When is my dog mature?

From puppy to junior and eventually adult… But when does your dog mentally and physically enter the next life stage? And how do you know if your dog is fully grown? That’s different for every dog! Discover quickly when your dog becomes an adult.

When can I say my dog is an adult?

In theory, a dog becomes an adult when it reaches sexual maturity, which is usually around six months old for most dogs. That means it’s still in the middle of the puppy phase! At this point, your Buddy doesn’t look fully grown yet. Therefore, we consider a dog to be physically mature when it reaches adulthood.

The growth curve of your dog largely depends on its size. Small dog breeds grow much faster than large dog breeds. So, small dogs mature earlier than their larger counterparts.

• Small dogs, rapid growers: Small dogs become full-grown quickly! For example, a Chihuahua takes a maximum of 10 months to be fully grown.
• Medium-sized dogs, moderate growers: If your dog weighs around 10 to 25 kilograms as an adult, it will be done growing at around 12 months old. So, it reaches its adult weight around its first birthday.
• Large dogs, slow growers: You’ll need a bit more patience with large dog breeds. If your furry friend will weigh over 25 kilograms, it will keep growing until it reaches 18 months old. Really large dog breeds continue growing until their second birthday.

How to ensure your dog becomes a healthy adult

Avoid intensive activities

During the puppy phase, a dog’s joints develop, allowing it to carry its adult weight later on. Because a puppy’s joints are still fragile, we recommend avoiding intensive and demanding activities such as long runs or agility training.

The general rule is that a puppy can handle about 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, done 3 to 4 times a day. For example, a 3-month-old puppy can go on a 15-minute walk multiple times throughout the day.

Opt for quality nutrition

To grow healthily, your puppy needs high-quality food with calcium and phosphorus for a strong skeleton in adulthood. Additionally, it requires sufficient calories to explore the world through play. Lastly, the kibble should contain at least 35% protein to develop strong organs and sufficient resistance.

Provide puppy food as long as needed

Your dog should eat puppy food until it is fully grown. After that, you should switch to adult dog food. Puppy food contains more calories, so if you keep feeding it to an adult dog, it may become overweight. If you switch to adult food too early, your dog may develop deficiencies.

With Just Russel, you don’t have to wonder until what age your dog needs puppy food. We automatically adjust the composition of the kibble to your pup’s age. Our kibble grows with your dog! Do you also want tailored – and therefore the best – food for your dog? You can fill out your dog’s profile here and discover its unique composition.

Is your dog physically and mentally mature?

Your buddy is fully grown after 1, maximum 2 years and eats kibble like the ‘big dogs’. But don’t forget that it’s not mentally mature until its second or third year of life. So, continue to train and guide your dog consistently during its mental growth process. This way, it will not only be physically but also mentally healthy!