When Is a Dog Full Grown? (All Growth Phases)
- Claudia Weise
- Updated: 2024-02-16
Have you ever wondered? When will my dog be fully grown? How long does it take and what do I need to watch out for? Then you've come to the right place, because I'm going to show you everything you need to know about this topic.
Your dog's primary growth period is between the third and seventh months of life. This is a critical time for your dog's development. Proper nutrition from an early age is essential for optimal growth.
Size Difference With Growth
There are four different size and weight classes of dogs:
- Small
- Medium size
- Large
- Very large
There is a correlation between breed size and growth. Small breeds are born significantly heavier for their final weight than large breeds.
While small dogs increase their weight by a factor of twenty-five during the growth phase, large dogs can gain up to a hundred times as much.
The growth period also varies with size. For small dogs it is ten months, for very large dogs it is two years. The final size of a dog is genetically determined. Therefore, it is not possible to influence the final size of a dog by overfeeding.
You can speed up the growth rate, but not the end result. It's also not healthy for your dog. As a dog owner, you should make sure that your dog is growing at a healthy rate. Healthy growth means relatively slow growth.
How Long Does It Take a Dog to Grow?
A dog's period of growth is fascinating and an important aspect of its development. However, the length of the growth period can vary depending on the breed, size and health of the dog.
- Small breeds: Smaller breeds, such as Chihuahuas or Yorkshire Terriers, tend to grow faster and are often fully grown by 6-8 months of age.
- Medium-sized breeds: Medium-sized breeds such as Beagles or Cocker Spaniels usually take up to 12 months to reach adulthood.
- Large breeds: Large breeds such as Labrador Retrievers or German Shepherds can take up to 18 months or more to reach full size.
- Huge breeds: For large breeds such as the Great Dane or St. Bernard, growth can take up to 24 months or more.
A dog is considered a puppy from birth until it reaches sexual maturity, which can vary depending on the breed and size of the dog. This is a critical time in your dog's development and learning.
Although most dogs reach their maximum size between 1 and 2 years of age, their body proportions and muscle mass can change up to 3 years of age. In large breeds, this process may take even longer.
Growth Period
Since dogs generally have a growth period of one year, special attention must be paid to rearing and feeding.
The most rapid weight gain occurs between the third and sixth months of life. This is when your dog's body is under the most stress. Careful nutrition and husbandry are especially important during this time.
The development of body weight can be roughly measured as follows: For small breeds, approximately 70% of the final weight or size will be reached at six months, and slightly less for very large breeds. This is usually a good indicator of whether your pet's growth is progressing optimally.
The Growth Phases
However, the stages of growth are the same for all breeds. Each puppy goes through the following seven stages of development after birth:
Week 1 to 2: The Neonatal Phase
While the sense of smell is well developed, the eyes and external auditory canals are still closed for the first two weeks after birth. Despite this, the puppies have no problem finding the teats.
His mother's warmth and sense of smell help him do this. It sleeps and drinks its mother's milk most of the day. It cannot yet regulate its own body temperature, so it must be kept warm at all times.
Week 3: The Transition Phase
Eyes and ears are no longer closed, so your puppy can see and hear. He begins to move and become aware of his surroundings. He is also aware of his siblings. He begins to teethe.
Week 4 to 7: The Imprinting Phase
Your puppy is becoming increasingly curious. He is becoming more interested in his surroundings. At this stage you can already see his future temperament. You should not leave your puppy alone, as contact with people and littermates is very important.
Week 8 to 12: The Socialization Phase
This phase will shape your dog's future social behavior. It is important that he gets to know his environment well without being overwhelmed. Dealing with the unknown is an important part of his development. Your puppy's self-confidence is an important part of the harmony between you and your pet.
Month 3 to 6: The Ranking and Packing Order Phase
Your four-legged friend must now fit into your "pack". You need to show him boundaries. Your dog can only learn the hierarchy and find his place by following clear and understandable rules. You should treat your new family member lovingly, but also consistently.
Month 7 to 12: The Pubertal Phase
Dogs also go through a "rutting" phase. During this phase, a female dog goes into heat for the first time and a male dog feels the urge to reproduce.
