How Big Will My Puppy Get? You’ll Be Surprised With The Facts Behind Your Puppy’s Growth Chart
Every pet owner at one point or the other looks at their cute little fur ball and wonder how big they'll get. We'd all want to keep them cute and little for as long as possible but growth is actually good for any creature. You'd better enjoy their playful nature and innocent puppy eyes stares for now.
They won't always fit in the palm of your hands or purse forever. There will come a time when the furry little guy will be too heavy to even sit on your lap.
Did you know that dogs are the only animals in the planet that come in a wide variety of appearances and sizes? It's true. All other animals, including humans have an estimated weight and size depending on their age and gender. Dogs on the other hand come in a variety of breeds which makes them special little pets.
The growth spurt of your puppy will be determined by its breed. Some pups only grow a few inches in height, weight and length for instance a chihuahua while others grow to large sizes for instance the great Dane. However, you can keep track of your little playful family member depending on its breed.
1. The Growth Spurt Stage
There is a general guideline that will help you imagine how big or puffy your puppy will get.
Just like humans, puppies experience noticeable growth especially for the first few weeks after birth then experience a stagnation thereafter. For tiny dog breeds, your little adding to the family will continue growing after birth right until 11 weeks.
For medium dog breeds, your pup will continue growing from birth to 16 weeks. Finally, large to giant dog breeds experience a growth spurt from birth up until 5 months. It is at this point that you will notice your little friend filling up, stabilizing their walks, exploring and becoming social and most importantly, growing in height.
2. The Stagnation Stage
You will notice your puppy slowing down on growth at a certain age. This is commonly known as the stagnation stage. The growth will significantly slow down when they get to 4-6 months of age especially in medium to large dog breeds. This is when they attain 65% of their adult height.
Do not be alarmed when your little furry friend doesn't grow as fast or as big as your neighbor's dog does. Remember, they are unique and each grows according to its breed.
Only a vet can determine whether your dog is growing up well or not. In case there is a problem, they are in a better position to recommend meal plans and suitable supplements. So, hold your horses if you are considering putting your pup on a special diet.
Studies show that small to medium dog breed puppies can reach up to 99% of their adult weight between 9-10 months of age. On the other hand, a large breed puppy may take longer to mature. They finally get to this stage of their lives when they are 12 to 18 months of age.
If your pup belongs to mighty dog breeds such as mastiffs, Great Danes, rottweilers, you will experience steady growth spurts up until they are two or even three years. This is necessary for them to achieve their large sizes. Just like any other mighty creature, your puppy will require more time to grow to attain its adult size.
Did you know that a puppy attains his full height long before he attains his full weight? Now you know. These furry little companions have a lot of surprises to them than they can even fathom. Normally, at 4 months, most dogs will have achieved 60% of their adult height but only 30% of their adult weight.
Your pup will lose their cute chubby appeal and acquire a weird look due to this height to weight ratio. This is especially so for large and giant breeds.
3. Is There a Way to Know for Sure How Big Puppy Will Get?
Although there are various estimates on puppy growth spurts, none can put a finger on exactly how your puppy will grow in height and weight. However, you can use the guidelines to have a rough idea on whether your puppy is on the right track where growth is concerned or not.
These charts will help you understand just how big your pet will roughly grow to depending on its breed.
Facts on a Puppy's Growth Spurt
- Your chubby little companion should have doubled its birth weight. If feeding well without any illnesses or birth defects, your puppy will then record 5%-10% daily increase.
- At 6 weeks and above, your pup will record 5oz weight gain weekly if they belong to a small dog breed. A large dog breed will record 2.5lbs growth in a week.
- Puppies who belong in medium to large dog breeds will have doubled their weight at 14 weeks. If your pup weighs 15 lbs at 14 weeks, its total adult weight will be 37.5lbs.
- For medium to large dog breeds, your puppy will may 2/3 of his adult weight at 6 months old. At this age, giant breed puppies will be approximately half their adult weight.
- If you want to get a close proximate to what your tiny breed puppy will weigh at adulthood, simply double their weight at 6 weeks then double it again to get the final figure.
This figures and estimates apply for specific breeds of puppies. If yours is a cross breed or you are not sure about this, you can have a DNA testing done to it. These kits are available online and can be used at home. Simply take a cheek swab and send it to laboratory and wait for the results. This will take approximately 2-3 weeks.
An additional benefit to this test is that you can find out hereditary health issues that your pup is susceptible to and take action early enough. With proper nutrition, your dog should be able to grow well without any challenges.
If you are concerned about its growth, seek medical advise as there may be an underlying health issue. Just like a baby, your puppy may encounter discomforts and aches during specific growth stages for instance teething. Invest in toys to ease their discomfort as you would a baby.
