Can someone help with my German shepherd?

Jun 25, 2017
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I would've put this on yahoo answers but my account wouldn't let me log in so I just decided to come here. It's not really about chickens but anything would help!

I have a male 3 month old King German shepherd named Bucky he is 40 pounds now but will get to be about 110 pounds. I wanted to buy him a harness but didn't want to get it for him and he just grow out of it in like a week. I just wanted a recommendation of what age I should buy it for him so he doesn't grow out of it.

Thank y'all for bothering to read this non chicken related question!:D:frow
 
I would just settle for a collar for now because they are cheap to replace. I would wait until he stops growing before getting a harness. If it were me I would wait at least a year. These big dogs are slow to mature and even after they have their height they continue to fill out.
 
A well trained Shepard doesn't need a harness.
Before you consider any sort of restraint work on bonding and dicipline (and I don't mean physical) my Shepard is 12 now and hasn't worn a collar except in crowded environments which she understands and willingly wears one.
Be consistant. You have a great dog that is so capable of being a marvelous protector that the neighbors will love.
 
first, remember that harnesses are designed for pulling. "no pull" harnesses can cause muscle damage by simply being worn because they force the limbs out of proper alignment.
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_7/features/the-no-pull-debate_20782-1.html

king shepherds aren't really a breed per se though some breeders have started on the path to make them one and have dogs that uniformly fit a standard. Your breeder would be your best source of information on how quickly their lines mature. I do GSDs, a very different beast than the king shepherd, but I expect the majority of the height to be obtained between 8 and 12 months with a slow growth after that until the growth plates close at approx. 18 months. Then they will add bulk and muscle mass until between 3 and 4 years old. This applies to intact dogs. Altered animals will gain height for a longer period of time if the surgery is performed before the growth plates close at 18 months because they will lack the hormones to signal the different growth phases. They will also lack secondary sexual characteristics such as deep chest and more defined muscle mass for the same reason. Also, their full size will be reached more slowly and will be less than it would otherwise be.
 
Thank y'all! He doesn't pull on the leash or anything. I have to carry a lot of his stuff when we go on long walks so I wanted to get him a harness with backpacks on it so he can carry his own junk like his water, his water bowl, his poop bags, And his treats. It doesn't seem like much but when you're trying to enjoy a nice walk it's hard to keep up with all the stuff.
 
so you are looking for a backpack, not a harness. a very different "creature"

get one that is adjustable now and then upgrade in the future when he is closer to adult size.
 
just be very careful with adding weight to a growing puppy. start with a small water bottle on each side and I wouldn't go above 5-10 lbs total weight until your vet clears him to carry more.

King shepherds are often not from health tested parents (nor are most dogs unfortunately) and as large dogs are very prone to hip and joint issues that will be of increased risk by over-exercise or excessive weight.
Also, if neutered early, there is an increased risk of joint issues as well as muscle injuries so keep that in mind when working out an exercise plan.
 
I would wait until 2 years old because like some of the other people said big dogs take a while to grow and my bluetick coonhound didn't stop growing until 2 1/2 years old, I got her a harness when she was 2 and shes turning 3 in july and it already is to small for her
 

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