Until what age is a dog considered young? Until what age do dogs grow, physiological development

Mary K.

At what age does a dog stop growing?

The appearance of a pretty and funny puppy in the house is not only a joy, but also a great responsibility. One of the topical issues of interest to owners is the question: “Up to what age do dogs grow?”. If the dog is thoroughbred, then it is enough to study the characteristics of the exterior. And if you brought it from the street and it is not known who it is - a thoroughbred dog or a "hereditary nobleman"? It remains only to guess what the baby will grow up to be.

Stages of dog development

Each owner must know the correct rate of development, the duration of the growth of a four-legged pet, as well as the change in proportions for each period of time.

The main stages of dog development include:

Embryonic. The fetus is in the womb, but it is in this phase that the foundations of the health of the future puppy and other characteristics are laid. To avoid problems in the future, cynologists recommend choosing a puppy from healthy parents, with a good pedigree. This stage is characterized by rapid growth: an embryo weighing a few grams turns into a puppy, whose weight increases hundreds of times and reaches 600 grams.

Suction. It continues from the moment the puppy is born until it reaches 1.5 months of age. Newborns are kept by the breeder, whose responsibility is to monitor the correct development of the babies.

Puppies (1.5-6 months). Puppies that are in the stage of active growth and change of teeth are given to their owners. Now it is no longer the breeder, but the owner is responsible for the development of the baby.

Young growth (6-12 months). During this period, the further development of the dog takes place, the intensity of which is influenced by the characteristics of the breed. Development can slow down, and then gain momentum.

Young individuals (1-2.5 years). Muscle building continues, growth stops.

Adult dog (2.5-7 years old). The animal is already fully formed, all its potentialities are revealed.

Old dog (7-12 years old). Significant changes take place at this age. Activity decreases, hearing and vision impairments occur, chronic diseases become aggravated.

When the dog reaches old age, the owner must be patient and understanding and constantly be in touch with the veterinarian.

What factors influence the development of a dog

The growth of the dog is due to the increase in the bones of the skeleton. It should be noted that everything depends on the breed. Representatives of ornamental breeds grow with a noticeable lag, unlike their large relatives, and the development process stops earlier.

Large dogs continue to grow after 1 year, but not as fast. However, this trend is relative.

For example, a Rottweiler grows up to a year, a Caucasian Shepherd also up to 12 months, but in the future their muscles continue to gain strength, and a German Shepherd is formed only by 2 years.

As for the smaller dogs, the pug and toy terrier gain weight by 9 months, and the chihuahua by 7 months. The dachshund stops growing at 8 months, but the formation cannot be called final, as it subsequently increases in width.

In addition to breed characteristics, other factors influence the growth and development of a dog, such as housing conditions, diet, training methods, animal activity, heredity and health status. If it seems to the owner that the puppy is lagging behind in development, then you should not panic ahead of time, perhaps the baby will still catch up. However, reasonable suspicions already serve as a reason for contacting a veterinary clinic.

The question of how old the toy terrier grows up worries the owners of miniature breed puppies. Since the period of growth and formation of a pet is accompanied by many problems. Experienced dog owners knowing perfectly well how old the toy terrier grows, maximally support the body of the dog during this period.

When that terrier stops growing.

Dogs that belong to small breeds grow very quickly. Rapid development in growth ends from five to nine months. A more precise definition depends on the breed and personality of each individual.
Basically, active growth and development of puppies occurs up to six months. Dogs of large breeds continue to grow and develop even after a year, the growth rate, however, is much lower.

The health of the future puppy is laid even inside the womb. For the growth and development of the baby after birth, the responsibility lies with the breeders. So, the baby should be taken from healthy parents of this breed and a responsible breeder.

The first six months of the life of a four-legged friend are characterized not only by an increase in height, weight, but also by a change of teeth. At the same time, tubular bones grow and finally form, the correct development of which affects the proportions of the animal's body.

After six months, the growth of the toy begins to slow down, and the weight is still gaining. The period up to a year is characterized by intensive development of the chest, since there is an active growth of flat bones.

How many months do mini toy terriers grow?

You will be surprised how long it takes for toy terriers to grow, including mini toy terriers. The accelerated growth of a miniature dog stops at four to five months. It is worth noting that when the puppy grows, his brain activity also develops actively. A four-month-old puppy of that terrier is not inferior in mental development to an adult.

