Just like humans, German Shepherds have milestones that they should make as they grow. Some of these involve height and weight while others involve behaviour and socialisation. See the German Shepherd Weight and Height charts.
The stages can be divided into 5 primary categories: the neonatal period, the socialisation period, the juvenile period, the sexual maturity period, and the transition into adulthood.
Right after birth is when a German Shepherd puppy is going to be most vulnerable. In the first three weeks of life, puppies will open their eyes, develop their hearing abilities, learn to crawl and to walk, and learn to go to the bathroom away from the rest of the litter.
They are small and delicate at this point. Their mother is completely responsible for feeding them, helping them urinate and clean-up, as well as keeping them warm. It is best at this stage to let the mother do her part and allow her the space to mother without humans interfering with her.
The period between 3 weeks of age and 12 weeks of age is known as the “socialisation” period. During this phase of development, puppies will begin to interact with humans and the other dogs around them. It is important to their overall demeanour to get them accustomed to human interaction at this stage of life.
From weeks 3 to 8, the puppies should still be with their mother. They will become more coordinated and develop the skill of play. They can be weaned and housebroken at this time as well as developing the ability to bark when startled. Physically, you will see their ears now stand up.
Between months 3 and 6, the puppies go through the “juvenile period.” The baby phase will have come to an end. They should be able to eat easily, interact with others, and should be on the brink of being housebroken. They will continue to grow steadily and are ready to be trained.
They will begin to lose their milk teeth during this period as well, so keep an eye out for the risk of chewing items that you might not approve of. Having dog-approved chew toys on hand can help both the puppies and the owners get through the teething phase without frustration.
A German Shepherd puppy between the ages of 6 months and 16 months will reach sexual maturity. By 16 months, your dog should have reached close to his full height. If you have no intention of breeding your German Shepherd, it is during this phase that you will want to have your dog spayed or neutered.
Talk to your vet about what the right timing is for spaying and neutering as well as what the risk is of your dog inadvertently mating. It is dangerous for a puppy to get pregnant, because her bones will not have fully developed.
Between 16 and 36 months, your puppy will be transitioning to adulthood. Some puppy behaviours should have calmed down, making way for more mature behaviours. Some German Shepherds continue to grow until 36 months, though most are done by 24 months.
While you will take them off of puppy food at this point, switching to adult food, you must continue to monitor their nutrition well to ensure that they are developing normally and are at a healthy puppy weight.
While they should still have a lot of energy, they also should have stopped chewing random items and calmed down slightly.
