Newbie to GSD Weight and Diet Question

Hi All

My name is T Rex and my family and I have recently become the proud owners of a Male GSD Puppy named Hunter.

This is our first GSD Puppy so we not sure on the growth rate and feeding requirments.

My question is that my puppy is now 11 weeks old and he only weighs in at 8kg?
This seems a little to little from what I have read on some Internet Weight charts I have found as the recommendation is 14 kg at 12 weeks?

He is eating up a strom of three meals a day is is pooping very well

I have had him at the vet a few weeks ago and they did give him a de-worming tablet,

I am feeding him Hills for large breed puppies which is what my vet recommends.

Is there maybe something I should be suplementing his diet with as to help him put on some weight?

Any advice would be very much appreciated

[Zak]

Hi,

Your pup seems to be doing well for his age.

Have a look at:
German Shepherd Growth and Weight

Don't get hung up on charts and the internet though, the best thing you can do is just go by how he looks and feels.

I would say it's better for a dog to be slightly under weight than over weight for sure.

Here is how my Zak's weight was for the first three months since we got him home on day 1 at 6 weeks old. We fed him 4 x a day till he was 4 months I think then 3 times till 6 months, now twice a day forever.

Day 0
8.2 lbs

Week 1
13 Lbs

Week 2
15 3/4 lbs

Week 3
17 3/4 lbs

Week 4
22 1/4 lbs

Week 5
25 lbs

Week 6
33lbs

Week 7
38 lbs

Week 8
39.5 lbs

Week 9
43.5 lbs

Week 10
47.5 lbs

Week 11
54 lbs

Week 12
57

Please post some pics of Hunter

[Caryll]

Totally agree, please don't get too reliant on the 'norms' that are published everywhere. You should be able to feel your dog's ribs, but not see them, and as long as he is growing well, is lively, bright eyed & cheerful, he's doing fine!

P.S. Welcome to the forum! Hope to see some pics of Hunter soon!!

Thanks !! Zak is a very big boy I did see his mother and she was a small dam however did never see his dad though?

My vet told me that we should put him on a high calcium low protien diet as to not let him grow to fast as this might make him more prone to joint problems when he gets older?

I cant help thinking to myself that he needs a little more protien in his diet though

I have attached a pic of him and one with his adopted sister.

[Mazz]

Hello and welcome.
Your dogs are beautiful.
Mazz

[Otto 's Mutter]

Aww cute

Welcome to the forum!

I wouldn't get overly concerned as long as he is as Caryll says. You'll be surprised how quickly they grow. Otto was only 5.2kg when we collected at 10 weeks (the second picture of my signature pictures) you couldn't see his ribs but you could feel them

He has always been fed Arden Grange and we have only in the past few months started to give him sardines a couple of times a week with his feed. He has never had any other supplements.

Enjoy him while he is small - they soon grow

[Caryll]

Originally Posted by T Rex

My vet told me that we should put him on a high calcium low protien diet as to not let him grow to fast as this might make him more prone to joint problems when he gets older?

Have you ever thought about feeding raw? That way you get plenty of clacium from the raw bones, and although it's a fairly high protein content, it's natural, not processed, and they can 'use' it far better. Have a look at this site, which will explain it far better than I can!

Raw Meaty Bones

[super D]

Cute pupster and love the name Hunter xxx Welcome to the forum

[Zak]

He is one cute pup thats for sure, welcome to the forum btw.

[zetstaff]

Hello + welcome

What lovely doggies x