OK I have a question about a dog filling out. I have heard that around 1 1/2 years a dog will start to fill out and has reached mature height. Well see My Kane has just turned 7 months old and is 22 1/2 at the withers. On lookers, such as family, friends, strangers, give me wonderful compliments on him but they all say he looks "lanky" or some confuse it with "skinny." Now I know he is not too skinny thats not the question, but I tell them he will fill out as he matures. Am I right in saying this or have I been "stretching the truth" I just want to get my facts straight before I tell anyone else this. When I got him at 3 months he seemed to be stockier, and I guess friends and family that see him now compare to how he looked when I got him. So, not to get off the subject... I was just wondering if thats right... that they fill in at a certain age? And is it 12,18 or 24 months? I have heard all of those ages. I just reasure people that he will look more filled out as he matures.

Oh one more quick question! Well as some know Im not happy with the breeder I got Kane from, and I now realize that some of his dogs have weak looking ears. Well Kanes ears are up (as they should be at this age) but they were a little late to stand. (Around 5 1/2 months) Is there a time limit after they stand before they become stiff or more firm? Im afriad my Kane is going to have soft ear. Right now when he runs they will still stand but are floppy. Im hoping they will firm up but with a bad breeder I may not be that lucky, I know.

Thanks ahead for any info or comments.

Young dogs often go through a lanky period. They look a lot more "blocky" or "chunky" when young, then start to sprout. Depending on the lines, the dog might not start filling out until about 2yrs old. I know a few people that had dogs that didn't finish filling out until 4yrs or over...one said the "complete dog" (fully filled out) wasn't there until he was 6yrs old!

The stage Kane is going through sounds like what I refer to with my dogs as "their dorky teenage years". Lanky limbs, uncoordinated, wanting to be the big dog when they feel like it and having Mom take care of it when they don't. As with kids, watch for their eating to pick up, and longer sleep times, then the grow spurt hits and they start to fill out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I like to call it the puppy uglies, lol!

I like that the "puppy uglies". Looking at all the "puppy ugly" pictures out there kind of reminds me of my 15 year old nephew and weeeellll
pictures of me when I was 15 years old. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> ...I knew I should have gotten rid of those pictures. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Oooppps. I forgot to add I have definately filled out. To my regret. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Chasity - Your dogs ears came up at 5.5 months and he only 7 months now, I think that they will firm up and be Ok. I feel that you would have a problem @6 months if one or both were still lay over or the tips where hanging over. Usually after this time you have less of a chance that they will stand, completely. But I've seen them stand after being tip over or one ear hanging. Then its time to tape them up. I've heard that chewing on hard items helps strengthen the muscles used to make the ears stand.

Rarely does the ears fall unless something tramatic happens.

I'm boarding a 15 week old GSD pup whos ears are straight an tall, but one will flop at times. Her ears came up at about 12-13 weeks. It will take a while for them to stand strong because they just started standing.

Her ears look too big for her head and head & feet too big of her long tall body.

So we will just have to hurry up and wait to see what they will really look like.

Yogi went through a "gawky period", too. What a terrible afternoon that was!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

WM
(who freely admits his own biases) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Gawky period is an understatement! My 7 month old GSD, Thunder, has the head of a grizzly bear, with the body of Wiley Coyote. I can't decide whether to laugh or cry when I watch him climb a ladder at SAR training.

Thats funny because thats how Kane looks. When he was younger my friend would laugh and say his head looked small for his body, and now he looks lik a head with leggs. LOL

So at 7 months... thatslike what age for a dog? I mean I hear theyre like a gawky teenager. So is he in his "teenage" stage? Wow, if so I didnt realize I had a teenager on my hands! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (And here I was dreading when my little girl whos 6 becomes a teenager!)