Why is my 14-month German Shepherd small and not growing properly?

She is a cutie. She likely is just a smaller framed GSD. Her weight looks appropriate for the breed here. You are feeding her a high quality food so you are doing what is needed to keep her weight ideal, which it is. As long as her stools are not soft, then there isn't much else to do about her smaller frame. It is just her genetics. It sounds like she is a timid dog. Take her to see more pets/people in smaller sessions. Take her to the dog park and to the pet store so that she is exposed to more people/pets. Also I would suggest enrolling her in doggy daycare so that she can learn how to be around other pets without being so timid and fearful. She will come around the more you expose her now while she is still a puppy and can be trained out of her fear. If push comes to shove, then its best to hire a dog trainer to work with her one-on-one. Here is more information on socializing puppies/kittens. --> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8941891 Best of luck moving forward with your puppy Oggy and I hope that she gets over her fear soon! Take care.

At this weight your puppy will have an approximate adult weight of about 54lbs. This would be relatively small. The average weight of adult German Shepherds by gender are: Males: 66 – 88 pounds (30 – 40 kg) Females: 48 – 70 pounds (22 – 32 kg). Your GSD may be a smaller type, or it may not be growing like it should. I suggest you take Mike to a vet for a wellness exam assessing his growth rate. Make sure you feed good quality puppy food for large dogs and his age bracket to ensure optimum growth.

Dogs can vary quite a bit in size, even if they are the same breed - so it's more important to look at your dog's body condition to determine if he is under (or over) his ideal weight rather than comparing to averages for the breed. Ideally, you should be able to feel his ribs easily with your hands when you run them down his sides, and he should have a visible "waistline" or abdominal tuck just behind the ribcage. The ribs and hipbones should not be visibly jutting out of his fur, as this would be a sign that he is too thin. If his body condition is normal, I would not recommend increasing his food or trying to make him gain weight, as it's not good for growing dogs to be overweight at this age - it's very hard on their joints and can predispose them to orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia later in life. If you're unsure if he is the correct weight for his size, you're welcome to request a consultation with one of us and share some photos of him - we would be glad to try and help :)

As a breed, German Shepherd‘s tend to be thin dogs and some lines are more thin than others. Continue feeding him a high-quality, high protein diet. I recommend the brand Royal Canin. Be careful with exercise and make sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. Lastly, Colt is not done growing yet. The first year of life is devoted to upward growth and the second year of life is when pets fill out so he is still developing. I hope this helps. You may speak with your veterinarian about sending off a blood sample for analysis to find out if the platelet count is truly abnormal or if any blood parasites or seen. Best of luck.

He does appear a bit light for the breed. Some German Shepherds stay small. However, I suggest you have him examined by your veterinarian who can then tell you whether he is too thin, or normal for his size (he is not fully grown yet), needs more muscling or needs better food for development. THis is only possible with a hands-on exam.

Hi there. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I think that based on the photos Bruno looks very characteristic of a 5 month old GSD. I am not really sure what you are worried about. I would not be overly concerned about anything related to his looks until he is full grown (about 18 months of age). You absolutely don't want a large breed puppy to grow too fast as that can cause joint abnormalities so be careful of this. He should be eating a large breed puppy food so I hope the Royal Canin you are feeding is this type of diet and not just a general puppy food. If you have specific concerns I suggest you take him to your vet for an exam. Again, I think he looks just fine from the photos. Best wishes.

Hello. Good care is all you can do for Kyra. At 2 months of age, she still has the potential to reach her potential maximum growth. Feed her the best large breed puppy food you can purchase. Do not supplement her with any vitamins or minerals. Deworm her based on a veterinarian's analysis of her stool & make sure she receives all appropriate vaccinations at the appropriate times. Treat her well & she will mature into a healthy, beautiful dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.