We will immediately make a reservation that these data are averaged, since the growth and formation of the animal is significantly influenced by the diet of the dog, the conditions in which it is kept, caring for it, training and education. Proper nutrition during the period of growing up and the formation of the body should be given special attention and ensure that both proteins and vitamins are present in the food. Excessive loads during training or, on the contrary, a sedentary lifestyle of that terrier contribute to the destruction of the bone tissue that has not yet fully formed, which in the future will lead to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Complete nutrition of a puppy does not mean overfeeding. Otherwise, in addition to being overweight, you will reward the growing dog with diseases of the joints and bone tissues.

But first of all, normal development, including growth, is possible only in the absence of genetic predispositions to diseases.

When is a toy terrier considered an adult?

Like any other dog, the toy terrier becomes an adult when it stops growing, that is, the growth period ends. For a decorative dog, the adult state occurs from six months to a year. And there are certain reasons for such a run-up in time. Final adulthood will occur when the dog:

complete replacement of milk teeth with permanent ones.
high muscle tone will prevail. The physical activity of the dog allows you to grow, form and develop muscles, preventing fat from being deposited.
neat silky coat, not baby fur.
clear cornea, no discharge.

Focus on growth, thinking that the pet is already an adult is not worth it. Since, for toy terriers, even the standard provides for fluctuations in height at the withers - from twenty to twenty-eight centimeters.

The weight of a small family pet can be, like one and a half kilograms (mini that terrier) and up to three kilograms. Girls, as you know, are a little smaller, boys are larger. The difference in weight is about five hundred grams.
The standard provides for the average weight of an adult toy - up to 3 kg, mini toy - from 1.5 kg to 1.8 kg.

A standard three-kilogram mother can bring puppies, one of which will be much smaller than their counterparts. And vice versa, a small dog is able to reproduce the real Hercules among the toys.

If you are interested in the prevailing belief about the ratio of canine and human age, then we will give you the following example:

a six-month-old puppy is similar in development to a child of ten years.
a one-year-old dog is already a fifteen-year-old teenager.
a three-year-old dog reaches its peak, as does a thirty-year-old man.
a dog's age of ten years corresponds to the time a person retires.
in order to live to see the centenary of the human anniversary, the dog must be about twenty years old.

Whether you accept this belief or not is up to you. The main thing is to clearly understand that both a small puppy and an adult animal require proper care that meets the needs of the pet, and the provision of the necessary procedures that improve the quality of life and maintain the health of the pet.

When a puppy appears at home, many owners have questions about what size and weight it will reach. Some are interested in how old dogs grow - that is, when the active period of growth ends and muscle mass finishes forming. For most breeds, there are several norms that can guide you in answering these questions.

It is absolutely not necessary to control the height and weight of a four-legged pet if it is purchased from a reliable breeder. Having received a puppy of a certain breed, you can check what an adult dog will be like by looking at the parents, and get acquainted with the stages of growth by reading the relevant literature.

Answers to questions about the development of a puppy are much more interested in owners of animals received for free or even picked up on the street. Although it is quite difficult to answer exactly how old mongrel dogs grow and, moreover, how they will look in a few months or years. Equally important are these answers for owners who see that the growth rate of the pet does not quite meet their expectations.

To control the development of a puppy, and then a young dog, it is recommended to periodically weigh it using conventional scales and measure it using a tape measure or centimeter. Until the puppy is 2 months old, measurements are performed every 5 days, up to six months - every decade, and then monthly. The height of the dog at the withers in a standing position, the girth of the metacarpus (carpal joint) and chest are measured. Elbow height measurements can also be taken.

Puppies Growth Stages

The pace of development of a dog at the initial stage of its life is subject to certain patterns that are not related to the breed. Moreover, the beginning of growth is usually considered the period when the puppy is still an embryo, while in the mother's womb. At this time, the formation of the body of the animal takes place, which is why it is worth taking it only from a responsible breeder who monitors the health of pregnant females.

The second stage is the life time from the birth of a puppy to 1.5 months. This period is called sucking and is the same for any breed. This period is the same and lasts up to six months. During this time, the dog's molars appear, the height at the withers approximately doubles, and the weight triples. Up to 6 months, puppies also grow ears, which by the end of the period receive the same shape as in an adult dog.

