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When you look at your adorable puppy, it’s tempting to wish they would stay that size forever. Then they grow a little bit, and you wonder if he’s ever going to stop eating. Suddenly, your dog is bigger than you expected and still going strong. When do dogs stop growing?
Different breeds and sizes of dogs grow at different rates. The general rule of thumb is that the smaller the dog, the sooner they will reach their full-grown size. For example, an 8-pound Pomeranian will likely reach his full size by 10 to 12 months of age. A large Labrador, on the other hand, may keep growing until he’s a year and a half old. The largest dogs, such as Newfoundlands, often take 2 full years to reach their adult size.
3 Easy Ways To Tell If Your Dog Will Keep Growing
 One way to gauge how much growing a dog has left is to look at his paws. Big dogs have big paws, even as puppies. As they grow older, they will grow into their paws so that they are more proportionate. If your puppy still isn’t fitting into his paws, be patient. He probably has some growth left.
Often, your dog will stop growing for a while. Then one day, your dog suddenly looks much larger than you remembered. This is because dogs have growth spurts just like human kids do. If your dog suddenly has a bigger appetite, is taking more naps, and doesn’t seem to be done growing, just wait. The appetite and sleepiness means a growth spurt is about to happen.
(Wondering if your dog’s food is right for his life stage? Check out our tips on choosing the right dry food for your dog.)
Dogs that have some growing left to do will often continue to act like puppies. His body isn’t yet fully mature and neither is his behavior. This isn’t foolproof as many breeds continue to be high energy and act silly until well into adulthood. Compare your dog’s behavior to adults of his breed or type to see if he’s acting like a pup or an adult.
When do dogs stop growing? It depends on the type of dog and how big he’ll be as an adult. The bigger he’ll be, the longer it takes to get there. Enjoy the puppy stage for all it’s worth.
More Helpful Articles:
How To Get A Puppy To Stop Biting
How To Teach A Dog To Sit In 2 Minutes
How To Get Dog Urine Out Of Carpet
Photo credit: Craige Moore
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