If you are wondering, “when will a golden retriever be full grown,” then you must be a new pet owner. The golden retriever—one of the most cherished breeds of dog lovers—is classified as a large breed. Apart from its size, this breed is also famous as a great family doggo.
In addition to being a family favorite, golden retrievers are good hunting dogs and amazing show dogs. If you are like other pet owners who got golden retriever puppies, then read further. This post aims to guide you in taking care of this breed from its puppy stage to its adult phase.
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What to Do in the Early Stages of a Golden Retriever’s Growth
One thing to note is that puppies don’t follow a linear growth. You’ll find some golden retrievers growing faster compared to the others. The growth spurts are not regular. This is why there’s no need to worry when your puppy seems smaller or bigger compared to the other one.
Your puppy’s growth varies within the first 24 months from its birth. This is an important time where you need to track how your pet grows and observe other changes that come with growing. For dog lovers, this is the most exciting and fun part of taking care of puppies.
When Does Your Golden Retriever Puppy Begin Growing?
At the first few weeks, your golden retriever puppy begins to explore walking. This is also where it learns about obedience and affection from its parents. Keep in mind that it’s important for the puppy to socialize outside of its litter so that it will get used to others’ presence.
After three months, you can now rehome a golden retriever puppy to a family. Socialization helps since your puppy will be likely confused with its new surroundings. Try to remove things that cause fear or stress on your little canine friend.
Enforce discipline and good habits while your retriever is still young. It may take a while, but around this phase, the puppy begins to be energetic and playful. Learn how to control the puppy’s behavior without instilling any fear on your pet.
Are One-Year-Old Golden Retrievers Already Full Grown?
If your dog is healthy, when will it become full grown? Remember this: when your dog manages to maintain its energy for the duration of 5 months to a year, it won’t take long until it reaches its full size. Golden retrieverscan grow bigger than other breeds, but some would be smaller than others.
In addition, golden retrievers would take a year or two to reach their full maturity phase. Bear in mind that the growth of your pet depends on how well his health and diet is provided. You need to know what types of dog food to avoid to keep your pet safe.
Let your dog have a healthy diet and avoid giving junk food. Owners love to see their pets eat well, but this doesn’t mean that you should feed it everything that humans eat.
Consider your dog’s health and nutrition so that it can reach its peak growth with no problems. Don’t overfeed your dog because golden retrievers can put on weight real fast. Serious health problems are likely to occur when your golden retriever is overweight.
Moreover, you can expect that at one to two years old, a golden retriever’s bones are full grown. That said, you should not forget to take your dog out for better physical exercise. Aside from the physical growth, golden retrievers also grow emotionally. At around three years, the emotional output of the breed is fully developed.
Guarantee Your Golden Retriever’s Healthy Growth with Proper Exercise
There are plenty of fun activities that you can do with your golden retriever puppy. A chew toy, for instance, will not only entertain this energetic breed but will also stimulate its mind.
Furniture enthusiasts might not like this, but golden retrievers tend to chew on couches and other types of furniture. They also love to dig up the backyard which is why you need to make sure that they have a big-enough space to drain their energy.
Golden retrievers love the outdoors, and that trait links them back to being hunters. Play fetch with your pets, have long walks and runs every day. Don’t forget to shower them with enough love and attention.
Cherish Your Golden Retriever!
Raising a wonderful dog such as a golden retriever is a treat for any owner. Don’t be anxious about its size as this canine friend is a manageable breed. Most of all, you can be certain that the love it can give back to you is bigger than its physical measure.
