This blog post will talk about the topic “Four-Month Old German Shepherd Puppy”. It will also talk about the process of growth of a German Shepherd.
Four-Month Old German Shepherd Puppy
The German Shepherd dog is one of America’s most popular dog breeds, not because they are aggressive dogs or very loud when they meet strangers, but for better reasons. They are intelligent and capable working dogs. They are devoted and very courageous. Because of this, they are unmatched. They are also amazingly versatile dogs.
This breed also goes by the name Alsatian. Despite being purebred, some German Shepherds are found in shelters and breed specific rescues. You can even adopt them!
The German Shepherd dog excels at mostly anything they are trained to do: guide and assistance work for the handicapped, police and military service, herding, search and rescue, drug detection, competitive obedience and faithful companionship.
At four months, the German Shepherd is expected to have a height of 11 to 14 inches and a weight of 35 to 40 pounds. They tend to grow up in increments of 2 inches every month in a whole year. They can reach their maximum height at three years old which should be around 24 to 26 inches. Their weight at this age ranges from 79 to 88 pounds.
The height and weight are different in female German Shepherds. At four months, the female German Shepherd is expected to have a height of 10 to 12 inches, and a weight of 31 to 35 pounds. The peak height of a female German Shepherd is also when they are three years old. This ranges from 22 to 24 inches. At this age, they are expected to have a weight of 66 to 70 pounds. Of course, it is a different case if they are pregnant, in which they should be heavier than 70 pounds.
A German Shepherd at four months is still considered a puppy, of course. German Shepherds only stop being puppies at three years old. At this age, they should be fully mature already.
How much food should a 4 month old German Shepherd eat?
Feeding a German Shepherd puppy entirely depends on its current weight, activity level, metabolism. You should plan to feed your puppy three or four times every day. You can opt to decrease the amount of food you feed your dog as they get older as older puppies can be fed fewer times per day, noting and making sure that the calorie intake is not limited below the recommended amount.
Smaller, more frequent meals will help prevent bloat—gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat) is a potentially life-threatening condition. Frequent meals will also help stabilize your puppy’s blood sugar and energy level to help them grow steadily, not in fits and starts.
Compared to the nutrition needs of adult dogs, puppies need two or three times the number of calories as adult dogs do. This may seem strange, and it is, considering puppies are much smaller than adults. However, German Shepherd puppies grow extraordinarily fast, so their caloric intake needs to support that.
To figure out how much to feed your German Shepherd puppy, look at his or her weight. Females will be slightly smaller and lighter than males.
| AGE | WEIGHT |
| 2-3 months | between 11 and 30 pounds |
| 3-4 months | between 17 and 40 pounds |
| 4-5 months | between 31 and 49 pounds |
| 5-6 months | between 35 and 57 pounds |
Using the weight chart above, the general food chart in the previous section, and considering the gender and activity level of your puppy, you can calculate the approximate amount of food to feed daily.
Split that daily amount up between all meals. For example, if your 3-month-old GSD puppy is a male and weighs 30 pounds, you should feed him approximately 2 cups per day.
If he is eating 4 times per day, that would be ½ a cup of food at each of 4 meals. If he doesn’t seem to be gaining weight fast enough or seems to be ravenous at every meal, you can slowly increase the amount of each meal until he stabilizes.
How much exercise does a 4 month old German Shepherd need?
Make sure you’re consistent with the amount of exercise your puppy gets. You need to help him build his stamina, and the only way he can do this is by exercising regularly but with caution. At the puppy stage, he’s much too young to be doing the rigorous activities that he will be more able to do as he grows older.
The amount of exercise your puppy needs depends on his age, breed and medical condition. Not every breed will be up for a long walk through Central Park. Some breeds are just not built to go the distance, while others are always ready to romp. Some of the breeds that need the most exercise are Border collies, Labrador retrievers, Jack Russell terriers and Dalmatians.
Puppies need five minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice a day, according to the U.K. Kennel Club. In other words, a 3-month-old puppy will need 15 minutes of exercise while a 4-month-old will need 20 minutes. This may take the form of low-impact activities like swimming or playing with small dog exercise balls. You can also take your puppy out for short walks on a leash. However, if he starts to sit down, give him time to rest. If he does not start walking again, you may have to carry him home.
Most adult dogs should participate in some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes and up to two hours every day. Your puppy’s genetics will determine when it’s time to move her up to adult dog exercise. If she won’t get any larger than 25 pounds (11 kilograms), then she can start at around 9 months. If she’ll end up weighing between 25 to 100 pounds (11 to 45 kilograms), it’s best to wait until she’s at least 14 months old. If she’ll be tipping the scale at 100 pounds (45 kilograms) or more, you can introduce these activities to her when she is at least a year and a half old.
So, how will your pooch feel after exercising? Pretty much the same as you and I feel after a great workout. Taking your puppy on a nice short walk or letting him play in the yard translates to a calmer canine that will more than likely sleep very well that night.
