People often say “they grow up so fast” when talking about their human children, but our canine kids grow up even faster.

Picture-a-day challenges are some of the most interesting ways to show how far something or someone has come. It’s a great way to show the long passage of time in a short period.

That is what this dog owner did as their puppy Dunder grew into an adult. They took a picture of the little guy every day for a year and cut them all together in one video.

Dunder grows up before your very eyes.

Male German shepherds, like Dunder, typically aren’t considered fully grown until they’ve reached about 18 months. So Dunder still has a bit of growing to do but he’s certainly reached adulthood. Female German Shepherds will continue to grow until about the age of 2.

How fast do German shepherds grow?

German shepherds can get pretty big. They go from puppy to large dog faster than you would think. Perhaps not as fast as this video shows Dunder growing, but still pretty fast! The main growth spurs occur between 2 and 5 months.

At 1 month, male German shepherds are typically between 5.5 and 9 lbs. Their average height is around 4 – 6 inches. At just 3 months, GSDs are already between 22 and 30lbs and their height between 9 – 11 inches. So, they’ve already more than doubled in size in just that short a time span.

By the time they reach 16 months, a male GSD will be around 49 – 57 lbs and 16 – 18 inches tall. The growth tends to level off as they approach a year. By 1 year, a typical GSD is around 71-79 lbs and 22 – 24 inches. They will continue growing a little after this but not much. Female GSDs show similar growth rates but will end up around 60 – 66lbs and 20 – 22 inches in height.

How do I make sure my big growing German shepherd is healthy?

Keeping your youthful German shepherd healthy as they grow is vital to their well-being. Experts recommend regular veterinarian trips to ensure they are getting the best care possible and to catch any health conditions quickly.

Because of their size, GSDs can be prone to a condition called “bloat.” This condition presents with swollen stomachs, and vomiting or retching. It is an emergency and an animal hospital should be contacted immediately if you suspect your GSD has developed this condition.

Also due to their size, GSDs can suffer from hip issues that could impact their mobility. Your veterinarian can watch for this when you bring in your pet for regular appointments.

German shepherd growing pains.

As a result of growing so big so fast, GSDs can develop a condition called Panosteitis, or “Growing Pains.” It’s an inflammatory condition that impacts the bones of growing dogs.

There is no need to worry about the long-term impacts of this condition, as it will spontaneously resolve. It can be quite uncomfortable for your GSD if they develop it, however. Anti-inflammatory medications can be prescribed if needed.

Watch Dunder grow from puppy to adult in just 40 seconds in the video below.

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Source: The Dunder Boy/The Dunder Boy/Pawlicy