When do dogs stop growing?
Sometimes we wish that puppies would stay small forever, but it’s inevitable that they will grow up to be a mature dog. If you have a puppy, especially a mixed breed, you may wonder when your dog will reach its fully grown size. Is your pup still growing? Will he get even bigger?
Many of us wonder: when do dogs stop growing?
Truth be told, the answer varies by the size of the dog. Generally, smaller dogs will reach their full-grown size at a younger age than larger dogs.
Dog Breed Sizes
It’s safe to say that small dog breeds (Chihuahuas) have reached their full size by 10 months to 1 year of age.
Small-medium dog breeds (Toy Poodles, Beagles, Miniature Schnauzers) will finish growth by about 12-15 months and will have reached their full weight by about 18 months.
Medium-large dog breeds (Collies, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers) are at full growth by about 18 months and at their full weight by about 2 years of age.
Giant dog breeds (Great Danes, Mastiffs) may take up to three years to reach their full weight, though they should be fully grown into their paws by about 18 months.
A good indicator for giant dog breeds is the size of their paws. When they are puppies, big dog breeds appear to have over-sized paws that look disproportional to the rest of the body. However, after fully “growing into” their paws, they will look better proportioned.
While the timeline will vary by each pet, this should give you a good indication when your puppy will be fully grown.
Do you have any tips or tricks that let you know when a dog has stopped growing?
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What breed is that cute puppy up on the top right, fawn and white? ??
Thank You
The fawn puppy on the right is a Chihuahua! And, if you are also interested, the grey puppy on the left is a Neapolitan Mastiff.
the puppy up top right fawn and white is a Siberian husky
I have a 11 month old cane corso pit bull girl pup when will she stop growing. Her oaws are small but she is getting tall
The Cane Corso is a very large dog breed! They can get up to about 90-110 lbs! You can read more about Cane Corso’s here in our Dog Breed Guide: http://breedguide.trupanion.com/dog/cane-corso
I swear my jack russell had a growth spurt when he was 3….. not weight but height….am I nuts?
I have an Australian Shepherd, Chow mix. He is about 80% Aussie looking, and at eight months is 46 pounds. How large do you think he will get?
Every dog is a little bit different and he could easily take after either of his parents. Your veterinarian may be able to give you a good estimate on size.
How big did he get? I have a AS mix female puppy who is 6 months old & weighs 42#.
I have a rottie/hound mix. He is 7 months old and weighs 77 pounds! Will he get much bigger?
Yes they grow until 2 years.
Yes, the breeds are depending on how ages they grow..for example, small dogs under 10 lbs,growing up to the age of 8 months old, medium sizes of 11 and 25 to their ages of 12-15 months, biggest dogs upto 2 years olds. I had two Great Danes, they grew fully about their ages of 20 months!
How big should a German shepherd Australian shepherd mix get?
I have two litter mates, med sized pit mixes. At 14 months one is filled out, skin nice and tight and the other is smaller and still has a lot of loose skin (this one rescued from other owner two months ago). is this normal or could loose skin be due to malnourishment? at this age will she grow more?
Hi Sandra,
Great questions! Your veterinarian should be able to answer them better than we can–they can offer personalized advice based on your individual dogs.
My dog is a maltipoo when will he stop growing
I have a puppy the mom is chihuahu mix Candida the dad don’t know hs is 10 weeks old now and color gray how much will he grow
Hi Evelin,
The puppy could take after his mom or dad on size. Your veterinarian might be able to give you a good estimate especially as he gets a few months older.
Congrats on the new addition!
I have a Siberian husky and pitbull mix 2 brothers and I would love any information
Hi Michelle,
Your veterinarian can probably give you a good estimate of how large your puppies might be!
We have a bishon-shi zu mix when will he stop growing?
Hi Tina,
Your pup sounds adorable! Both Bichons and Shi Tzus are small breeds that typically stay under 20 lbs. Your mix will probably reach his full size at about a year old. You can read more about these breeds on our breed guide:
http://breedguide.trupanion.com/dog/bichon-frise
http://breedguide.trupanion.com/dog/shih-tzu
I have a bully pit mix and she is 7months old. How large do you think she will get? She already weighs 55 lbs already!
It can be difficult to determine the adult size of a mixed breed dog before they are fully grown and without knowing their parents. Your veterinarian may be able to give you a rough estimate based on a few factors. Your puppy will likely keep gaining weight through the next year but not as fast as she did during her first 7 months.