Your dog will try to test his limits. You will feel that he is forgetting what he has learned. Your patience will be needed during this time. It is important that you are caring but consistent with your pet.
Month 12 to 30: The Maturity Phase
The final stage is the transition from puppy to adult dog. Growth is complete, but remember that your dog never stops learning.
A close bond is especially important at this stage to build trust between you. Keep your dog busy and stimulated - both physically and mentally.
What Do You Need to Keep in Mind During the Growth Phase?
In the beginning, of course, your pet's medical care is the first priority. This starts with the first vaccinations and is your responsibility. Your trusted veterinarian can give you the best advice.
Nutrition is essential for optimal growth. In order for your puppy to thrive, there are certain nutritional requirements that you need to consider.
The mother's instinct naturally ensures that the puppies get the right amount of food. The composition is also optimized by the mother. Unfortunately, due to the early weaning of puppies, the responsibility lies first with the breeder and then with you.
Here Are Three Things to Keep In Mind When Feeding
1. Weigh the Correct Amount of Feed!
Although the recommended feeding amounts are listed on the food package, the correct amount may vary from dog to dog. You should weigh the amount before feeding. This is the only way to avoid overfeeding. Remember that it is better to feed a little less.
This will help keep your puppy from growing too fast. If you want to give your puppy treats in addition to the normal food ration, you must include them in the daily food ration.
If your puppy is a large or very large breed, you can use the breed's growth curve as a guide. This will help you control daily weight gain.
2. Avoid Over- And Undersupply!
If you feed your puppy commercial food, buy a special puppy food. It already has the right nutrient content. There is no need for additives. Calcium is also provided in the right proportions.
If you prefer BARF, ask a specialist about the ingredients. Also ask about the amount of food per month. It is important to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding during the growth period. Two common mistakes are made during the growth phase:
- Overfeeding
- Too high calcium intake
Too rapid growth between the third and sixth months of life leads to growth-related skeletal disorders. Because the circulatory system and muscles cannot keep up with skeletal development, an imbalance occurs.
In the next two to four months, the first sequelae begin to appear. This may include misalignment of the front legs, lameness or joint restrictions.
3. Make Sure You Get the Right Amount of Calcium!
Excessive calcium intake leads to bone and cartilage remodeling disorders, i.e., bone and cartilage thickening. The undersupply of the thickened tissue leads to the detachment of cartilage fragments, known as osteochondrosis.
The body regulates calcium absorption through vitamin D. However, this does not occur until after the fifth month of life. A high calcium intake (e.g., bone meal) before this month results in unlimited absorption.
The Right Movement
In addition to nutrition, exercise is important during the growth phase. Joints and muscles develop through optimal movement and age-appropriate loads.
Look for the right activities for each stage of development. Walks and games should be adapted to each stage. Your puppy is usually unable to rest on his own because he overestimates his endurance. You will need to provide rest breaks.
Your puppy should learn to climb stairs under supervision at an early age. This is especially true if you live in an apartment. For many puppies, climbing stairs is a challenge and a lot of anxiety at first. Don't force your puppy. Encourage him with a treat or loving words.
Make sure he doesn't jump up or down several steps at once. You should also make sure that he doesn't have to go up and down too many stairs while he's developing. Stairs should also be non-slip.
The Adult Dog
The best way to monitor your dog's growth is to measure and weigh him weekly. Once his size stops changing too much, growth will gradually stop. Depending on the size of the breed, you can expect this to happen after ten months.
Body weight is also important for adult dogs. Until 18 months of age, your dog's weight should always be at the lower limit. When he is fully grown, he should not become overweight.
The best way to tell is to check the ribs. If you can feel them well, your dog is not overweight. Keep your dog's weight stable and weigh him regularly, even as an adult.
How Big Will My Dog Be?
When you bring a puppy home, one of the first questions you'll probably ask yourself is, "How big will my dog be? Determining a dog's final size can be a challenge, especially with mixed breeds, but there are some clues that can give you an idea.
Race as the Main Indicator
Breed is the clearest indication of a dog's expected size. Purebred breeds tend to be fairly uniform in size, as determined by breeders and breed standards.
- Small breeds such as Chihuahuas or Dachshunds often weigh no more than 5-10 kg.
- Medium-sized breeds such as Beagles or Border Collies usually weigh between 10 and 25 kg.
