4 Month Old German Shepherd- All You Need to Know

Do You have a 3 to 4 Month Old German Shepherd puppy and wondering How to Care for and Train them? Here is How you can effectively do it.

Average Size and Height of a 4 month old German Shepherd

A Four month old German Shepherd is heavier than other canine breeds. It is actually half weight of an adult dog.

Talking in numbers, a 4-month-old German Shepherd male weighs around 16 to 18kg and a female around 14.5 to 16 kg. 

A German Shepherd puppy grows rapidly. At the age of 4 months, a male pup can be 28 to 35 inches and a female pup can be 25 to 30 inches at the shoulder. 

Nutrition for a 4-Month-Old German Shepherd

German Shepherds weigh 50 – 90 pounds when they are fully grown. This means that they need a protein-rich diet and high-energy activities. The food quantity depends on the age and activity of the canine. Therefore, it is important to feed your pup 3 times a day and grown-ups do need to feed 2 times a day. 

For instance, an extremely active GSD needs around 2,100 calories a day. On the other hand, a less active GSD needs around 12,72 calories a day. Moreover, the amount of calories varies depending on the canine’s breed, size, and age. 

A 4 month old German Shepherd needs around 1 cup of canine food in every meal. Apart from caloric intake, all GSDs should have a low in fat and high in protein diet.

The ideal diet for a GSD pup should have

Protein	20% to 25%
Fibre	3% to 7%
Fat	10% to 15%

Activity & Behaviour of a 4 month old German Shepherd

A 4 month old German Shepherd is highly energetic. Therefore, they need a lot of mental and physical exercise. Moreover, you must also provide obedience training, playing, walking, jogging, etc. Pups already know that they need to be protective towards their family. However, they can bark a lot because this is the ideal time for their vocal cords to develop. 

Training a 4-month-old German Shepherd is very easy. This is because the pup wants to please you. Therefore, you need to be a bit strict to mitigate his disobedient behaviour. 

Talking about sleep, a 3 to 4 months old German Shepherd sleeps around 18 hours a day. However, this may vary depending on the environment in which he is. 

If your pup has played a lot during the day, he will sleep early at night and would not wake you up in the morning for playing or potty. 

Positive Reward-Based Obedience Training for Puppy German Shepherd

Positive reward-based obedience training is a good way to teach your pup obedience commands. For a 4-month-old German Shepherd, you can start with basic commands like sit, stay, and down.

Once your pup is trained, you can move forward to teach advanced tricks. During this training, make sure you always offer a lot of rewards. 

Feeding a 4 month old German Shepherd

A 4 month old German Shepherd eats a lot. Therefore, you need to feed him at least 3 times a day. Moreover, you should provide 1 to 2 cups of kibble with each meal. Once your pup completes his 4 months, start feeding him 2 times a day. Moreover, do not switch to adult food in a hurry. It is better to do it once he reaches 6 months of age. 

You can also give some treats. However, avoid feeding human treats or human food. It is dangerous for the pup and can cause various serious health problems. Also, make sure you are not overfeeding your pup. He may suffer from obesity. 

It is better to be careful about high quality and nutritious value if you feed your pup a natural raw diet. It can include veggies, meats, fruits, etc. 

Grooming a 4 month old German Shepherd

GSDs shed a lot. If you do not like canine hair or are allergic to canines then you must skip getting a German Shepherd. Moreover, you should comb or brush your German Shepherd a few times a week.

This will keep your puppy’s coat looking healthy. There is no need to bathe your pup too often. If you do so, its skin can become sensitive. 

