When Do Pups Stop Growing?

Your clumsy little ball of fur may seem like he'll stay a baby forever, but one day he will be a noble and coordinated full-grown adult. The timing depends on many factors, including breed and size, nutrition, and individual differences.

  1. Breed Specifics

    • Different breeds grow at different rates. Generally, smaller breeds mature more quickly than larger dogs. Ten-pound poodles can reach adulthood adult within a year, whereas 100-pound mastiffs, Saint Bernards or Newfoundlands might take two years. Breeds in between -- for example, 60-pound golden retrievers -- may get there in a year and a half. Even when technically adults, young dogs often need additional time to reach their best adult weight. This can range from a few months for smaller dogs to over a year for giant breeds.

    Nutrition and Exercise

    • Puppies need extra nutrition to support growth. If a pup doesn't get adequate nutrition, his body can't keep up with growth demands, so nutritional status can influence growth rates. Exercise can, too. Puppies are naturally active, but they shouldn't be pushed. Their bones are still hardening, and high-impact exercises can damage these young bones' growth plates, causing them to stop growing or become crooked. For high-impact exercise, dogs should be 9 months to 14 months old, depending on breed.

    Gauging Growth Through Appearance & Appetite

    • Sometimes it's hard to tell when your puppy is genuinely full-grown. One method of gauging growth is to look at the paws. Bigger breeds have bigger paws, even as babies. As time goes on, the rest of the body comes in line with the paws. Also, pups go through growth spurts. In such cases, they may be extra hungry and sleep more. This be a signal an upcoming growth spurt and the possibility that they're still growing.

    Gauging Growth Through Behavior

    • Puppies are highly active, playful, silly and generally childlike. If you examine what adult dogs of your puppy's breed act like and compare that standard with your dog's behavior, you may get a sense of whether he's full-grown. This is not a concrete test, as every dog is different and adult dogs should continue to be playful, active and kidlike. But this test can act as a rough gauge. Other puppyhood behaviors include heavy exploring, chewing and nipping, especially while teething.