How Does Your Puppy Grow?
How Does Your Puppy Grow?
What to Expect… When You’re Expecting a New Puppy
Puppies grow at different rates with different breeds varying fairly widely. To give you an idea what to expect with German Shepherd puppies I’ve built a puppy growth timeline using my photos, photos from my customer’s dogs and their comments on the puppies size, weight, behavior and learning blended with my own experience.
I am always looking to expand and improve on what is here and appreciate all the photos and information received. I would love to expand it to include both a male and female. If you would like to help me with this project, please contact me with photos and your notes / adventures with your new companion!
Brand New Tiny Puppies!
When they’re first born, these tiny little creatures are mostly black. At this point, their noses, gums and paws are pink, their eyes are still closed and believe it or not, the puppies are born deaf. This is why Mother Nature gives them such a keen sense of smell. Imagine trying to find your Mom for a good meal when you’re blind and deaf!
At this stage, pretty much all they want to do is eat and sleep. They aren’t able to regulate their own temperature well so young so the whelping box is kept in my home in a room next to my bedroom. Puppies are monitored 24/7!
Each Tannhäuser puppy is tagged at birth or shortly thereafter with a colored collar. These allow me to identify each one uniquely and track their progress. The collars are tear away so no puppy can ever be hurt by getting their collar hung up on something. Their colors stay with them until they leave for their forever homes.
If you get a Tannhäuser puppy, you’ll be able to watch them grow in photos I put up on my PUPPIES page (this is accessible via the LITTERS page when I have a current litter). The photo backgrounds match their collar color so you can watch your very own pup!
Still Sleeping a Lot
The puppies are moving around a bit but mostly still to stay in a warm pile to sleep or to find Mom and get in on the next meal.
And still sleeping and growing
The puppies double their birth weight during the first week, gaining 2-3 oz per day.
Getting crowded
At ten days, their eyes finally open. The puppies are noticeably larger and vying for space to eat.
Eyes Open Wide
The puppies are now checking out the world actively and their curiousity is growing by leaps and bounds. With their eyes open, toys are starting to peak interest.
BUSY AND CURIOUS
At week five, the puppies are getting experienced with larger areas and the outdoors (weather permitting). Their ears may not yet be up, this can take many more weeks or even some help to happen. This little guy is all up and ready for adventure as some customers are starting to come and visit the new litter.
All Ears And Feet
By week 9, the puppies are out and about constantly investigating, playing, sniffing, learning… and those ears and paws appear even more out of proportion to their small bodies but never fear! they’ll grow into them. This gorgeous young lady is enjoying the outdoors. She’ll be heading to her forever home soon.
Growing Fast
This pretty male pup has been in his forever home just over a week but he’s already found his favorite spot on the hearth. Playful, curious… he’s full of fun. He started training immediately. Puppy STAR class is designed for puppies who are not yet old enough for beginning obedience / do not have all their shots. It is giving him some early socialization with other puppies and starting him learning some obedience basics.
Feel'in Confident
At three months, this pup is pretty sure he’s got things figured out. He’s gained 5 more lbs (this male puppy now weighs 37 lbs and is growing fast), passed Puppy STAR class with flying colors and he just won the graduation ‘Puppy Rapid Recall Race’ (the last two contestants were both GSDs, of course!) where he had to come when called by name. First one to their owner wins!
Getting Adult Fur
At three months the puppies start getting in more of their adult coloration. This pup is getting beautiful stripes on their hindquarters. It’s really fun to see how they’re going to look.
Growing And Growing
This male puppy is now 45 lbs. He’s completed his basic obedience course and is headed for intermediate. Still a puppy, the teenager phase is coming on quickly. He’s playing aggressively, loves balls and frisbees and is learning to retrieve both. Always curious, he loves dog puzzles and has figured out how to retrieve the treats from level 1 and 2 puzzles.
Always Wanting to Please
Having finished emptying his toy basket, this male pup is clearly saying “What!? You said ON the couch, right? Do I get a treat?” German Shepherd Dog paws are described as ’round’… look at how round those are!
Going For A Ride
Five months and 55 lbs, this male pup is an experienced Jeep dog who loves to go for a ride. His features are maturing, he definitely looks less puppy-like. His adult coloration has completely come in now.
Hardly Fits In His Favorite Spot
Now 72 lbs, this male pup still wants to be on the hearth but the back feet keep slipping off on him. An absolutely gorgeous dog, he is deep into teenager phase. You will see behaviors like humping (asserting dominance) and inappropriate herding that need to be controlled and focused. These can become habitual if they are allowed to continue unchecked. His owners work on socialization (meeting and greeting both humans and other dogs properly) and focus steadily.
Learning "Place"
Now 75 lbs, this male pup still has a youthful face. He’s learning intermediate obedience commands and stays on his cot while his family has dinner each evening very very politely for such a young guy.
"I have a stick"
Still at 75 lbs, this male pup’s growth rate has finally slowed. His father weighed 85 lbs at maturity so he still has some room but he is no longer gaining at almost 5 lbs a month. He loves sticks. The bigger the stick is, the better. He prances around the yard carrying his stick and it’s his best stick yet! You can clearly see the German Shepherd gait has matured at this point. Young puppies don’t get that coordination for some months.
Maturing
Still at 75 lbs. this pup’s features are maturing. His head is getting broader and he’s filling out and looking like an adult male. Silly factoid – it is just now at 10 months this pup is starting to lift his leg to pee.
There already...
His weight still stable, this pup’s appearance is now that of a fully mature adult dog. Confident and gorgeous.
Outgoing and adventurous
This adult male has completed his obedience courses thru advanced and sampled scent training and agility. He has discovered German Shepherds can swim and now enthusiastically embraces water in all its forms.