- Large breeds such as Labrador Retrievers or German Shepherds can reach 25-40 kg.
- Huge breeds such as St. Bernards or Mastiffs can weigh over 40 kg, sometimes even 70 kg and more.
View Parents
For purebred puppies, the size of the parents gives a good indication of the future size. With mixed breeds, it can be more difficult, but if you have information on both parents, this can be a clue.
Paws, Ears and Growth
- Paws: Large paws often indicate that the puppy will grow to a considerable size.
- Ears: If the ears appear large in relation to the head, this may also be an indication of future growth.
- Growth pattern: Dogs grow most rapidly in the first six months of life. Most dogs reach their full size by about 12 months of age, but they can grow to 18-24 months or more, especially in larger breeds.
DNA test
If you have a mixed breed dog and are curious about its potential size, a DNA test can be informative. Such a test can provide information not only about the breeds in your dog's ancestry, but also an estimate of the dog's expected size.
Nutrition and Health
Although genetics have the greatest influence on your dog's size, nutrition and health also play a role. A balanced, growth-appropriate diet and regular veterinary checkups will help your dog reach its genetic size potential.
While it's fun to speculate and make predictions about your puppy's future size, the most important thing is that he grows up healthy and happy.
Give him lots of love, good food and care, and enjoy every moment of his journey to adulthood.
Conclusion
The responsibility for a healthy life for your dog ultimately lies with you. Growing up will determine the rest of your pet's life. So make sure you provide the right nutrition, exercise and training early on. This is the only way to raise a physically and mentally fit dog.
I'm editor-in-chief at Hundeo and when it comes to dogs, my heart beats faster. My goal is to publish the best dog guides on the web. There is a lot of passion in every article and I welcome any feedback to constantly improve our content.
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Hello, thanks for the info very well explained
Hello!
My dachshund is already 18.5 months old and still growing!!!
I have known him since he was 2 weeks old and he was not the biggest in the litter.
His mother weighs about half and his father is even smaller, though his grandmother is much taller than her daughter.
He is my 1st little dog & I am very insecure v. a. because he grows even for me visibly, although I have him around me all the time.
According to the owner of his mother and grandmother, this has never happened to any of their litters, including other dachshunds.
I am very grateful for knowledge and experience!
Hello Robin, small breeds are usually full grown in about 12 months. Whether it is a disposition or a health problem with your dachshund, we can unfortunately not judge. It is best to ask your vet for advice.
This is the size inheritance.
Hello, does anyone know how big hybrids grow and when they grow?
Hi. How big mixed breeds grow and how long they grow depends a lot on the crossbreed. So it would always be good to know what breeds are in it. It would also be interesting to know if it is a small or large breed. Maybe you also know the parents to be able to estimate this better?
How big does a dwarf spitz grow.
Dear Marika, according to AKC a dwarf spitz grows between 15 to 18cm.
Hello, my collie dog is 13 months old and weighs 18.6 kilograms. Is this already too much? She was also hot the first time at 7 months and now again after 6 months. Because of the weight I am unsure. I don't know if this is ok.
Dear Lydia, judging from your description, there is nothing to worry about with your collie dog. At 13 months, she has completed most of her physical growth. A weight of 18.6 kg is within a healthy range for Collies. Depending on how big she is, there may even be some room to go up.
You don't have to worry about the heat either. Most bitches come into heat for the first time between 6 and 12 months and from then on twice a year. Here your bitch is also in the perfectly normal range.
Hello, my dogo canario/American Bulldog will be 12 months old on 12/24, she weighs just under 30 Kg, she could be a little wider though. Is she done growing or is she still growing a bit in width?
LG Christin
Dear Christin, large breeds usually complete their growth between 20 to 24 months of age. Your vet can certainly make a more accurate estimate for your mixed breed bitch.
How do you define medium and large breeds, what are the classifications (in cm SH or/and KG)? Does a mixed breed (Austraian Shepherd-Spanish Water Dog mix) with 58cm and 24kg already count as "large"?
Hi Rosi, as a rough guideline you can say that dogs weighing up to 15 kg belong to the small breed, 15 to 45 kg body weight to the medium breed and more than 45 kg body weight to the large breed.