6 month old GSD

Question
QUESTION: Ever since we brought our German Shepherd puppy home, at age 7 weeks, she has always been obsessed with food.  It is very difficult to feed her because she goes "crazy" (she jumps on us, scratches my back and leaps in the air, and barks.  Because of this we make her sit and stay until the food is in the bowl.  It takes numerous times of getting her to sit back down and stay before we can successfully get her to calm down.  Is this something that we are just going to have to be patient with and she will grow out of?  Are we not feeding her enough?  I told my vet I was concerned about what we feed her, about 2 1/2 cups, which the food bag now says to feed 3 to 3 1/2 cups, but my vet said not to increase her food, that she was "perfect".  She's about 35 pounds at 6 months. Is that a good weight for her age? She eats like she hasn't eaten in days, like she's starving, she literally inhales it without chewing most of it.  She has always done this since she has been with us.  I'm not sure what to do.

ANSWER: That is atypical behavior for a Shepherd, but dogs don't read breed descriptions and often fail to follow them.  I often suggest people have their vet confirm their judgment of their dogs condition, but you may have an atypical vet doing a poor job.   I can help you learn to judge your dog's condition.  Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest. You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them. Each dog is different. Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog must have its food and exercise adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide, http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx

35 pounds sounds a little light to me.  If as indicated above, you can see her ribs or they are just too easy to feel, go ahead and feed more.  It is common for young Shepherds to refuse to eat enough to completely hide their ribs.  If yours will eat enough to, I would go ahead and feed what it takes.  Do keep her lean.  overweight is the worst thing for growing large breeds.  

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QUESTION: Thank you for the quick response!  I really appreciate it!  I was just wondering, are there any "methods" that would make it a bit easier when feeding her, I know when she jumps up, I turn around and "ignore" her and in normal circumstances that works great, but when feeding her, she scratches my back, I literally have scars all over from her jumping on me at feeding time.  She will eventually sit and stay, but when I'm going to open the bin of food, that's when she goes nuts.  What would you do in this situation?  Also, Mikka would eat until she exploded if we let her, when we pour the bag of dog food into the bin, she runs up and sticks her head under it and just opens her mouth and grabs as much as she possibly can, no matter how much we feed her, she acts like she's starved.  Is there a way to calm her down before we feed her?

Answer
Although turning your back is a common technique and effective, try stepping backwards.  The dog's feet fall harmlessly to the floor.  

You have obedience trainer her?  When you are ready to feed her. I would put her in a sit or down stay.  Every time she breaks stay, stop and make her stay again.  If it takes a half hour to feed her a few times, she should catch on.  When I empty a bag fo food into the bin, I feed the dog first, an dfill the bin while it is eating.  Understand the behavior you are describing is common in Labs.  You just need to be stronger willed.  

I have only used Rescue Remedy with one of our 20 puppies, but perhaps she is the exceptional puppy that needs it.  Give her a squirt in her mouth about 20 minutes before feeding time.