How Big Will My Mutt Puppy Get
Did you know that 80% of all shelter dogs are of mixed breed? This can make it difficult to determine the adult size of that adorable puppy. However, it's not impossible, you just need to know some helpful hints.
In this post, we are going to discuss the mutt puppy, just how big will he grow? Find out…
What signs do you need to look for?
Big Paws? Big Dog!
The first place you can look to is your puppy's paws. Big paws usually mean your dog is going to be on the larger size of the scale. Canines will grow into their paws in order to support their bigger carriage. For example, a German Shepherd or Great Dane puppy will start out with huge feet.
Over time and as his body develops, his paws will become proportional to the rest of his bulky frame. Humans tend to share this trait as well.
Inspect the size of the paws can help estimate puppy's adult size.
Loose Skin
Does your puppy have a lot of loose skin? This is another indication that he will be a larger mutt when fully grown. Like the paws, your puppy will fill out all the "extra" skin. So be on the lookout if that adorable mutt puppy looks like he needs to be ironed.
Look to The Parents
Although this technique may not be available to you if you are adopting from a shelter, the size of the parents is a good indication of future puppy size. If you are adopting through a private sale, then seeing at least the mother will give you a better idea of your puppy's adult size.
"Designer" dogs are also considered "mutts" in the eyes of the AKC (American Kennel Club) and the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club). However, these types of canines are becoming more and more popular.
Have you heard of the Goldendoodle and Cockapoo? These are examples of hybrids/designer dogs.
You can estimate the general size of your hybrid puppy by the purity of the parent's genetics. If one parent was a purebred Golden Retriever and the other a purebred Poodle, then you can get a general idea of the size of that Goldendoodle puppy.
How to Calculate Growth
Puppies should not be separated from their mother until they are at least eight-weeks-old. To help determine your mutts adult size, know that at 10 weeks old a puppy is roughly 25% of its adult weight. At four months of age, he will be 50% of his adult weight and 75% at six months old.
A dog's height is also a good indicator of future size. Measuring a dog's height is done from the top of the shoulder to the floor. At six months of age, your puppy will be approximately 75% of his adult height.
At 10 weeks old, a puppy is roughly 25% of its adult height.
Keep in mind that those toy breeds will develop much faster than a larger breed of dog. In fact, some dogs that have Great Dane or Mastiff mixed in could continue to fill out up to two (or even three) years of age.
Need some extra help in getting those sizes down? This puppy chart can give you a helping "paw."
Some More Math For Mixed Breed Measuring
We know there's no 100% predictable and accurate way to determine the adult size of your mutt; however, the following math may help.
- On average a puppy should double its birth weight by the time it is a week-old. There is also another 5% to 10% daily increase after one week.
- Small mutts will gain about 5 oz per week after 6 weeks of age. Large mutts can be expected to gain about 2.5 pounds weekly.
If your mutt is medium to large in nature, you can double his weight at 14 weeks old, then add another half of that number for an approximate adult weight. For example, if your puppy is 20 pounds at 14 weeks old it would be - 20 + 20 + 10 = total adult weight of 50 pounds.
For a toy to small breed, the math works by doubling his weight at 6 weeks old and doubling it again for an estimated adult weight.
Ask A Veterinarian
You can always get a second opinion by asking a veterinarian when you visit for your puppy's vaccinations. He or she will have a lot of experience in dealing with all kinds of canines, so ask their opinion for more information.
How Big Will Your Mutt Doggy Get?
When you adopt a mutt, there is no 100% method to determine his adult size. This is due to, not only genetics but how the puppy was treated at birth. Stress, nutrition, and even climate can all play a factor in your puppy's overall health, wellbeing and growth rates.
If you are unsure of a mutt puppy's adult size and you have circumstances that dictate its outcome (ie small apartment/house, the cost of feeding/care) then look for a puppy you know will stay the size you need.
if you want to know more on things involve around canines or pets in general, please check out our homepage and find out topics you may be interested in.
Sources
- http://www.fidosavvy.com/puppy-weight-estimates.html
- https://herepup.com/how-big-will-my-puppy-get/
