When will my puppy finish growing?
It is natural to be curious about your puppy’s growth. This will help you decide when it is time to change their diet, buy new collars and pamper them with new beds and toys. It is also good to be aware of when your pet is likely to reach sexual maturity for you to take the right measures.
The rate at which your puppy grows is largely determined by their breed. Small, large and giant dogs grow at different rates and knowing this will help you understand what you can expect as they grow into young adults.
Small breeds
Small breeds like the Chihuahua and Maltese grow faster than large breeds. They also become sexually and emotionally mature earlier than their larger counterparts. With good nutrition your small breed will finish growing by 8 to 12 months of age. At this stage, the puppy fur will be shed paving way for the adult coat. They will also reach their ideal height and weight.
Medium breeds
Just like small breeds, medium breeds like the Cocker Spaniel and Bulldogs finish growing by 8 to 12 months of age. As your pup has quite a lot of growing to do before they turn into adults you must ensure you fulfil all their nutritional requirements by giving them a balanced diet along with taking them to the vet for regular visits. Some breeds may finish growing by 8 months and some may keep growing till about a year. Your vet or a breeder may help you figure out things to expect from your particular breed.
Large breeds
Large breeds like the Labrador and Golden Retriever have a lot of growing up to do when compared to small and medium breeds. They finish growing by 10 to 16 months of age. At this stage they will reach their potential height and weight. Some breeds can also keep growing even past 16 months of age. You need to give special attention to your pet’s diet and ensure they eat a well-balanced meal. Growing too quickly can cause health problems to your pet. So, make sure your pet is fed the right portion and good quality of food. Your vet will help you schedule a healthy diet plan for your pet.
Giant breeds
Giant breeds like the Great Dane and Mastiff have an awful lot of growing up to do. Just like large breeds the giant breeds need to be on a specially formulated diet to help them slowly and healthily grow from a puppy to an adult in order to prevent excessive growth that can pose serious heath problems.
Giant breeds finish growing by 10 to 16 months of age. Certain breeds can grow up to 18 months of age or even longer to reach their ideal height and weight. A vet is an ideal person to help you understand about your pet’s growth and nutritional requirement at every stage.
Just like babies, puppies take time to grow physically and mentally. With a highly nutritional diet, exercise and good care your puppy will grow into a healthy adult dog. It is all a matter of time.