Young growth

In the period from 6 to 12 months, the dog is no longer called a puppy, but a young animal. It continues to grow - although not always until the very end of the term. Most small breeds complete their growth by eight or nine months; large dogs take up to a year to grow. It is also easy to find out to what age dogs of medium breeds (spaniels, bulldogs, bassets, huskies and chow chows) grow. Usually their growth stops by 9 or 10 months.

During these six months, in all breeds, the sternum develops most noticeably. However, growth is no longer as intense as in the previous stage. But the exterior changes noticeably - by the age of one year, the pet looks almost the same as it will be throughout its life.

Development of a young dog

The next stage, when a pet can be called a young dog, continues for most breeds until the age of 16 months. In small breeds, it ends earlier - even before the year. The period can be characterized by an active increase in body weight or size, and a complete stop of development. Much depends on the following factors:

from health in the early stages - active puppies grow faster and may mature earlier than their sisters and brothers from the same litter;
the quality of the dog's nutrition - a responsible attitude to the pet's diet will allow him to develop longer and become larger - although not by much;
from the sex of the animal. Females tend to be smaller in size and weight.

Size difference between male and female

The last stage of development is considered to be a period from a year to 2-3 years. At this time, small pets have long stopped growing, but large dogs can gain muscle mass. Thus, the answer to the question of how old dogs grow to become fully adults depends on the breed. The smaller the dog, the earlier it matures. But even a representative of the largest breed - for example, a Newfoundland or a St. Bernard - may well be considered an adult by the age of three.

Specific breeds

Looking in more detail at what age small breed dogs grow, it is worth noting the following facts:

Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier growth ends by 8 months, then there is only an increase in mass;
a toy terrier can mature even faster - by six months. Since that time, neither height nor mass has changed in them;
Pug sizes vary in different ways - some young dogs of this breed may stop growing at 6-7 months, others continue to develop until nine;
the growth of the female Pekingese ends by 8–9 months, the male - by the year;
dachshunds grow in length until the age of eight months, after which they increase only in width.

Large and muscular dogs like the Rottweiler grow to their normal size by 12 months, and the muscles can increase up to 2 years. Sheepdogs, St. Bernards and Labrador Retrievers grow faster up to a year, and at the final stage - almost imperceptibly. They can be called fully formed by 2.5–3 years.

Immediately after the birth of a puppy, the most important period begins - the increased growth of the body. This is not only weight gain, but also the general development of all organs. When does this period end?

Until what age do Chihuahuas, Shepherds and other breeds grow? About this and much more in a detailed review below.

It is very important for any dog owner to know the correct rate and duration of growth of the pet, as well as how the proportions change in each individual time period.

Until what age is a dog considered a puppy? Here the main stages of development of dogs:

embryonic(while the embryo is in the womb);
suckling(begins immediately after birth and lasts approximately 30-45 days);
puppies(from one and a half months to six months);
young growth(from six months to a year);
juveniles(from one to two and a half years).

Attention! The most important foundations are laid during the prenatal period and during feeding.

At this time, the greatest acceleration of growth occurs. For example, the weight of an embryo on the fortieth day of the mother can be about a few grams, while a puppy already appears with a weight of 300 g. up to 600g. In total, we have an increase in weight literally hundreds of times.

After birth, in a month, the cub increases its weight by about five to six times.

At this age, the puppy already has all the typical features of its breed, appearance, proportionality of the skull, auricles, coat color, as well as bright constitutional features inherent in the breed.

Males and females also differ in appearance. When the puppy reaches one month, the baby is weaned from mother's milk.

After three months, the growth rate slows down, although it remains at a fairly high level. And upon reaching the age of 6 months, the pet can no longer be considered a puppy, but transferred to the conditional category “young animals”.

Up to what age do dogs grow?

We can say that the tubular bones are finishing their growth, also significantly slows down the development of the sternum by six months. Proper care and proper diet during puppyhood gives an increase in height and body weight by about half.

In the period from six months to a year, the growth rate usually decreases greatly. The weight of the dog increases by about a quarter, and the height at the withers - by one tenth.

So we see that The most rapid growth period for a dog is the first six months, depending on the breed. In large individuals, this period lasts about two to three months longer.

Up to what age do dogs grow? The main growth at the age of 6 to 12 months practically stops. But this does not mean that the development and formation of the exterior ends, it lasts for about another year - one and a half.

Attention! In females, the formation of the exterior is completed after the first whelping. For males - a little later.

The growth of a small puppy is completely uneven. In each period, certain organs and parts of the body grow, for example, only a born puppy has short legs and a rather long body.

