home Diseases Weight of an adult dog: determining how big the puppy will grow. Outbred puppies and dogs for home and family How to understand what kind of dog will grow up

Weight of an adult dog: determining how big the puppy will grow. Outbred puppies and dogs for home and family How to understand what kind of dog will grow up

When a puppy comes home, many owners have questions about what size and weight it will reach. Some people are interested in the age at which dogs grow - that is, when the active growth period ends and muscle mass finishes forming. For most breeds, there are several standards that can be used to guide you when answering these questions.

It is not at all 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 become familiar with the stages of growth by reading the relevant literature.

Answers to questions about the puppy's development are of much greater interest to owners of animals received for free or even picked up on the street. Although it is quite difficult to answer exactly to what age mongrel dogs grow and, moreover, what they will look like in a few months or years. These answers are no less important for owners who see that their pet’s growth rate does not quite meet their expectations.

To monitor the development of a puppy, and then a young dog, it is recommended to weigh it periodically using regular scales and measure using a tape measure or centimeter. Until the puppy is 2 months old, measurements are taken 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 circumference of the pastern (carpal joint) and chest are measured. Elbow height measurements may also be taken.

Puppy growth stages

The rate of dog development initial stage her life is subject to certain patterns that are not related to the breed. Moreover, the beginning of growth is usually considered to be the period when the puppy is still an embryo, being in the mother’s womb. At this time, the formation of the animal’s body occurs, which is why it should only be taken from a responsible breeder who monitors the health of pregnant females.

The second stage is the life span from the birth of the puppy to 1.5 months. This period is called suckling and is the same for all breeds. This period is the same and lasts up to six months. During this time, the dog develops molars, its height at the withers approximately doubles, and its weight triples. Up to 6 months, puppies’ ears also grow, and by the end of the period they acquire the same shape as those of adult dog.

Growth of young animals

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 end of the term. Most small breeds complete their size increase by eight or nine months; large dogs take up to a year to grow. It is also not difficult to find out to what age dogs of medium breeds (spaniels, bulldogs, basset dogs, huskies and chow-chows) grow. They usually stop growing by 9 or 10 months.

During these six months, the sternum develops most noticeably in all breeds. However, growth is no longer as intense as at 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 the pet can be called a young dog, continues for most breeds until 16 months of age. In small breeds it ends earlier - even before a year. The period can be characterized by active increase weight or body size, and a complete stop of development. Much depends on the following factors:

from health to early stages– active puppies grow faster and can 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 it 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 one year to 2–3 years. At this time, small pets have long stopped growing, but big dogs can gain muscle mass. So, the answer to the question of how old do dogs grow to become fully grown depends on the breed. How smaller dog, the sooner she grows up. But even a representative of the largest breed - for example, a Newfoundland or St. Bernard - can 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 growth and Yorkshire Terriers ends by 8 months, then only weight gain occurs;
A toy terrier can mature even faster – by six months. From this time on, neither their height nor their weight changes;
Pugs change in size differently - some young dogs of this breed may stop growing at 6-7 months, others continue to develop until nine;
The growth of a female Pekingese ends by 8–9 months, a male by a year;
Dachshunds grow in length until they are eight months old, after which they only increase in width.

Dogs as large and muscular as the Rottweiler grow to their normal size by 12 months, and their muscles can increase until they are 2 years old. Shepherd dogs, 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.

All dogs grow quickly, but they mature differently because this process is influenced by many factors, some of which depend on correct attitude the owner to feed and raise the pet. Great importance They also have genetically determined characteristics, so 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 monitor the condition of the animal.

Puppy Development Phases

The beginning of the formation of a dog’s body is considered to be the stage of embryo formation in the womb of a 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 fetal formation in the womb is called the embryonic phase of dog development.

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 - puppy;
6-12 months - teenager;
1-2.5 years - young dog.

Most intensive growth The puppy process lasts up to six months, during which time the animals grow in height, gain weight, and their appearance takes shape. In a large breed, this stage lasts another 2-3 months. With normal development, the puppy’s weight increases by 3 times and its height by 2 times.

Puppyhood is a very important period in a dog’s life, since at this time the active formation of the bone frame is underway. For a pet to develop fully, it needs the right balanced diet with a full range of proteins, fats, vitamins and microelements.

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 one-year period appearance, behavior and habits, the owner sees how his pet has matured.

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

Factors influencing growth

The main factor that determines at what age a dog will mature is its breed.. Puppies of small dogs become adults faster than medium and large ones. The growth of a large pet, e.g. German Shepherd, stops only at the end of one year of age, then over the course of 12 months the muscles increase and strengthen.

