Are dogs fully grown when they go into heat? Essential Tips

by

So when are dogs no longer puppies?

When are dogs adults? Well, it depends on the breed. Not all dog breeds grow at the same rate, so don’t freak out if you think your pup’s behind.

Typically, small breeds grow to their full height and length in about 6-8 months. They bulk up to their adult weight in another 4-6 months.

For medium sized breeds, it may take up to 12-15 months before they reach their full height and length, and they usually reach their full weight about 6 months later.

For large breed dogs, the physical growth process is quite a bit longer. They take almost 18 months to reach their full size and another 6 months to fill out to their full-grown weight.

To give you an idea of just how fast a dog grows, heres a good video of the first 12 weeks of a pups life:

Basic Signs of Growth in Puppies

There are some similarities that all puppies face when growing. Keeping these in mind will help you recognize the growth in your own pup regardless of breed size.

  • Puppies at this age will sleep most of the day, waking up mostly to nurse.
  • The birth weight will double within a week.
  • A puppy in the transitional phase will begin to open its eyes and learn to walk.
  • The pup will begin to grow his baby teeth.
  • The juvenile period precedes puberty and sexual maturity. At this time, your pup will begin to play and run more, strengthening his muscles.
  • During this stage in a puppy’s life, he will begin to grow rapidly. You may notice these changes every day.
  • Sometimes, puppies at this age get more aggressive and fearful of others. If you notice this happening, it is a normal part of growth.
  • Female puppies may begin to go into heat at this age. Male dogs will be more interested in sex.
  • Physical growth will slow down at the end of this period.
  • The baby fur begins to be replaced by their adult coat.
  • After adolescence, your pup will become a dog. They will stop growing bigger, though they can still gain muscle over time.

    • Something to keep in mind–the growth of purebred puppies may differ a bit from mixed breeds. It depends on the breed and size of both parents in most cases. This just gives you a general idea of the stages you should be aware of.

    Now that you know what to expect in almost all dogs, you can go more in-depth to exactly what your pupper may experience based on his size and breed.

    Toy puppies are the smallest of all, and they will likely reach full physical and sexual maturity earliest. These are:

  • Toy Poodle
  • English Toy Spaniel
  • Japanese Chin
  • Miniature Pinscher
  • Papillon
  • Pekingese
  • Toy Fox Terrier

    • How often does a female dog come into heat?

    Most dogs come into heat twice per year, or about every six months, although the interval can vary between breeds and from dog to dog. Small breed dogs may cycle three times per year, while giant breed dogs may only cycle once every 12 months. When young dogs first begin to cycle, it is normal for their cycles to be somewhat irregular. It can take up to two years for a female dog to develop regular cycles. There is no time of year that corresponds to a breeding season for (domesticated) dogs except for Basenjis and Tibetan Mastiffs which typically tend to cycle in the spring.

    4 Stages of Dog Heat Cycle (may be graphic)

    In most cases, dogs stop growing between 6 and 18 months of age, but some pups continue growing until 24 months.

    But not all canines grow at the same rate, with smaller breed dogs growing up much faster than their larger counterparts. This is because dogs with more prominent bones and joints need a bit more time to grow and develop.

    Giant dogs like Mastiffs, Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernard, and Newfoundland take the longest to reach full size.

    Giant breeds like Great Dane reach their physical maturity within 18 months, but they keep adding muscle and reach their total weight only at age two or three.

    Let’s take a look at how long it takes for each dog breed to grow fully.

    Small breeds grow up quickly. They finish growing at around half the age of their larger counterparts.

    Small breeds such as Boston Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Pugs reach their full-sized framework between six and eight months of age, and theyll keep filling weight until twelve months old.

    The small breed dogs also enjoy a longer lifespan compared to larger dogs because they age comparatively slower.

    Medium breed puppies might take just a bit longer to grow than small breed puppies. You can expect your medium breed dog to reach their physical maturity between twelve and fifteen months of age.

    Although they get bigger by 15 months, they usually keep adding weight until they are closer to 18 months.

    The large breed is a broad category of dogs divided into two categories; large breeds and giant breeds.

    Dogs that reach an adult weight of >50 lb (23 kg) are considered large breeds. The average growth period for large breeds is 12 to 18 months, and they reach maturity between 18 to 24 months, much later than smaller-breed dogs.

    The giant breeds are larger dogs like Great Dance, Mastiffs, Great Pyrenees, and Saint Bernard that reach above 45 kg (99lb).

    They take the longest to reach full size. Some giant breeds take at least 18 months to grow the basic framework and continue growing in weight until age two or three.

    However, these dogs also age quickly than smaller breeds. Mastiffs live only up to 7 to 8 years, and Dogue de Bordeaux lives only until 5 to 8 years.