More about dog exercise is talked about in this article by the Animal Planet.
How German Shepherds grow
German Shepherds are born deaf, blind immobile, and completely dependent on their moms, just like typical mammals. After this, they will start to gain weight and develop physically and mentally very rapidly.
They will be ready to leave their mamas only after 8 weeks since their birth. At this age, they are expected to already weigh 13 to 15 pounds on average. They are also expected to already have learned lots of important social skills from mama German Shepherd.
The Birth of a German Shepherd
A litter of a German Shepherd usually consists of around 4 to 8 puppies. When a German Shepherd is born, they will have an umbilical cord that is attached and may even be covered in amniotic fluid. Most of the time, the mama German Shepherd will chew off the umbilical cord. The mama German Shepherd will also spend the first few hours cleaning their pups by endlessly licking their faces.
The mom will also try to keep her newborn pups warm but also will try to allow them to nurse. The baby German Shepherds at this stage will just sleep and avoid spending their energy. Instead of running around the house like when they do when they are already adults, they will still frequently nurse from their mother.
They are completely dependent on their mother when they are first born. Their eyes and ears will both be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. This is their mama’s job, and the mama will try its best to keep the little German Shepherds warm.
Of course they will lack teeth and will rely on their mother’s milk, which, during that time, should be their only source of nutrition. A newly born German Shepherd should have a coat and the color depends on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common color scheme for this dog breed.
Furthermore, newly born German Shepherds are relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. So to move around, they will have to crawl on their stomach, and not use their legs.
They are also not expected to do tasks like urinating and defecating because at this stage, they are still incapable of urinating or defecating on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet.
Conclusion
This blog post talked about the topic “Four-Month Old German Shepherd Puppy”. It also talked about the process of growth of a German Shepherd.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Four-Month Old German Shepherd Puppy
Is it better to get a male or female German shepherd?
Male German shepherds, like most male dogs, are more dominant than females, with females normally being gentler and much friendlier towards both their families and outsiders. Commonly male GSDs tend to be more aloof and proud than females, but still just as curious and enthusiastic about play and learning.
How long can German Shepherds hold their pee?
At 8 to 16 weeks your pup can only hold her pee for approximately 2 hours. Take her out every hour to be safe. By the time your pup is 16 weeks, she’ll be able to hold her pee for at least 4 hours. From 6 months she’ll hold her pee for up to 4 hours.
What age does a German shepherd become aggressive?
German Shepherds can start becoming aggressive about six weeks of age, one of the most critical ages in a German Shepherd puppy’s life. To avoid aggressive behavior dilemmas, it’s imperative not to separate him from his mother and littermates before eight weeks of age.
How long should a 4 month puppy walk?
A good rule of thumb is a ratio of five minutes exercise per month of age (up to twice a day) until the puppy is fully grown e.g. 15 minutes (up to twice a day) when 3 months old, 20 minutes when 4 months old and so on. Once they are fully grown, they can go out for much longer.
References
“German Shepherd Dog Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts.” DogTime, dogtime.com/dog-breeds/german-shepherd-dog#/slide/1.
Reed, Hunter. “German Shepherd Feeding Guide: All You Need to Know.” The German Shepherder, 18 Oct. 2020, thegermanshepherder.com/2019/10/16/german-shepherd-feeding-guide-all-you-need-to-know/.
“German Shepherd Growth Chart Featuring Weight and Height (Size).” AllShepherd, 26 Aug. 2020, www.allshepherd.com/german-shepherd-growth-chart/.
Diamond, Aliyah. “German Shepherd Growth & Weight Chart: Everything You Need To Know.” Pawlicy Advisor, Pawlicy Advisor, 26 Oct. 2020, www.pawlicy.com/blog/german-shepherd-growth-and-weight-chart/.
“How Much Exercise Does My Puppy Need?” Animal Planet, 27 Feb. 2015, www.animalplanet.com/pets/how-much-exercise-does-a-puppy-need/.
SuperAdmin. “Female vs. Male German Shepherds: What’s The Difference?” Deutscher, SuperAdmin Https://Deutscher-Schaeferhund.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2020/10/German-Shepherd-Logo.png, 17 Dec. 2020, deutscher-schaeferhund.org/female-vs-male-german-shepherds/.
Gabriella. “How to Potty Train a German Shepherd Puppy: 13 Tips to Do It Right.” German Sheperd Corner, 9 Dec. 2020, germanshepherdcorner.com/how-to-potty-train-a-german-shepherd-puppy/.
Zeeshan, and About The Author ZeeshanMy name is Zeeshan. “What Age Does a German Shepherd Become Aggressive -.” MixGermanShepherd.com, 27 July 2020, mixgermanshepherd.com/german-shepherd-become-aggressive/.
“Puppy and Dog Walking Tips.” The Kennel Club, www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-training/getting-started-in-dog-training/dog-training-and-games/puppy-and-dog-walking-tips/.