Another important factor in the first year of a puppy’s life is nutrition. To avoid growth retardation, it is necessary to carefully select foods to feed your pet. It is prohibited to give dogs of any age food from the human diet: sweets, baked goods, sausages, spices, pasta, potato and legume dishes. Sea and River fish raw, fatty meat, lard, tubular bones of poultry and rabbit.

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

When feeding on feed industrial production, especially dry ones, it is important that the animal receives a sufficient amount of liquid in the form clean water, broth, milk, milk drinks. Vitamins and mineral supplements 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 dog’s health.

Peculiarities of maturation of some breeds

Small breeds of dogs become adults first. Small pets already stop growing at 6-8 months of life. The fastest growing breed, whose development stops at 6 months, is the Toy Terrier.

Average dogs grow more slowly, up to 1.5 years, the slowest growing ones - large dogs who become adults at 3 years of age.

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

Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is one of the smallest dogs, a favorite of children, and an excellent option for indoor keeping. The baby's growth continues up to 7 months, and it takes another 3 months to gain weight.

Pomeranian Spitz

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

Toy Terrier

This terrier grows very quickly; at 4-5 months you can already see how tall the dog will be. Over the course of several more months, the baby continues to grow stronger and build muscles; at one year of age, the puppy becomes an adult.

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkies actively grow for 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. Yorkie - popular dogs for indoor keeping due to hypoallergenic wool and lack of shedding.

Beagle

The Beagle is a medium breed dog whose active growth continues until six months of age, then gains muscle mass. Up to one and a half years they become adults, but retain their character for a long time little puppy.

Spaniel

Russian, English and american spaniels have different growth standards, but develop according to the same pattern - the active phase for up to 6 months with further weight gain until one year of age. All representatives of the breed are hunters; their hunting instinct awakens with early childhood.

Boxer

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

Laika

All huskies, regardless of type, are medium breed dogs. They grow up to 18 months, but from the age of four months the puppies can take long walks with their owner. This magnificent hunters, with which they hunt large animals, including bears.

How to determine what size a puppy will grow?

The weight of an adult dog of a particular breed is not difficult to find out. Females tend to weigh less than males. Most likely, the puppy will be about the same size as its parents when it grows up. If you know his parents, then with a high degree of probability you can predict the future size of the puppy.

It is more difficult to find out what size a mongrel dog puppy will grow up without seeing its parents. Most often the owners mongrel dog determine how a puppy will grow up by its paws, chest and head size.

You can also compare the weight and height of a purebred puppy with the same indicators of purebred puppies of its age and draw an analogy, but for this you need to know the exact age of the puppy. However, this method is not always reliable. A stray puppy's weight may be low due to malnutrition and will only return to normal after living with its owner for a long time.

Most The best way- Show the puppy to a veterinarian, he will be able to more accurately predict the weight and height of the puppy as an adult.

How do you know what kind of dog will grow out of a miniature breed puppy?

Newborn puppies miniature breeds weigh approximately 6–8 times less than puppies of large breeds, but in adulthood a miniature dog will already weigh 100 times less than a large dog. In small breeds, growth occurs much faster and more intensely than in large breeds.

A newborn small breed puppy's weight is about 5% of its mother's body weight. Such a puppy grows most actively in the first 6 months of life. By about 3 months the puppy reaches half its body weight adult, and by 8–10 months it turns into an adult dog.

The maximum growth rate of a small breed puppy is the period of weaning from the mother, then fat begins to be deposited. At this point, it is important not to overfeed the dog, otherwise the tendency to obesity will remain throughout its life.

How do you know how a medium breed puppy will grow up?

The growth of medium breed dogs is similar to that of miniature breed dogs, with puppies reaching adult body weight by 9–10 months. From birth to 6 months, the weight of a medium breed puppy increases approximately three times, and the animal doubles in size at the withers.

How big will a large and giant breed puppy grow?

The growth rates of large and giant breed dogs are very different from small and medium breeds. Large puppies continue to grow up to 8 months - their daily gain remains very large. You need to monitor the rate of weight gain yourself by weighing the dog once a week or at an appointment. veterinary clinic. During this period, puppies are very susceptible to diseases of the musculoskeletal system: dysplasia hip joint, osteochondrosis and others.

