Puppy Pet Care

We often ask when our puppies will be fully grown in the hopes of estimating when our beloved puppies have reached the summit of their growth ceiling [for lack of a better term]. In general, smaller breeds tend to reach their growth apex after a year while the larger varieties climax after their second year post-birth. It does vary from breed to breed, and from puppy to puppy. Herding dogs and Border Collies actually commence grown-up behavior when they turn two while Catahoulas reach maturity at approximately three years old.

Other indicators breed and size of parents, paw size, loose skin, stopping of height increase and the “double-it formula”. One cannot expect 200-pound poodles from two Standard poodle parents. If you want to have an approximation of the adult size of your puppy, check the parents’ size. The bitch’s size is a better marker than the sires. Bigger paws also indicate a larger height increase and a heavier weight in the future. Possessing loose skin is also a great gauge since this means that the puppy will have more space in the new suit to fill up. It is said that a pup grows up to 75% of its height at 6 months. Lastly, some sources say that the adult weight can be estimated by doubling the weight of the puppy at 14 weeks.

Some pet owners get disillusioned when their puppies exhibit signs of maturing because they wish their puppies could retain the cuddly appearance while losing the fascination for chewing furniture and shoes. As a pet owner, one has to be prepared to accommodate a more spacious facility to romp and exercise in when a puppy is full grown. One also has to make a mental note that not all puppies will exhibit mature behavior even if the growth curve of the puppy maxes out.

Maybe, one is desperately hoping that one’s puppy will finally mature and shed off the excessive energy that is a remnant of the puppy’s childhood exuberance. Perhaps, one merely wants to know when to buy a wardrobe-full of snazzy threads for one’s favorite pet. Whatever your reason is, there are 5 reliable sources.

Your family veterinarian

With questions like “How can I get rid of parasites from my dog?” or “When can I have my bitch spayed?”, the most trusted source of information will be your local vet. If your vet can’t answer the query “When is a puppy full grown?”, I hope you consider switching to a more knowledgeable vet. These professionals have years of training with different kinds of animals. They should be able to give you a definite answer or show you a puppy growth chart.

Printed media

Books and magazines about dogs abound in your local bookstores so picking up a copy or two will probably give you practical tips to know when a puppy is full grown.

Animal breeders

Animal breeders, most likely, have had plenty of previous experiences of raising puppies so they would know when the growth peaks or possible growth patterns.

Your animal shelter counselors

Consult your animal shelter volunteers as they might have a puppy growth chart available in the office or can probably offer pamphlets or useful links in the World Wide Web.

The Internet

A quick Google or Yahoo search will yield successful results of puppy growth charts specific to the breed you own. Print the charts and have a grand time determining whether your puppy is gaining his optimal growth level.

All these sources cannot give you an accurate reading of your pet’s development. The point is, every pet owner should enjoy the puppy’s development as it unfolds before one’s eyes. After all, a human parent’s greatest joy is to see his baby transform into a dignified, mature individual. In a similar manner, pet owners who understand the rambunctious behavior displayed by their puppies will appreciate a certain degree of restraint from their puppies.

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Sure, you committed yourself to the whole task of researching every bit of info about raising puppies well. You may have tapped the resources in the Internet or you may have asked the local vet for any useful tips. Job well done! One of the most important things you should know as a responsible pet owner is the average puppy growth rate. Just as every human baby grows on a different rate from other babies, every puppy develops on a rate unique to its breed.

As a general rule, larger dog breeds normally require a longer time to fully grow to maturity and toy breeds tend to have a faster puppy growth rate. Here is a list of five benefits you gain when one is aware of the appropriate puppy growth rate:

1.You can make an accurate feeding guide.

Knowing the puppy growth rate specific to your dog’s breed is vital since it will determine the amount of dog food that you need to prepare on a daily basis. The more activities your puppy does everyday, the more complex his energy requirement is. And you certainly wouldn’t want your puppy to starve to death nor would it be a healthy condition for him to be overweight. For instance, the first week of your puppy will prove to be a relatively easy time to manage since puppies normally sleep 90% of the time and search for their mommy’s milk 10% for feeding. However, expect to feed your puppy four times a day during weeks 7-12.

2. You can expect what size of crate to buy for your puppy.

One of the first things you would want to buy for your pooch is his crate. Consider this your mobile dog house that you can tote around when traveling or moving to a different location in the house. Aside from being the metal vanguard preventing dogs from ruining your favorite sofa, this handy invention can keep your puppy from getting near hazardous household items. Given the extreme benefits of buying a crate, it is advisable that one anticipate how big your puppy can get before you race to the pet supply store. And for this, one needs to know the puppy growth rate of Man’s furry best friend!

3. You will know what behavior to expect from your cute li’l puppy.

Yes, we all know that the little bundle of joy that you may have brought home from the pet store or you adopted from the animal shelter may be the current love of the family but when he wrecks half of the den furniture and chews on your sister’s most cherished shoe collection, you might change your mind and send the furry monster to the nearby pound. To prevent this from happening, you might want to check the various stages of development of puppies.

4. You’ll know when your puppy is safe to be neutered or spayed

As early as four months, your puppy may undergo neutering or spaying. One will never regret this decision if your intention for acquiring the puppy is to form a tight bond with your family. Spaying or neutering will prevent him/her from going after the neighborhood bitch or male.

5. You’ll know when to start disciplining your puppy or even better, send him/her off to puppy obedience school.

Puppies are dependent on their mothers for the first two weeks of their existence. Once your puppy turns 8 months old, it’s safe to send him off to obedience school or start house training.

Having knowledge of your puppy’s growth rate will enable you to tailor-fit a feeding guide, anticipate the crate size to buy, send him/her off for a neutering or spaying procedure, predict the behavior of your puppy through various stages of development and foresee when to discipline your puppy. With this in mind, your cute puppy will thank you for taking the time to Google his/her growth rate.

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