Regardless of whether you get a Black, Chocolate, or Yellow Lab, there’s one truth you’ve got to come to terms with: your Labrador Retriever isn’t going to stay a cute puppy forever! Labrador puppies continue to grow throughout their first two years, and once an adult, they have big, solid legs and a rock-solid build.
As your puppy grows into adulthood, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different stages of its growth. This article will detail what is considered an appropriate weight and size both while growing and once fully grown.
Like several other dog breeds, the size of Labrador Retrievers can differ significantly from dog to dog. For this reason, it’s difficult to class them as a specific size, which sees them often classed in the vague ‘medium-to-large’ category.
In terms of height, the average Labrador will fall into the medium-sized breed category, while their sturdy build leads many to consider them to be of the large-sized breed category. This build makes them ideal assistance dogs as well as rescue dogs.
A female Labrador will reach a height of approximately 54 – 60 cm and weigh 25 – 31 kg.
A male Labrador will reach a height of roughly 57 – 62 cm and weigh 29 – 36 kg.
Still, despite being regularly classed as big dogs, they aren’t exactly bulky like other dogs. Behind the dense coat, you’ll find defined muscles that make these large dogs surprisingly agile.
This highly active dog reaches its full size somewhere between the ages of 12 months and two years – so you don’t have a long time at all with them at puppy height!
The age at which they reach their maximum size depends on how quickly they gain weight. Use a Labrador weight chart to make sure your pup is gaining weight at a healthy rate.
Generally, this dog breed will reach its maximum height around the time of their first birthday, while they’ll reach a maximum height around the time of their second birthday. So, you can expect your Labrador to reach full size by the age of 24 months.
The ideal Labrador weight for a female should be between 25 and 31kg. A healthy male Labrador will have an average weight of somewhere between 29 and 36kg. However, it’s normal for weight gain to occur as your Lab grows older.
How to make sure a Labrador dog isn’t overweight
Besides regularly weighing your dog to check if he falls within the expected weight brackets for his age, there are several ways you can check to see if your Labrador is of a healthy weight.
One thing you could try is to examine your pup physically; a healthy Labrador should have a narrow waist, while its body should slope upwards from the chest to the thighs.
Another way you can check that your Labrador dog isn’t overweight is by checking its ribs. If you can clearly feel each individual rib through the dog’s chest, then your dog is of a healthy weight.
To ensure that your Lab puppy grows properly, you need to feed it sufficient food for its size and weight. By the age of 6 weeks, you should up their portions up to two cups of food per day, and so on.
Lab puppies also need plenty of exercise. The rule that many dog owners abide by is to extend their exercise routine by 5 minutes every month.
A fully-grown Labrador puppy will be around 54-62cm in terms of height. However, these high-energy dogs grow in all shapes and sizes, with some being classed as medium-sized dogs and others being considered to be large.
Labradors are not meant to be fat, but they remain one of the most obese breeds of dogs. They do overeat when given a chance, so it’s important to keep food out of their reach around the house. Snack-based rewards should also be avoided, and plenty of exercise is necessary.
There are two different Labrador breed types: English and American. In terms of size, the English Labrador is slightly bigger than the American, with 9kg more in body fat.
Labradors can be a little random when it comes to weight and height; as a dog owner, you can expect either a big dog or a medium dog.
Either way, be prepared to play plenty of dog sports and feed them accordingly; use Labrador weight charts to ensure that your pup maintains a healthy muscle mass and weight.
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