Perhaps German shepherds are your favorite when it comes to owning a pet. If yes, you’ve got good taste as they are beautiful creatures to own. Owning a dog like the German shepherd comes with many beautiful experiences all through its life span, and it sometimes hurt to part ways with one’s German shepherd.
However, there comes a period when you want to know precisely when your German shepherd stops growing. If you have been looking for an answer to this question, look no further as we will reveal all relevant facts about German shepherds in this article.
To elucidate these facts, we have to consider the development stages of German shepherds from newborn to maturity. To make things clear, we must understand that a dog year is not the same as a human year. That said a 1-year old dog is equal to a 15 years old human being.
Contents
The developmental stages are;
Newborn Period
The newborn period is also called the “Neonatal” stage, and it usually spans about 14 days. Compared to a mature dog, the body temperature of a newborn German shepherd is relatively lower during this period.
At the beginning of this stage, your pet is typically deaf, blind, and helpless. Well, don’t be afraid; because it won’t take too long before it can see and hear you. During this period, their weight grows at a rate of 65 to 90 grams per day.
There are observable features of newborn German shepherds after a week or two, and these features include;
- The gradual opening of eyes and ears (after a week)
- Eyes and ears become fully open (after two weeks)
- Crawling movements
- Development of first incisor teeth
- Development of the central front tooth on the lower jaw
Socialization period
The socialization period in the life of a German shepherd is the learning phase of this beautiful pet, and it starts at about two months up until three months. This stage is a crucial developmental stage of the German shepherd because if not well-trained at this stage, it may not learn all it needs to learn to behave well towards its owner. It may even become excessively aggressive.
The socialization period is when the German shepherd begins to explore its environment, interacting with other puppies, objects, locations, and how to interact with other animals.
Juvenile Period
What is peculiar about this stage is that the German shepherd undergoes multiple developmental changes, and this stage lasts from 3 to 6 months. The first thing we may likely observe at this stage is the replacement of its puppy teeth by a set of adult teeth and the gaining of up to half of its weight more. Also, they become sexually mature at this stage, too, towards the end of the sixth month.
Also, it becomes more active at this stage, slightly more extensive, and its floppy ears become straight and upright.
Sexual Maturity and Reproductive Period
Spanning from 7 months to about two years, this stage is typical of sexual maturity, adolescence, and reproductive maturity. It is a long-lasting developmental phase of a German shepherd. What can we say about this stage?
At this stage, the animal reaches full sexual maturity, and it can therefore reproduce at this stage. It also undergoes some hormonal changes relating to sexual maturity. You typically would observe that a male German shepherd starts making its territory, and a female goes into heat at the age of 5 to 8 months. However, the male counterparts reach full sexual maturity at about seven months old.
You may confuse this stage as the final growth stage because, at this stage, it would have grown so big that it may look like an adult German shepherd. However, there is still a maturity stage where the brain, intellect, and sense of judgment are at the climax level.
Maturity Stage
The maturity stage is from 2 years to 3 years, and we can consider this stage as the final developmental stage in the lifespan of a German shepherd. It is also called the adulthood phase, where the animal becomes mentally, physically, sexually, and emotionally mature.
Female German shepherds tend to mature faster than their male counterparts. While the females can be considered fully grown when they are between the ages of 2 to 2 ½ years, the males take time to mature and are only regarded as adults when they are 2 ½ or three years old.
After the maturity stage, there is no further developmental stage in the lifespan of a German shepherd. When they attain this age, they are fully grown and are ready to engage in various activities that we expect them to engage in.
At this point, you definitely would have built strong ties with your adorable pet, and you would have turned it into a great companion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average weight of male and female German shepherds?
A male German shepherd’s average weight is between 65 and 90 pounds (30 to 40 kg) until it stops growing at three years old. The weight is between 55 and 70 pounds (22 to 32 kg) for a female.
At what age do German Shepherds stop teething?
One observable habit that shows your German shepherd is teething is the frequent chewing of chew toys. Teething usually stops when they are around six months old, and there is a need to train them properly out of this behavior of crushing chew toys before it becomes an unstoppable habit.
How long do German Shepherds live?
The average lifespan of a German shepherd is between 9 and 13 years old. However, this is dependent on factors such as exercise, diet, diseases, and other potential health issues. Read More
When do German shepherds calm down?
Naturally, German shepherds will usually calm down between the ages of 5 and 7 years. Because dogs vary, some may calm down sooner or later.
When do German shepherds stop biting?
Nipping, biting, and chewing is typical of this stage, and it usually lasts between 24 and 32 weeks. However, if your German shepherd puppy doesn’t stop these habits after that period, problems may lie ahead.
Final Words
Owning a German shepherd is incredible, and one would enjoy the companionship it provides. Knowing when your German shepherd pet would stop growing can quickly help get your mind prepared for the days when you may likely be without it. We already mentioned that a dog year and a human year aren’t the same. You would enjoy your pet for a long time against all odds.
Let us know your growth observations in the comment section below now