Many new pet parents are curious about the future health of their dogs. Before they bring their new furry family member home, they research the best pet foods, pet nutrition supplements, and local pet professionals. Often, this also includes making sure the dog will have enough room to run and play as it grows up.
Pet owners frequently want to be able to estimate the adult size of a puppy. This will help them identify if they will be able to provide the dog with the care, environment, and love it deserves. Although estimating a dog’s size rarely produces exact numbers, there are some techniques that can give potential owners a rough idea of how big the dog may be.
Purebred
For purebred dogs, estimating adult size tends to be relatively straight forward. Puppies tend to grow up to be the same size as their same gender parent. Those adopting from a reputable breeder should inquire about the size of the parents before they bring the dog home. You can also look on the American Kennel Club’s website to find each breed’s standard weight range and height.
Mixed Breeds and Unknown Breeds
Many pet owners adopt dogs with unknown parentage, age, and even unknown breeds. Health and proper nutrition, as well as breed, can play a large role in overall size. Although some experienced veterinarians and shelter workers can make educated guesses about the breed and eventual size, it can be a challenge for pet owners. People like to point to the size of a puppy’s paws, as larger dogs tend to start out with bigger paws. However, this method can sometimes be inaccurate.
Keep in mind; dogs continue to grow in weight even after they stop growing in height. While many dogs will reach up to 75% of their final height around the first 6 months of age, they will continue to put on weight for another 6 months to a year. It is helpful to determine if your new pup is a toy breed, small breed, medium breed, large breed, or giant breed. Generally, if pet owners can determine the category of breed, they can use the following calculations to estimate adult weight.
Toy Dogs and Small Dogs
In general, toy breeds reach their full size between 10 months and a year. Small dogs, like a Basenji, can reach their final height between 12 and 15 months. If the dog is believed to be a small breed, then take the weight at 6 weeks and double it. Then take that number and double it again. For example, a 3 pound dog at 6 weeks would be doubled to 6 pounds. Then the 6 pounds would be doubled to 12 pounds for an estimated adult weight.
Medium to Large Dogs
On average, medium to large dogs reach their final height by 18 months. Take the weight of the puppy at 14 weeks and multiply it by 2.5. A 25 pound dog at 14 weeks would have an expected adult weight of about 62.5 pounds.
Giant Dogs
For the extra large dogs, their growth period can be much longer. Some grow into their adult size by 18 months, while others can take up to 3 years. To estimate their adult size, take the weight of the puppy at 6 months and double it. A 80 pound dog at 6 months would have an anticipated adult weight of 160 pounds.
Estimated Adult Size
As pet owners can imagine, when the future size of the dog is known, it becomes substantially easier to plan for their care in the years to come. While it is difficult to know exactly how much a mixed breed dog will weigh as an adult, the above guidelines should offer an estimate that can help owners begin their planning.
No matter what size your dog is estimated to be, proper nutrition is essential. Even the best dog foods are cooked, which destroys many of the nutrients. NuVet Plus for dogs & cats is cold processed, allowing the highest quality ingredients to retain their rich nutrients and off superior bio-availability. Canine companions of all ages can benefit from adding NuVet Plus to their daily routine.