2023-03-20
If you seek to determine if your loved paw partner has stopped growing this page is the right place for you. When you take a puppy home, you might be surprised to see him/her grow rather quickly. Several factors affect the growth rate of your dog which include the breed, the dog’s genetics, and size.
The bigger the dog breed is the more calcium has to accumulate on the bones for the dog to reach physical maturity. That is why smaller dogs mature faster and some large dogs may need up to 2 years to grow into their full size.
Small breeds like the Chihuahua and the Pomeranian are known to stop growing at around 6 to 8 months of age.
Medium-sized dog breeds like the Australian Shepherd and the Dalmatian stop growing at around 12 months of age.
Large breeds like the Belgian Malinois and the Alaskan Malamute have been observed to stop growing around 12 to 18 months.
The so-called Giant Dogs group of breeds includes Saint Bernard, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bullmastiff, Irish Hound, Cane Corso, Leonberger, Neapolitan Mastiff, and a few others. These animals are known to require at least 18-24 months to reach adulthood.
Usually, dogs achieve sexual maturity before they reach their full adult size. We recommend consulting your veterinarian about neutering/spaying your dog and the suitable time for the sterilization. Some dog owners might prefer not to sterilize their pets. Some people prefer to avoid sterilization because they want to breed them or because they have some ethical qualms about the topic. We have an article about the benefits of neutering/spaying your pet which might help you decide how to handle the mating-related behavior and consequences of your choice.
The bones in puppies have growth plates that are positioned at the end of their long bones. These growth plates are thin cartilaginous layers where new tissue is created. That new tissue is slowly calcified and transformed into a new bone structure. The growth plates are comparatively flexible and soft during puppyhood and it is not recommended for puppies to engage in a rigorous training regime. The growth plates are prone to injury and we strongly recommend not letting your puppy jump onto high surfaces and jump off big objects. It is generally a bad idea to let your puppy jump off of your couch or bed.
Also, we recommend you buy an oversized bed and crate for your dog if it is classified as a large/giant breed. That way you will save money on buying multiple beds and crates as your dog matures.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine suggests neutering/spaying a large-sized breed of dog can make the animal grow a few centimeters smaller in height than its non-sterilized counterpart. When it comes to smaller dog breeds, the effect is much less pronounced and the difference is said to be much harder to discern as the height difference is in millimeters.
Puppies who are not properly fed will lack minerals, micro-nutrients, fats, and protein. Of course, that will result in their growth being slow. Dogs with a poor diet may never reach their full physical potential. We strongly recommend you seek advice on the best food for your growing puppy from your veterinarian. Chicken meat, rice, and vegetables are recommended to be included in your pup’s diet. Please note that if you have a puppy that belongs to a large or giant group of dogs then you should look for specially designed food with those breeds in mind. For example, the nutritional requirements of a Newfoundland are very different from those of the American Water Spaniel. If your puppy grows too quickly without the proper food he/she might suffer from orthopedic problems as an adult and later in life.