Most intensive period growth of dogs whose adult weight exceeds 25 kg - from 3 to 5 months. At 5 months, puppies already reach half the weight of an adult. They continue to grow until they are 18–24 months old. In dogs of large and giant breeds, sexual dimorphism is more pronounced than in small and medium-sized ones, that is, females mature earlier than males.

How to feed small, medium, large and giant breed puppies?

The portion of food should be measured so that it corresponds to the body weight of an adult dog, and not to the current weight of the puppy, but at the same time corresponds to the age of the puppy. Veterinarian will help determine estimated weight adult dog for a puppy, if you find it difficult to do this or do not find it in the table the right breed. It is important not to overfeed the puppy, otherwise the fragile skeleton will not be able to carry too much weight - the risk of dysplasia, skeletal deformation increases, intervertebral hernia. It is best to regularly weigh puppies of all breeds every week to determine if they are gaining too much weight.

As soon as a four-legged pet of unknown origin appears in a house, a lot of questions arise about how it will grow up, who it will look like, whether it will become big or remain small. If we're talking about about a purebred puppy, then there are no particular difficulties about the future exterior - you can look at its parents or other representatives of the breed. But for any dogs there are certain rules and growth canons at different age periods. So, to what age do dogs grow?

In most cases, puppies grow rapidly up to 6 months; in representatives of small breeds, growth slows down earlier than in larger ones.

Puppies of large breeds grow and develop after six months of age, although not so quickly. Let's look at the growth of some breeds:

Pekingese - these small dogs grow on average up to 9 months, males often up to a year.
– their growth continues up to 7-8 months.
– very small and fragile puppies grow up to 8 months, and after a year they become much stronger.
– the growth of puppies stops at 8 months, after which they continue to grow, but only in width.
– the growth of these puppies varies – it can stop at six months or continue up to 9 months, while they rapidly gain weight.
Rottweilers are a powerful and large breed, puppies grow up to 12 months, and the development of the muscle corset occurs until 2 years of age.
– active growth is observed up to a year, and the dog is fully formed by two years.

But it is worth considering that the above data are only average figures, because in addition to the ratio to the breed, there is also a mass of no less important factors, affecting the growth and development of the dog:

proper, balanced nutrition;
absence or presence;
conditions for keeping the pet;
hereditary predisposition to diseases.

Stages of dog development and growth

A healthy, normally developed puppy should grow in accordance with a certain pattern. The concept of growth includes several stages:

changes in the puppy's weight;
body growth;
external changes (exterior);
physiological characteristics.

The concepts of growth and development have different meaning, but if the pet is healthy, then they occur in a timely manner. There are several stages of growth and development of puppies:

The first stage is considered to be the period when the puppy is still in the womb. This period is very important, since it is there that the main qualities are laid future dog. And here it is worth choosing a future family member more carefully, based on information about his parents and the reputation of the breeders.
The second stage is considered to be the time when the baby is breastfeeding, so-called suckling period, lasting from birth to one and a half months. At this time, the breeder is responsible for the well-being and growth of the babies, and he also bears full responsibility for the small pets. If the puppy is strong and the future owners have experience in feeding one-month-old puppies, then you can wean him from his mother a little earlier to be completely sure of his proper feeding and further growth.
The third stage is longer, lasting from 1.5 to 6 months. Most often, during this time period, puppies end up with new owners. At this time, the puppy is growing very rapidly, his milk teeth are changing. Here, the owner is solely responsible for all processes.
The fourth stage - from 16 to 12 months, is quite varied and depends on the breed of the puppy. It may be accompanied active growth, slowing it down or stopping completely.
The fifth stage is no longer the growth of a puppy, but the processes of formation of an adult, albeit young, dog. Its duration is on average 2-2.5 years. While stopping in growth, the animal continues to gain muscle mass.

It is important to have an idea of what measurement data corresponds to the norm in a given period. Of course it doesn't exist exact numbers, but a certain trend is still visible.

Period from birth to 6 months

From birth to six months, a healthy, active puppy should increase in weight by three times, and grow at the withers by two times. At this time, dogs only grow in height.

This stage is characterized by the cessation of growth of tubular bones. Therefore, it is very important that at this time everything is formed according to the norm. Improper, unbalanced nutrition, transferred serious illnesses can negatively affect the development of the bone frame, resulting in deformations and obvious violations that cannot be corrected.

In this case, the adult will have incorrect body proportions, which will put an end to exhibitions and participation in competitions.

Puppies begin to grow from six months of age flat bones, that is, the chest bone is actively developing, the pets are growing, but already in width. These processes last intensively for about 6 months, and after a year growth continues, but at a slower pace.

