Jul 09 2009
Puppy Growth: What’s The Right Weight For Your Puppy?
A puppy’s growth rate depends on what type of dog breed you have. You will find different puppy weight estimates with each breed. To find out how much your dog should be growing by the year or month you should check out information about your breed of dog.
You can check out many different websites that have information on your specific breed of dog and how much he or she should weigh. Many sites publish a puppy weight chart you can use as a general guide. The weight of the dog is all determined on the age and size of the dog. If you have a large breed dog, you might notice their weight and growth to be fast. They should be getting the right amount of weight by a certain age, because for one bigger dogs eat more.
To determine the weight your dog should be, you will be able to use the chart for your breed of dog. As mentioned earlier, many veterinary offices will have a chart you can use, and some even offer the information in pamphlets. Your vet can help you learn about the right type of foods your dog needs and what size they should be by certain age.
It’s a good idea to understand the breed of a dog before taking on the care of one. Larger breed dogs will usually put weight on more quickly than a smaller dog, and breeds which are particularly athletic may weigh more due to their muscularity. For instance, a hunting dog, such as an English Springer Spaniel won’t put on as much weight as an English mastiff, because Springer Spaniels are wiry/athletic where mastiffs are extremely large and less active. Each dog growth rate depends upon the ultimate size of the breed.
If you can’t seem to find any information on your dog’s growth rate, ask your vet if they would be willing to give you a guide for your pup’s first two years of growth, make a record of it, and keep it somewhere visible where you can check up often. A good place would be near your dog food storage area or on the refrigerator.
