Adult Labrador size ranges from 55 to 85lbs in weight. Your Labrador Retriever will reach anywhere from 21 to 25 inches tall when fully grown. How big your pup gets will depend upon whether they are male or female, and if they come from American or English breeding lines.
Labrador growth rates are fastest for the first six months, with most adult dogs reaching their final height around their first birthday. Although young adult Labs tend to be more lanky and less sturdy than their more mature counterparts.
Contents
- Labrador puppy size.
- Labrador Retriever growth rates.
- Is my puppy growing too fast?
- Average full grown Labrador size?
A healthy diet will help them to develop steadily, and to ensure that they don’t put any extra strain on their joints. There is no correct weight and height for your Labrador. What’s matters most is that your adult Lab’s size is the right one for them – a healthy weight that suits their build and ancestry, and will help them to have a long and active life.
Size Reflects History
Labradors are part of the Gundog group of dogs. Originally bred as hunting dogs, to retrieve shot game, they needed to be hardy enough to work in and out of the water in winter, and strong enough to carry large birds.
The size and strength of the modern adult Lab reflects their practical roots. They are a medium-large breed, strong, agile and clever.
Labrador Puppy Size
When you’re choosing or caring for a puppy it can be good to know what ‘normal’ looks like, so you can spot if your pup is too small. Or if they are getting a little overweight.
Small size in puppies can be a sign of stress or illness. Puppies can be small due to poor nutrition – eating the wrong food, or not enough food – or other poor care. However puppies can also be small because their parents are small, or through random chance. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian to check your puppy over.
An overweight Labrador puppy is at increased risk of joint damage. Joint problems such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are already common in Labradors, so it’s important to avoid letting your pup get overweight. So let’s take a look at how big your pup should be, how fast Labradors normally grow, and how to keep that growth on track.
Normal Puppy Size
The standard advice given is that an 8 week old Labrador puppy will weigh around 16 pounds. Two for each week of its life. However, when puppy parents on the Labrador Forum were surveyed, they found a wide range of ‘normal’ healthy weights. With the majority of 8 week old puppies weighing between 6 and 16 lbs.
It’s important that all puppies grow at an appropriate rate for their size.
Labrador Growth Rate
Labradors go through two stages of growth. A fast growth stage and a slower one. For roughly the first six months of their life, a Lab grows by approximately 2lbs in weight, per week. This is just an average – don’t worry if your pup grows a little faster or slower!
From 6 months to a year old, Labs gain weight much more slowly, as they approach their adult size.
When Do Labradors Stop Growing?
By 9 months old, your Labrador will be close to their full grown adult height. After they are a year old they may gain a little weight and ‘fill out’ a bit more for a few months, but they are unlikely to get much taller.
Factors Affecting Labrador Growth
Labrador growth rate is affected by a number of factors, including genetics, diet, their general health, and when/if they are neutered.
English Labs, or show-bred Labs, tend to be shorter, but also stockier and heavier, than the working-type American Labradors. And puppies tend to take after their parents in build and weight.
Pups that eat too few of the correct nutrients, or who are chronically unwell, can grow too little. They may end up as smaller adults, failing to meet their full height or weight potential.
But pups that eat too much can grow too fast, and this is just as unhealthy. In addition to the usual problems that come with being overweight, fast growth can put too much strain on your pup’s developing joints. This can increase the risk of serious, painful and activity limiting, joint injury.
Lastly, there is some evidence that early neutering (before six months) can cause dogs to grow for longer, and reach a greater adult size. And that this may increase a Labrador’s risk of developing joint problems. Whether, and when, to neuter is a complex decision, and we’ve included links to some neutering resources at the end of this article, if you’d like to find out more.
Is My Labrador Growing Too Fast?
It’s tempting to think you can fed your pup as much as they like, as long as they get enough exercise. Unfortunately this isn’t the case for Labrador puppies. In fact too much exercise can damage their joints, just as being too heavy can. It’s important to limit your pup’s calories to their daily needs.
If in doubt, pop along to your veterinarian and get your pup weighed. If you do this fairly regularly, your vet will be able to guide you as to whether his growth is on track. Watch out for weight that continues to rise for more than a few months after your dog stops getting taller. This could be unnecessary weight gain, rather than your dog gaining muscle and ‘bulking out’ as they mature.
In between weigh ins, you can monitor your dog’s weight by look and feel. You should be able to see a waist, and feel a few ribs, on your Lab. If you can’t feel any ribs, she is likely to be overweight. If you can see ribs without feeling for them, she is probably underweight.
So now we know how big your pup should be. But what about once they are full grown? How big do Labradors get?
(paid link) What Is The Average Labrador Size?
A full grown Labrador is a medium to large sized dog. Males are on average an inch taller than females, and around 10lbs heavier.
Coat color doesn’t affect Labrador size. A full grown black Labrador is the same size on average as an adult yellow Lab, or chocolate lab, provide all three are the same subtype. (So all American, or all English, Labs).
But American Labs do tend to be taller and lighter than their English counterparts.
Labrador Height
How tall do Labs get? A full grown male Labrador is between 22 and 25 inches tall, and an adult female Lab is 21 to 24 inches tall. English Labs tend to be at the shorter end of this range. American Labs can be found in the full range of heights.
Labrador Weight
How heavy is a full grown Lab? Adult Labrador weight can range from 55 to 85 pounds. Full grown female Labs tend to fall between 55 and 70 pounds, with males weighing upwards of 65 pounds.
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