Typically it will take approximately 18 months for your Golden Retriever to become an adult dog. Even though they can reach their full height at anywhere from 9 to 12 months, it will usually take them longer to fill out to their full weight. Remember that there are wide variations in size within the Golden Retriever breed. Don’t be too concerned about your puppy’s weight unless they’re way off the average.
Content
- When do dogs stop growing?
- Weights by age
- Golden Retriever puppy growth chart
- Variations in development
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at Golden Retriever puppy growth from 8 weeks to adulthood. We’ll look at how much a Golden Retriever puppy should weigh and the impact of nutrition on puppy growth. And also cover how you can determine if your Golden is too fat or too thin to ensure your puppy is as healthy as possible.
When Do Golden Retrievers Stop Growing?
If you’re a proud new Golden Retriever owner, this is an exciting time. Your new furry friend has a lot of growing to do, and you probably have a lot of questions.
Your Golden Retriever puppy will go through a number of developmental stages throughout their first twelve weeks. When they’re 12 to 16 weeks old, they’ll look less puppy-like and start to resemble how they’ll appear as an adult. From 3 to 6 months, your pup will grow so quickly, it may seem like he’s changing every single day. This period of rapid growth will slow down by the time they’re 6 months old.
Male Golden Retrievers generally weigh between 65 and 75 pounds and stand from 23 to 24 inches tall. Females are generally smaller, weighing between 55 to 65 pounds, and will grow to stand 21.5 to 22.5 inches tall on average.
Differences Between Individuals
At 4 months, your Golden Retriever puppy will reach about half their adult height. By the time they’re 6 months, they’ll be approximately two-thirds of their adult weight.
Golden Retrievers typically reach their full height by the time they’re one year old. However, they may not fill out and reach their full weight until they’re roughly 18 months of age. When it comes to mental development, it can take even longer than that before the Golden Retriever is fully mature. However, every puppy is a unique individual, and these are merely milestone guidelines.
How Much Should My Golden Retriever Puppy Weigh?
Since there can be wide variations in size from puppy to puppy, there’s no precise answer to this question. Each dog will vary in their growth rate as well as in how much they’ll eventually weigh as an adult. Disparities exist between the working and show Goldens, as well as between males and females.
Golden Retriever puppy growth can also be quite sporadic. However, it’s important to monitor your puppy’s weight to ensure he’s not growing too quickly or too slowly. As an overall average, many Golden Retriever puppies will weigh just approximately 1.5 pounds for each week of age. This means at 3 months, your puppy could weigh about 22 pounds, and at 6 months, they could weigh roughly 44 pounds.
Golden Retriever Puppy Growth Chart
8 weeks | 10 pounds |
9 weeks | 12 pounds |
10 weeks | 15 pounds |
11 weeks | 17 pounds |
3 months | 22 pounds |
4 months | 30 pounds |
5 months | 40 pounds |
6 months | 44 pounds |
7 months | 48 pounds |
8 months | 55 pounds |
9 months | 57 pounds |
10 months | 62 pounds |
11 months | 65 pounds |
1 year | 68 pounds |
Remember that there can be wide weight variations within any breed. It’s most important to know your dog well so that you can tell when he’s happy and healthy and when something isn’t quite right.
Different Growth in Golden Retriever Types
Golden Retrievers are classified as a sporting breed, and these dogs are often divided into those bred for show and those meant for work. Overall the physical differences are slight. However, the body of the show Golden is typically larger, taller, heavy-boned, and fuller in the chest. If your puppy comes from a working-type background, then don’t be surprised if their weight falls a little below average.
Small Parents
Like people, puppies inherit physical traits from their parents. So if your puppy had small parents, there’s a good chance he’ll be smaller than average throughout his life. However, it’s not only genetics that play a role in how big your puppy is. And even puppies from the same litter can vary in size. Neutering, diet, level of care, and overall health can also influence your puppy’s size.
Impact of Nutrition on Breed Puppy Growth
Puppies that don’t get enough to eat or are fed a low-quality diet may not grow properly. However, in developed countries, it’s far more likely that a dog is being overfed. Neither of these scenarios is healthy for a puppy.
Is My Puppy Too Thin or Fat?
The best way to determine if your puppy is too thin or too fat is by how he looks and feels. When looking at your puppy from above, he should have a noticeable waistline. Another way to tell is by putting your hands on either side of his ribcage. You should be able to feel his ribs using a gentle pressure.
If you can’t feel them at all, your Golden Retriever puppy could be overweight. But if his ribs are visible, he could be underweight. Obesity is a huge problem for many dog breeds. And almost 63% of adult Golden Retrievers are considered overweight or obese.
David says
543266$ is not ok.
Woodleys says
We realy will like a puppy.can you go and help us please.If it is blow 600$ . we will have it.
Rob says
My AKC golden retriever puppy is 3 months old and loves to play so much that quite often he forgets his house breaking. Sometimes he will leave a potty trail on the way to the door. I don’t know if this is common or not since I’ve never had any puppy starting from 8 weeks. All of the dogs I’ve had including 2 golden retrievers were older when I got them and already house broken. Hopefully his vet can shed some light on this.
Vedica bhardwaj says
I have a golden retriever puppy of exact 6months. But according to the chart given for weight, it seems that he weighs a little more than 44 pounds. Also his height isn’t reaching 23-24 inches, he is surely less than that! What should I do at this point of time! Quite concerned for my little pup!
Lynette says
I have a 15 week old AKC Golden Retriever, she weighs 27pds and seems to have tripled in height within the past week. I feed her 2 cups of Blue (Large Breed Puppy Food) in the morning and 2 cups in the early evening, but she always seems hungry. This is my first Golden and I am amazed at her gentle spirit and how intelligent she is, 5 days to housebreak (brought her home when she was 9 weeks old) she learned commands effortlessly. I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can to ensure that she has a happy, long life with me.
Fred says
3/4 cup three times a day is what we have few all out goldens for the last 50 years. Active big boys might get a cup three times but as soon as they get a few days off they get chubby.
Translation… I think you are giving your pup way way way too much food
Kathleen Bahler says
Feed her puppy food from Purina, Iams, Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet or Eukanuba as these are the only companies that do feeding trials and research and have scientists and canine nutritionists with minimum of PhD’s and Doctorates in canine nutrition. Many golden retrievers have been found to have dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) caused by feeding food that is grain free and not researched properly. Please don’t look for human ingredients in your dog food as dogs needs are way different than humans. To find out more about the issue of DCM go on Facebook and find the site dilated cardiomyopathy and golden retrievers. This site saved my Golden’s life as she had been on the very worst food with the most deaths from DCM, Acana grain free for 8 years. Because of that I took her to the cardiologist veterinarian for an echocardiogram and sure enough she had heart conditions. Three years later at 11 years old she is on many medications but living a wonderful life and keeping up with our 16 month old golden retriever puppy! You will find many many very helpful suggestions as this site is monitored by veterinarians and Canine specialists. Never ever listen to what the “dog food advisor”Recommends as he is affiliated with the type of food brands that are leading to dilated cardiomyopathy and was a dentist with no training in dog food. Good luck to you and your puppy!
Kathleen Bahler says
Feed your puppy the amounts recommended on the bag of food. When my puppy was your puppy’s age she got four cups of food separated into three feedings. It is very important to not under feed during these crucial months.