A dog's bone structure is fully formed by the age of three. Small breeds finish developing much earlier than large ones.

The growth of the pet is affected by the first mating, after which the animal’s growth stops completely. This is one of the reasons to avoid early ones, so as not to disrupt the development and growth of the dog.

To record metric data, it is necessary to certain periods measure the dog and record all data. To weigh the puppy, you can use household scales, but if the pet is one of the large breeds– then large commercial scales will be needed.

In addition, the following parameters are measured:

sternum girth;
height (height at withers);
length of hind and front legs.

To remove them, measuring tapes, tape measures and rulers are used.

Proper feeding of a puppy

Nutrition plays a big role in the growth and development of a dog. Ideally, a diet, including the number of feedings, the composition of the diet, based on individual and breed characteristics, should be developed by a dog handler.

On average, a puppy up to 3 months old should eat at least 5-6 times a day. An older pet is gradually transferred to four feedings a day. From 6 months, the number of feedings can be reduced to two, as for an adult dog.

Do not forget that from six months the pet has an intensive set of muscle mass Therefore, the diet must be enriched with proteins.

Dog owners have a choice - to feed their pet natural products or prepared food - dry or wet. Sometimes there is a successful combination of these two types.

If the puppy owner chooses to feed dry or wet look feed, then he must pick up a good one. Such products contain all important micro- and macroelements, vitamins, sufficient amounts of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Balance ready-made feed affects the normal development of the puppy. In addition, most manufacturers, when producing such products, take into account age characteristics and other nuances.

Those owners who gave preference natural nutrition, must comply with the following recommendations:

Eliminate too spicy, fatty, smoked, and salty foods from your diet.
It is best to buy sea fish after boiling it first. Raw fish and meat can lead to infection with helminthic infestations.
Bones are poorly digestible, so it is not advisable to give them to your pet to chew on.
Sweets and chocolate lead to disturbances in activity of cardio-vascular system, loss of vision and teeth, so their use is excluded.
You can give low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, boiled meat, raisins, dried fruits, etc.
Food should be at room temperature so as not to disrupt the digestion process.

Caring care and attentive attitude towards your pet will help it grow and develop normally.

In some people they evoke pity and guilt, in others - contempt and disgust. They are rarely lucky, only a few of them are lucky enough to meet “their” person and find a family. Not everyone decides to take a mongrel puppy into their home, because such a dog will not become the subject of admiration and envy of friends, and it is unclear what will grow out of it... And this is a really big risk, because it is truly difficult to determine what the baby will become when will grow up. What if a touching puppy turns into a huge one? evil dog? It is hardly wise to be led by pity alone. First, it’s worth figuring out who mongrels are, how they get along with us, and how to choose from the mass of options for a future family member.

Myths about mongrels

Mutts are healthier than purebred dogs

Mutts are smarter than purebred dogs

Street dogs are more cunning, not smarter, than domestic animals. They have to survive in terrible conditions, where without resourcefulness and ingenuity they cannot last a day. Mongrels are not at all stupid, but it is hardly correct to consider them smarter than purebred dogs.

Mongrels learn faster

The ability to learn, like intelligence, is an individual indicator of each individual dog. However, if we compare mongrels with representatives of service breeds, the latter clearly win in all respects.

Mongrels are the best guards

The mongrel guards, but does not protect. She will scare off an intruder by barking, but is unlikely to be able to provide him with worthy resistance. Most mongrels will run away squealing when faced with a determined person, while trained servants will fight to the end.

Mutts are much more loyal than purebred dogs

By devotion, owners understand attachment to the family, an obsequious desire to please. However, in fact, this is just the fear of being excluded from the pack. Mutts have a very developed pack instinct; they understand that without a pack they are in danger of death. And thoroughbreds, accustomed to good conditions dogs do not know the fear of cold, hunger and evil people.

Of course, there are exceptions to any rule. Many mongrels are excellent guards and protectors, they are easy to train, perform in the circus, and act in films. And certainly a mongrel as pet is in no way inferior to a purebred dog. Based on the above, we can conclude: if you need a dog for work (protection, security, hunting, sport), it is better to give preference service breeds, but if you just want to take a mongrel puppy into your home so that he becomes your friend and family member, you can adopt a dog from a shelter by doing a truly kind deed.

Where to find a suitable puppy?