German Shepherd Growth & Weight Chart

Male German Shepherd growth and weight chart

Age	Height	Weight
Month 1	4 to 6 inches	5.5 to 9 lbs
Month 2	7 to 9 inches	16 to 20 lbs
Month 3	9 to 11 inches	22 to 30 lbs
Month 4	11 to 14 inches	35 to 40 lbs
Month 5	14 to 16 inches	40 to 49 lbs
Month 6	16 to 18 inches	49 to 57 lbs
Month 7	19 to 20 inches	57 to 62 lbs
Month 8	20 to 22 inches	62 to 66 lbs
Month 9	21 to 23 inches	64 to 71 lbs
Month 10	22 to 24 inches	66 to 73 lbs
Month 11	22 to 24 inches	71 to 75 lbs
1 year	22 to 24 inches	71 to 70 lbs
1.5 years	23 to 25 inches	71 to 79 lbs
2 years	23 to 23 inches	71 to 84 lbs
3 years	24 to 26 inches	79 to 88 lbs

Female German Shepherd growth and weight chart

Age	Height	Weight
Month 1	3 to 6 inches	4.5 to 8 lbs
Month 2	6 to 9 inches	11 to 17 lbs
Month 3	8 to 10 inches	17 to 26 lbs
Month 4	10 to 12 inches	31 to 35 lbs
Month 5	12 to 14 inches	35 to 44 lbs
Month 6	15 to 17 inches	44 to 49 lbs
Month 7	17 to 19 inches	49 to 53 lbs
Month 8	18 to 20 inches	53 to 57 lbs
Month 9	19 to 21 inches	55 to 60 lbs
Month 10	19 to 21 inches	57 to 62 lbs
Month 11	20 to 22 inches	60 to 64 lbs
1 year	20 to 22 inches	60 to 64 lbs
1.5 years	21 to 22 inches	60 to 66 lbs
2 years	21 to 22 inches	60 to 66 lbs
3 years	22 to 24 inches	66 to 70 lbs

Common health problems in German Shepherds

According to pdsa.com, German Shepherds are at risk of a few illnesses and conditions.

Therefore it is important for you to do frequent health screenings to reduce the chances of your pup getting ill. 

Here are a few conditions that your German Shepherd may develop:

Elbow dysplasia

This is a condition where the canine’s elbow socket does not form correctly or completely. This leads to further issues and immense pain. 

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a condition where the hip joint does not fit together. This further can lead to Arthritis. 

Anal furuncolosis

This condition causes ulceration around the canine’s bottom.

Canine degenerative myelopathy

This disease is also known as Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy. It causes weakness in back legs. This may also lead to paralysis. 

Epilepsy

This is a brain disorder that causes seizures

Haemophilia A and B

This is a bleeding disorder that causes wounds to bleed more than usual.

Inherited eye diseases

It includes multifocal retinal dysplasia and cataracts. 

Pituitary dwarfism

This is a hormone deficiency that causes serious growth problems. 

Characteristic of an Immature GSD.

• German Shepherds are long-coated and big dogs. They are loyal, energetic, and intelligent dogs. Therefore, they need a lot of training and stimulation to mitigate boredom. 

• They need positive reinforcement from the day you bring them. Hover, never try to train them by force. It gives a bad impression of GSDs. 

• Talking about food requirements, German Shepherds need a healthy diet to avoid health problems. Their wellness can cost upto $3,000/year(food, vet care, and grooming). 

• Before getting a German Shepherd, it is better to research the breed. This will help you to know everything about German Shepherds. Moreover, these dogs have image issues. Some people think they are vicious. However, they are not. 

• German Shepherds are never bred to fight. They were actually bred to be obedient and loyal. 

German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Schedule

Age	Morning	Midday	Afternoon	Evening
8 – 10 weeks	✓	✓	✓	✓
10 weeks – 4 months	✓	✓		✓
4 – 6 months	✓			✓

Final words

GSDs are very loyal, hardworking, and intelligent. Therefore, they make good companions. At the age of 4 months, GSDs are at the stage of teenage and undergo various behavioural and physical changes. 

To help your pup through this, provide positive reinforcement training, exercise, and chew toys. This will help him understand the changes and invest his energy in the right place. 

I hope you enjoyed the article. I will be back with exciting and informative pieces of writing. Till then, stay connected. Thank you. 

Frequently asked questions