At first, the dog grows up, and only after that - in breadth.

The typical proportions of the breed are acquired only towards the end of development. It is often observed that most puppies have disproportionately large ears. This happens because they reach their normal size when the rest of the body is in the process of growing.

Important! Timely provided anthelmintic therapy is extremely important.

The end of growth depending on the breed

How much do dogs grow? Assessing the development and growth rate of the puppy, be sure to take into account the breed and constitution.

Until what age do toy terriers grow? Small breed dogs develop much faster, while large dogs stop growing later.

Let's look at some typical examples.

How old are small breed dogs? They develop rapidly and complete their growth in about six to nine months. Until what age do Yorkies, Chihuahuas, and Toy Terriers grow? and grow up to about eight months, and then only "get stronger". In that terrier (correctly - Russian toy) growth ends earlier - already at 6 months.

How old are large breed dogs? Their development takes longer, up to about eight to ten months. For example, a representative of a wonderful active growth phase ends at nine months.

How old are medium breed dogs? Large pets grow the longest. For example, a puppy finishes its growth only at 12 months and after that it gains muscle mass for about a year.

However, if the diet is not followed, the physical development of the pet can slow down significantly. A proper diet in the first eight months is extremely important, as this is a crucial time in order to raise a healthy and strong dog.

What to feed a puppy for growth?

The most important thing is to compile together with a specialist. Be sure to take into account the characteristics of the breed, size and physiology.

In the period from one and a half months to three, the puppy needs to be fed quite often: about six times a day. Gradually, the number of feedings should be reduced to four, and after two months to three times.

When the puppy reaches six months, he is transferred to two meals a day in the morning and in the evening.

It is worth noting that after six months, puppies are actively gaining muscle mass, so they need a sufficient amount of protein, calcium and vitamins.

So, for 1 kg of weight you need:

nine grams of protein;
two and a half grams of fat;
fourteen grams of sugar and starch;
one and a half grams of fiber;
five hundred milligrams of calcium;
as well as vitamins A, D and E.

What to feed a puppy for growth? There are two types of feeding: natural food and factory feed.

Foods in pet stores at premium levels and above have quite a lot of advantages. For example, they contain all the necessary macro- and microelements, vitamins, and are fully balanced for a certain breed, age and characteristics of the dog.

If the puppy eats natural food, then follow the general recommendations.

Important! Salty, smoked, fatty, spicy foods are prohibited for dogs.

Raw meat is given with caution, as it may be infected with helminths. Flour and sausage products, various sweets should be completely excluded from the diet!

All this is poison for the dog's gastrointestinal tract. Her teeth can deteriorate and her eyes water. Dangerous are small bones that can pierce the esophagus or stomach.

It is extremely important to ensure the dog's need for water. So, for one kilogram of weight it is necessary to give from forty to one hundred milliliters of water.

Properly balanced diet and adequate intake of minerals even influences the development of the dog's skeleton. A tendency to pathology of the skeletal system is more common in, such as,.

So, scientists studied the effect of nutrition on the growth process, two main factors were identified:

overfeeding;
excessive calcium intake.

From this it follows: it is extremely important to maintain a balance of this mineral in food, since an increase in the rate of calcium intake causes abnormalities in cartilage tissues, and a reduced intake increases the risk of developing a weak skeleton and an increase in the frequency of fractures.

Speed and growth rate are the most important indicators of a dog's development. It is highly recommended to get a special notebook and make control measurements of your four-legged friend. This information will be useful to your veterinarian and will make it easier for you to monitor the correct development of the puppy.

Additionally, check out the video on how puppies grow:

All dogs grow quickly, but mature differently, since this process is influenced by many factors, some of which depend on the correct attitude of the owner to feeding and raising a pet. Genetically inherent features are also of great importance, therefore the duration of the puppy period is also determined by the breed of the dog. Large, medium and small dogs develop at different rates, which must be taken into account to track the condition of the animal.

Puppy Development Phases

The beginning of the formation of the dog's body is considered the stage of the formation of the embryo in the womb of the bitch. From this moment until birth, the puppy's growth occurs at a very rapid pace - from a few grams to 300-600, depending on the breed. The period of formation of the fetus in the womb is called the embryonic phase of the development of the dog.

From birth to adulthood, the animal goes through several stages:

from birth to one and a half months - suckling puppy;
from 1.5 months to six months - a puppy;
6-12 months - teenager;
1-2.5 years - a young dog.

