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Why is my 5-month GSD puppy not growing and so timid? What to do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed

My 5 month gsd has slow growth. She's lean. She's not gaining much weight and height. We are feeding her royal cannin, eggs, soyabean balls, etc. Her teeths are erupting, most of them have fully erupted already. I'm worried if she'll be short heighted forever and lean too. Also, she's scared of her surroundings, other people, vehicles etc, but is very comfortable around us. What to do please help.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 27th, 2019

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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