 - 01/14/2009 02:27 PM |
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what is his height?
what does he look like in terms of ribs showing, hip tuck, etc?
is he active and happy?
Teagan!
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: Brian Keefe ]
#223770 - 01/14/2009 02:29 PM |
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My first thoughts Brian are: what is his exercise routine, how active is he?
What is his body stature, tall and lanky or short and stocky? In either case, at fourteen months you can start thinking about working him on his stamina and muscle mass.
I wouldn't be so concerned about wieght unless there is an obvious issue in his stature or the activity level the dog is willing to engage in.
There's another thread past recently that dealt with the size and weight of past champions, there were a couple of dogs mentioned that came in at about 79 1/2 lbs.
It's the dog, not the size that counts.
Randy
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: randy allen ]
#223792 - 01/14/2009 06:46 PM |
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There is a Height/Weight chart for GSDs somewhere around here.
I think 85-90 lbs might be outside the Breed Standard.
Starbuck hit 60 pounds a LONG while back. She will be 2 years old in March and she is 23 1/2" at the shoulder.
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: Keith Larson ]
#223793 - 01/14/2009 06:48 PM |
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: randy allen ]
#223859 - 01/15/2009 01:14 PM |
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My first thoughts Brian are: what is his exercise routine, how active is he?
What is his body stature, tall and lanky or short and stocky? In either case, at fourteen months you can start thinking about working him on his stamina and muscle mass.
I wouldn't be so concerned about wieght unless there is an obvious issue in his stature or the activity level the dog is willing to engage in.
There's another thread past recently that dealt with the size and weight of past champions, there were a couple of dogs mentioned that came in at about 79 1/2 lbs.
It's the dog, not the size that counts.
Randy
Thanks to all of you for your input.....He is a very happy and active boy. we go out for walks or to play fetch every day in the AM and PM, and i also drive home at Noon during the work week to work with him. In terms of body stature, he's a long and lean dog with a huge head! it reminds me of a teenage boy thats yet to fill out. His dad is from East German bloodlines, and his breeder said that sometimes those lines seem a bit slow to fully develope. Given his parents sizes ( 74 and 85 lbs) im hoping that this is the case and that its not a health or lifestyle issue. I've tried to give him more food to help put on some weight, but he just nibbles at it a bit. He gets a lot of excercise, so i would think that he would be constantly hungry....i'll wait it out another month or so, and if his still around 70 lbs, then i'll be really concerned.
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: Brian Keefe ]
#223867 - 01/15/2009 03:39 PM |
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DDR/East German Dogs are notoriously slow to develop.
My DDR pup was also a picky eater until I finally put my foot down and only allowed her to have access to her food for 15 minutes, and then picked it up.
She now eats heartily.
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#223871 - 01/15/2009 04:23 PM |
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I also leave the food down for only a short time, but I give him only 10, because it is kibble and not that much food each meal.
It has made a huge difference. Otherwise he nibbles, then wanders then nibbles then sniffs around and with three dogs eating that isn't an option.
My boy is not a GSD but he is about the same age as your and he too is super skinny and gangly and his head is a bit too big for his body.
I always opt on the side of thin with my dogs though, I want to see a definite waist and be able to feel the ribs under the muscle on their sides. Too much weight is hard on their joints, especially in young and growing dogs.
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#223872 - 01/15/2009 04:40 PM |
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DDR/East German Dogs are notoriously slow to develop.
My DDR pup was also a picky eater until I finally put my foot down and only allowed her to have access to her food for 15 minutes, and then picked it up.
She now eats heartily.
Wow, i cant believe the instant feed-back i've gotten on this site. Thank you all so much!! I posted a similar question to a website from some "expert" from austrailia, and somehow ended up getting lectured by her because my dog wasnt fixed at 12 WEEKS! Good to know that there are so many knowledgeable people out there willing to help.
BTW Alyssa, your dog is beautiful! she looks a bit like my boy....How do you post that pic of her on your messages?
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Re: 1st time GSD owner ( growth question)
[Re: Brian Keefe ]
#223873 - 01/15/2009 04:48 PM |
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DDR dogs are slow to develop mentally more than physically...unless they are the type to get way too big. Is this dog DDR?
70lbs sounds fine for a 1 yr old. Better than fat! My 15mo female (100% DDR lineage) is 65lbs and a shorty at just under 23". Had she been taller, I don't think she'd be as filled out as she is this young. Caleb was around 85lbs at that age, but he is a big dog...really too big...and he didn't finish filling out until later, but his height and weight didn't really change that much beyond 18mos or so. He's about mid 90's now, but I keep him pretty thin. If someone else had him he'd probably weigh 100-110. Too big!
Xander is just 2 and only about 70-75lbs, tops. Leggy and lean...
Enough rambling............the point I'm trying to make is that I wouldn't worry about a 70lb dog at barely over a year old. What a perfect size.
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