The most intensive growth of a puppy lasts up to six months, during which time the animals grow in height, gain weight, and their exterior is formed. In a large breed, this stage lasts another 2-3 months. With normal development, the puppy's weight increases by 3 times, height - by 2.

Puppy age is a very important period in the life of a dog, since at this time the bone frame is actively formed. In order for a pet to develop fully, it needs a proper balanced diet with a full range of proteins, fats, vitamins and trace elements.

After six months of age, rapid growth stops, the dog begins to take shape as an adult animal: the chest becomes wider, the neck and head become larger, and the exterior is finally formed. By the age of one year, in appearance, behavior and habits, the owner sees how his pet has matured.

After a year, the development of the animal continues, but not so intensively. Bone formation finally stops until 1.5-3 years, depending on the breed, after this age the dog is considered an adult.

Factors affecting growth

The main factor determining at what age a dog will mature is the breed.. Puppies of small dogs mature faster than medium and large ones. The growth of a large pet, for example, a German Shepherd, stops only at the end of one year of age, then, over the course of 12 months, the muscles increase and become stronger.

Another important factor in the first year of a puppy's life is nutrition. In order to avoid growth retardation, it is necessary to carefully select products for feeding the pet. It is forbidden to give dogs of any age food from the human diet: sweets, pastries, sausages, spices, pasta, potato and legume dishes. Raw sea and river fish, fatty meat, lard, tubular bones of poultry and rabbit are not recommended.

It is important that minerals are present in the diet in the right amount, since their deficiency negatively affects the formation of bone tissue. Some large dog breeds are prone to developing skeletal and joint pathologies, including:

Labrador;
golden retriever;
mastiff;
Cane Corso;
Newfoundland;
St. Bernard.

When eating industrial feed, especially dry feed, it is important that the animal receives a sufficient amount of liquid in the form of clean water, broth, milk, milk drinks. Vitamins and mineral supplements are given only on the advice of a veterinarian, since an excess of these substances will not be beneficial, and in some cases can harm the health of the dog.

Features of growing up of some breeds

Small breeds of dogs are the first to mature. Small pets stop growing at the age of 6-8 months. The fastest maturing breed, the development of which stops at 6 months, is the toy terrier.

Medium dogs grow more slowly, up to 1.5 years, the slowest maturing are large dogs, which become adults at 3 years.

The development of a mongrel is the most difficult to determine, since it is impossible to know exactly which genes were passed on to her by her parents. It is possible to establish that a purebred pet has already grown up, guided by indicators for an average breed.

Chihuahua

Chihuahua is one of the smallest dogs, a favorite of children, a great option for indoor keeping. The growth of the baby continues up to 7 months, for another 3 months the mass is gaining.

Pomeranian

From 4-5 months, the spitz begins to grow more slowly, the first molt occurs. The coat changes from puppy to typical for an adult dog after a year. Spitz are dogs that have individual characteristics of growing up, so it is not always possible to determine exactly what size an individual will be.

Toy Terrier

This terrier grows very fast, at 4-5 months you can already see what the height of the dog will be. For several more months, the baby continues to grow stronger and build muscle, at the age of one year the puppy becomes an adult.

yorkshire terrier

Yorkies actively grow up to six months, in some animals growth continues for another 1-2 months. These small dogs have such a toy appearance that even in old age they look like cute puppies. Yorkies are popular indoor dogs due to their hypoallergenic coat and lack of shedding.

Beagle

The Beagle is a medium breed dog whose active growth continues until the age of six months, then muscle mass is gained. Up to a year and a half they become adults, but for a long time they retain the character of a small puppy.

Spaniel

Russian, English and American spaniels have different growth standards, but develop according to the same pattern - the active phase is up to 6 months with further weight gain until the age of one. All representatives of the breed are hunters, the instinct of the getter wakes up in them from early childhood.

Boxer

The Boxer shows the first signs of independence from 6-8 months, grows quickly, becoming an adult dog by the age of 2. Despite the common stereotype about pugnacity and aggressiveness of this breed, the dog gets along well with children and is characterized as a reliable guard and watchman at any age.

Laika

All huskies, regardless of species, are medium breed dogs. They grow up to 18 months, but already from the age of four months, puppies can take long walks with the owner. These are magnificent hunters with whom they go to large animals, including bears.