I have a pure breed English mastiff. He is exactly 6 months old today and he weighs 115 pounds. Any idea how large he will get?
There are many factors that will go into a dog’s adult size–your dog’s breed, gender, parent’s size, and nutrition all play a role. An English Mastiff can grow to around 175-190lbs and males will typically be larger than females. For a better estimate, talk to your veterinarian! They know your dog better than we will.
I am looking to adopt a mini shepherd/ collie mix 2 years old.
She weighs 24 lbs. how much more will she gain?
We’re glad to hear you’re thinking of adopting a dog! If she’s already 2 years old, she likely won’t grow much more. Talk to your veterinarian about her ideal weight and how to keep her healthy.
I have a puppy she is 75% red nose pitbull and 25% chocolate lab… how long till she’s done growing she’s only 4 months as of today but the last time we weighed her she was 28lbs and that was 2-4 weeks ago. She’s already almost as big as her older sister who is a pitbull and beagle mix and weighs 35-38lbs.
I have a petigree 2 yr old white German Shepard, with brown stain on his back, He weight bout 85/90+ lbs, but I can see 4 ribs, I give him 2 full cups dry and 1/2 can meat I feed him pedigree brand food dry and can. I’ve had a wht Shepard many years ago and he was good size but never over weight. I really need your help on both issues.
Thank You.
Hi Regina,
We recommend talking to your veterinarian about your German Shepherd’s weight and diet!
I have a blue healer lab mix any suggestions?
Hi Carlos,
What a cute mix! Your veterinarian will probably have a good idea based on your dog’s current size and growth rate. Heelers typically grow to around 30-40 lbs and Labs can vary quite a bit, falling anywhere from 50-90 lbs.
I have a Chihuahua French bulldog mix
How big will she get.
I have a seven month old Labrador-Rottweiler mix and she’s still kind of small for her age? (I’m about 5’2″ and her head reaches my pelvis when she stands and when she’s on her paws, her head is just below my knee) Is this normal?
Every dog will grow at their own pace and a 7-month-old dog is still definitely growing. If you’re concerned about her size or growth rate, you can always ask your veterinarian if she’s on track!
My dog is a husky collie mix with possibly something else mixed in. She’s about 7 months old and weighs about 25-30 pounds right now. I can’t tell how big she will get though. Her paws don’t seem that large for her size. She is very tall and long but very lanky so not much meat on her bones. Do you think she will be a large dog or more of a medium sized?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell, but your veterinarian will probably have a better idea of her adult size! Female Huskies and Collies typically grow to about 40-50 pounds so she may be close to that size when she reaches her adult weight.
My dog is from the rescue center and I don’t exactly know what breed it is but it looks like it a German shepherd but it’s smaller and hasn’t got big ears but it’s only 5 months old it must be a cross with with a german shepherd but I don’t know,how tall can it get?
Congrats on the new puppy! With mixed breeds, it can be hard to tell. We recommend you ask your veterinarian for an educated guess since they’re familiar with your dog and likely have a better understanding of its growth rate.
I hve 7 mnth bully balter bitch, when she stop growing up her height and also give me some suggestions which are essential for increasing her height and weight.
I have a 5 month old puppy named Audrey who right now is 26 pounds. She is a cattle hound mix and her paws are on the small size, but i was wondering if anyone had an estimate for how big she’s going to get.
Your pup sounds adorable! Your veterinarian can give you a better estimate of your pet’s ideal weight and size. Every dog is unique! To give you an idea, most Australian cattle dogs weigh between 35-45 lbs. For more information, please feel free to check out our breed guide here: http://breedguide.trupanion.com/dog/australian-cattle-dog
I have a miniature golden doodle. She is going to be 6 months in a week and she is 28 pounds. Everyone tells me that she has big paws. How many pounds do you think she will be?
Hi my puppy is 3months old. & is a Cavoodle X Mini Foxie how big do you think it will grow.?
Your puppy sounds adorable! Every breed may differ in size. We always recommend asking your veterinarian for a estimate of how big they will be! 🙂
Thanks for the interesting read about the growth rate of dogs. I didn’t know that larger dog breeds could take about 2 years to reach their full weight. It sounds important to understand what breed of dog you have so you have an idea of how they will grow and how you can support that.