There are many options: the street, animal shelters, online and media advertisements, bird market. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Pick up a puppy on the street

Noble act. However, you need to make sure that the baby really needs you. Many dogs, living for generations without human intervention (except for bullying and beatings), return to a wild state. The mother raises such puppies like wolf cubs - they are resourceful, cowardly, aggressive and are not capable of becoming domestic dogs at the genetic level. A wild puppy will not lick your hand or wag its tail in response to your words. He will lower his head, flatten his ears, growl, take an attacking position, and perhaps even try to bite the intruder. Such dogs can only be taken into the home by people who are well versed in animal psychology and know the basics of training!

Other puppies are born from human-friendly mothers. Their recent ancestors are “lost” or abandoned dogs. Puppies, at the genetic level, want to be close to a person: they look pleadingly into the eyes, lick hands, wag their tails, trail behind for a long time in the hope that the person will turn his gaze to the unfortunate creature. Mongrel puppies who make contact on their own can become wonderful, loving friends. This is exactly the kind of baby that a person who decides to adopt a dog can take into their home.

Animal shelters

Adopting a puppy from a shelter is not a bad idea. As a rule, in such places volunteers not only look after the dogs, but also carry out some preventive actions. In addition, volunteers usually honestly talk about all the “pitfalls” - the puppy’s illnesses, behavioral problems - because they are afraid that the baby will end up on the street again if some of the “highlights” turn out to be an unpleasant surprise for the owner.

ads

Some owners of non-pedigreed dogs obtain offspring from their animals for falsely humane reasons. These puppies are usually raised in normal conditions, in love and care. Perhaps even among your friends there are those who like to tinker with furry balls. Buy a mongrel puppy raised in an apartment or house - the best option for inexperienced dog breeders. Since childhood, such babies are accustomed to people, to certain rules of behavior, they are completely domestic and easily get used to a new owner.

"Bird Market

Places where animals gather are always saturated with pathogens various infections. However, when it comes to a mongrel puppy, this is a completely acceptable option, because the chance of finding absolutely healthy puppy in a shelter or on the street it’s also not too high.

How can you tell if your puppy is healthy?

How to understand what a puppy's character will be?

It's quite simple:

if the puppy whines, runs away and hides, shakes in horror when he sees stranger, most likely, he will grow up to be a cowardly-aggressive dog, yapping indiscriminately at everything external stimuli(strangers, other animals, a doorbell, the sound of a car passing outside the window, etc.);
if a puppy, at the sight of a stranger, boldly rushes at him, barks, or tries to bite, possible serious problems with obedience and aggressive (even biting) behavior in the future;
if the baby comes up to you (even if hesitantly, but comes up when called), licks his hands, wags his tail, probably everything is fine with his psyche and special problems with obedience is not expected (of course, with proper education).

How to determine what a puppy will become when it grows up?

Even an experienced dog handler is unlikely to be able to accurately determine the future size and weight of a mongrel puppy without seeing its parents. However, knowing the age of the baby, you can compare its weight with the weight of purebred puppies at the same age, that is, draw an analogy. You will have to delve thoroughly into specialized literature or visit several canine forums, but if the weight and height of the dog are fundamentally important, this is a good option.

In addition, you should pay attention to the puppy’s paws - large dogs have massive paws in childhood, disproportionately large compared to the body. Pay attention to the muzzle - a heavy, massive muzzle also means that the puppy is unlikely to grow up to be a small dog.

Coat type and constitution are usually visible already at the age of two to three months. Wire-haired dogs do not grow from short-haired puppies, and heavy, big-boned babies are unlikely to turn into slender, lean dogs.

What should you do first when bringing a puppy home from the street?

If your puppy has runny eyes and nose, has crusts around his nose, is sneezing or coughing, is suffering from vomiting and/or diarrhea, the baby is most likely suffering from infectious disease. Such puppies should not be bathed and under no circumstances should you try to treat them yourself! First of all, you need to warm the baby and feed him (not by force). Food should be semi-liquid and lukewarm. Then you need to immediately contact a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

However, it is better to contact the veterinarian in advance - the doctor will examine the baby, take blood, urine and feces for tests and, possibly, prescribe treatment (after all, some diseases can occur in a latent form, unnoticed by the owner).

People who just want to save money on their purchase should not get a mongrel puppy. Outbred dogs require no less financial expenses than purebred pets. They also need to be vaccinated and fed regularly. quality food and treat if they get sick. In some cases, if a puppy suffered serious psychological trauma in childhood, it will take incomparably more effort to adapt the baby than to raise it purebred dog. However, even the most hereditary court terrier will love you no less than a purebred dog with a pedigree of four generations.