In this article, we are going to discuss “When Do Dogs Stop Growing“. The most amazing thing about being a dog owner is seeing your dog grow from a little puppy to an adult dog. Sometimes we become confused about the process of growth of our dogs. Due to a lack of knowledge, we don’t know about the growth rate growth stage, growth rate, or the time when our pet dogs stop growing after achieving maximum growth. The common question arises When Do Dogs Stop Growing? The answer is that it depends on many factors such as breed, genetics, or overall health.
Different growing stages are important in giving your dog proper care and attention during their development phase. This article will describe a detailed knowledge of the important stages of dog growth along with When Do Dogs Stop Growing means the decline or end of the growth stages of dogs.
Table of Contents
5 Key Dog Growth Stages
Puppyhood
The first stage of dog growth is the initial 6 months after birth. This stage is a period of fast growth and development. The first few months after birth are important and puppies grow quickly. The growth size of puppies during the first few weeks after birth is double that of normal. At the time of birth, most puppies weigh about only a few and within the next few weeks, they grow rapidly and start to eat solid food. The shift from mother milk to puppy food occurs after six months of growth. Most puppies grow to their maximum rate during this month or weigh closer to their adult size.
After 6 months overall growth slows down, but puppies still undergo some changes in their bodies. With the start of walking and interacting around the world, their muscles start to improve.
Aldoscence 6 months to 1 year
After puppyhood, your pet dogs enter adolescence, which starts after the first six months and lasts for one year. The dog’s body continues to grow during this period, but the growth is much slower than compared to puppyhood. During the adolescent phase, there is a development of secondary sexual characteristics which includes the appearance of sexual maturity in males and females. In this phase, the testosterone level of male dogs increases. In the case of a female dog, the heat cycle or hormonal changes may occur. Some dogs also grow in height during the adolescent phase, but it depends upon their breed. In the adolescent phase dog’s adult coat development also started and their energy and enthusiasm also increased.
Physical maturity
This is the phase between 1 year and 2 year. In this phase, the appearance of your dog changes significantly. The development of muscle mass and fat deposits continue during this phase and the dog shows a more mature physique. The physical maturity phase is the best when you have to answer the question when do dogs stop growing? So most dogs stop growing after the physical maturity phase. Because most dogs reach their maximum height and weight in 1 year after that they gain their maximum physique till the end of the second year.
Mental and behavioral maturity
The mental and physical maturity phase occurs between two years and three years. During this phase dogs mental and emotional growth occurs. At this stage dogs get fully mature by behavior. Behavioral maturity can affect your dog’s behavior with you, other pets, and the environment. The dogs stay most stable in their behavior during this phase. So dogs are easy to train during this phase.
The mental and behavioral maturity phase also affects the energy of dogs. Some dogs have high energy levels during this phase while others may have low energy levels it depends upon type of the breed you are dealing with. Dogs reach their full personality during this phase, so this stage is important for their development.
Senior Stage
The senior Stage is also an important stage of dog growth. This stage starts after seven years or older. In this stage, a dog mostly starts to grow older. The senior Stage brings aging which affects dogs in different ways. During this phase, dogs may experience a slow in their mental and physical capabilities. Aging also depends on the breed. Dogs with larger breeds face aging faster than dogs with smaller breeds.
This senior Stage also affects your dog and many changes occur including joint stiffness, cognitive decline, weight loss, or loss of muscle mass. The risk of disease also occurs in senior dogs which includes arthritis, vision problems, joint diseases, or dental issues. At this stage, the dogs need special care. Senior dogs need a special diet, special exercise, and also vet visits. When do dogs stop growing The growth stop time is different for different species.
When do dogs stop growing?
The rate of dog growth and the time on which the dog stops growing also depends on various factors Such as their breed diet, physical activity, genes, or environment. The dogs mostly stop growing after the mental maturity stage or before the start of their senior Stage. After the senior stage dog’s growth stopped, and they started getting older day by day. The dogs become weak and lazy. They can’t do proper physical activity, and it’s difficult for them to bear their weight. They need special diets and nutrition to live a healthy life or enhance their lifetime.
Here is a table showing the details of different dog breeds and their nutritional needs during growth and after the stop of growth stage with weight ranges and age at which dogs stop growing.
| Breed | Nutritional Needs After Growth Stops | Weight (kg) | Age When Growth Stops | Recommended Food Brand/Nutrients According to nutritional needs | Nutritional Needs During Growth Stage |
| Labrador Retriever | Weight management, joint health (glucosamine), calorie control, omega-3 for coat | 25-36 kg | 12-18 months | Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula | High protein for muscle development, calcium, and phosphorus for bones, omega-3 for brain and joint health |
| German Shepherd | Joint care, lean muscle maintenance, omega-3 for coat, calorie control | 22-40 kg | 18-24 months | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed, Purina Pro Plan Focus Large Breed | High protein for muscle development, calcium, and phosphorus for strong bones, omega-3 for brain and coat |
| Golden Retriever | Weight management, joint protection, lean muscle maintenance, calorie control | 25-34 kg | 12-18 months | Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult, Orijen Large Breed | High protein for muscle growth, calcium, and phosphorus for bone strength, moderate fat for energy |
| Bulldog | Joint health (glucosamine), weight management, moderate fat for energy | 23-25 kg | 12-14 months | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed, Royal Canin Bulldog Adult | Moderate protein, higher fat for energy, DHA for brain development, calcium for bone health |
| Boxer | Joint health, lean muscle maintenance, calorie control, omega-3 for coat | 25-32 kg | 12-18 months | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed, Royal Canin Boxer Adult | High protein for muscle development, calcium, and phosphorus for bone growth, DHA for brain health |
| Rottweiler | Joint support, weight management, calorie-controlled diet, muscle maintenance | 35-60 kg | 18-24 months | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed, Royal Canin Rottweiler Adult | High protein for muscle development, calcium and phosphorus for bone growth, DHA for brain health |
| Siberian Husky | Joint support, lean muscle maintenance, calorie control, omega-3 for coat | 16-27 kg | 12-18 months | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed, Blue Buffalo Wilderness | High protein for muscle growth, DHA for brain development, omega-3 for coat, calcium for bone strength |
| Border Collie | Joint support, lean muscle, digestive health, moderate calorie intake | 12-20 kg | 12-18 months | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed, Orijen Original | High protein for muscle development, DHA for brain health, calcium for bone strength |
Petcaretime suggestion
Petcaretime suggests every dog’s owner keep a brief knowledge of these important stages of dog growth so that you can provide your pet dogs with all the essential nutrients required according to your dog’s needs. Petcaretime also suggests you know when your dog stops growing and after the stop of their growth gives them the special diet a dog requires after the stop of their growth.
Petcaretime suggests you pay special attention to your dog after the stop of their growth and take more pictures of the care of your dogs. Pay regular vegetarian visits to increase the lifespan of your dogs. It’s important for a dog healthy and happy life.
