my german shepherd honey

Question
my German shepherd Honey is a week short of 6 months old her weight is 56lb although she is a bigged boned dog her father weighing 112lb and her mother weighing 91lb i am worried she is overweight for her age could you advice

Thank You
Pam

Answer
Fat German Shepherd puppies are atypical.  Do you mind if I recycle an answer to a similar question?  They were looking for something to fatten up their puppy.

''I am afraid what Shepherd puppies love most is showing off their ribs.  ''Note, German Shepherd puppies typically will look very thin throughout puppy hood.''  The quote is from the Puppy Raising Manual from a large dog guide school.  Although they use a number of breeds, that is the only breed specific statement in the whole book.  They feed only dry and switch all their puppies to adult chow at 4-5 months.  That slows growth allowing more time to develop the sturdy joints an active dog needs.  If your dog is doing well on the Authority an you feel good about it, I would start working in the adult version of it when you run low.  Feeding a number of different protein sources when young makes it harder to work around it, if a dog ever develops food allergies later in life.''

Dogs don't read breed descriptions or my answers.  Your Shepherd could be the exception that is stressing its joints  by eating too much.  My friends raised a Shepherd that ate like a Lab.  Evaluate it using http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx  Cut back a little if she is overweight.  Also, if you are still feeding a puppy chow, switch to the adult version as discussed above.  I have seen nothing convincing on dogs doing better on one brand of dog food over another.  Likely she will do fine if you continue with the adult version.