Puppy Growth Chart
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How puppy growth varies by size
Not all puppies grow at the same rate. A Chihuahua reaches adult weight in about 10 months, while a Great Dane may not finish growing for two years. Understanding your puppy's size group is the single most important factor in predicting their growth trajectory.
Maturity timeline by breed size
| Size group | Adult weight | Full maturity | Fastest growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy (< 10 lbs) | 5 – 10 lbs | 8–12 months | 8 – 16 weeks |
| Small (10 – 25 lbs) | 10 – 25 lbs | 9–12 months | 8 – 20 weeks |
| Medium (25 – 50 lbs) | 25 – 50 lbs | 12–15 months | 8 – 26 weeks |
| Large (50 – 90 lbs) | 50 – 90 lbs | 15–18 months | 8 – 32 weeks |
| Giant (90+ lbs) | 90 – 150+ lbs | 18–24 months | 8 – 40 weeks |
Full maturity: PetMD, When Do Dogs Stop Growing? (growth-plate closure by size) — size classes matched by name; PetMD's weight bands differ slightly from this chart's (toy 5–12 lb, large 59–99 lb). Adult weight and fastest-growth columns are the breed-group bands this chart's curves use.
The veterinary gold standard for tracking puppy growth is the WALTHAM Puppy Growth Charts, built from data on roughly 50,000 healthy dogs and intended as a standard for healthy growth. The curves here follow the same size-banded approach.
Understanding the growth curve
Puppies don't grow in a straight line. Growth is fastest in the first few months, then gradually slows as the puppy approaches adult weight. The curve is steeper for small breeds (they reach a higher percentage of adult weight earlier) and more gradual for large and giant breeds.
The growth chart above uses breed-group-specific curves to calculate expected weight ranges at each age. Your puppy's actual position on the curve is then used to project their individual adult weight.
When to be concerned
A puppy consistently tracking below the expected range may be underfed, have parasites, or have an underlying health issue. A puppy significantly above the range may be overfed — and excess weight during growth puts dangerous stress on developing joints, especially in large and giant breeds. Rapid weight gain in large breed puppies is a known risk factor for developmental orthopedic disease.
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Weigh every puppy the same way
A growth chart is only as good as the numbers you feed it — a gram scale with hold and tare for puppies, then a platform scale once they outgrow it.
Greater Goods Digital Pet Scale
Most trustedThe wiggle-proof, best-reviewed gram scale most breeders keep on the shelf. Hold and tare functions steady a squirming puppy, and it reads in grams — the resolution the weekly weigh-ins behind this chart actually need.
Redmon Precision Digital Pet Scale (225 lb)
Growing dogsFor the puppy that has outgrown the gram scale: a low-profile 28 × 16 inch platform with a non-skid mat and a no-tip design, reading up to 225 lb in 2 oz steps — enough range to carry a large-breed puppy through to adult weight.
Angel USA 660 lb Veterinary Platform Scale
Large & giant breedsA clinic-style floor scale: a 37 × 20 inch stainless platform with a heavy-duty non-slip mat, 660 lb capacity in 0.2 lb steps, tare, and a wall-mount display you can read while a Great Dane stands on it. Runs on mains or AA batteries.
More puppy scales
Compare platform sizes, capacities, and gram-resolution scales to match your breed.
Sources: WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, Puppy Growth Charts (built from data on about 50,000 healthy dogs; intended as a standard for healthy growth); PetMD, “When Do Dogs Stop Growing?” (maturity ages by size; growth stops when the growth plates seal; spay/neuter age affects closure); VCA Animal Hospitals, “Breeding for dog owners — caring from birth to weaning” (most puppies double their birth weight in the first seven to eight days); the Merck Veterinary Manual on neonatal management (a gain of 5–10% of body weight a day for the first two weeks — the rate behind the 7–14-day doubling window and the two-week vet check, as on our newborn weight chart); Salmeri et al., “Gonadectomy in immature dogs: effects on skeletal, physical, and behavioral development,” J Am Vet Med Assoc 1991 (early gonadectomy delayed growth-plate closure and increased long-bone length); Kealy et al., “Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs,” J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992; Lauten, “Nutritional risks to large-breed dogs: from weaning to the geriatric years,” Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2006; and VCA Animal Hospitals, “Nutritional requirements of large and giant breed puppies” (overfeeding and excess calcium push growth faster than the skeleton can keep up).
Puppy growth chart FAQs
1How much should my puppy weigh at 8 weeks?
It depends entirely on breed size. A Toy breed puppy might weigh around 2 lbs at 8 weeks, a Medium breed around 8 lbs, and a Giant breed around 15 lbs. Use the growth chart above with your puppy's breed size group for an accurate expected range.
2When do puppies stop growing?
Toy breeds typically reach adult weight by 8–12 months and small breeds by 9–12. Medium breeds finish growing around 12–15 months. Large breeds mature at 15–18 months, and Giant breeds may continue growing until 18–24 months or beyond. Larger dogs take longer because they have more growing to do.
3Is my puppy underweight or overweight?
This growth chart shows you an expected weight range for your puppy's age and size group. If your puppy falls below the range, they may be underweight — though some individuals are naturally smaller. If they're above, make sure you're not overfeeding. Either way, your vet can assess body condition at your next visit.
4How accurate are puppy growth charts?
Growth charts based on breed-specific curves are reasonably accurate for purebred dogs. They're less precise for mixed breeds or unusual crosses. The charts show averages — individual puppies within the same breed can vary by 10–20%. Results are most reliable after 8 weeks of age.
5Why does my puppy's growth seem to have slowed down?
This is completely normal. Puppies grow fastest in the first few months, then growth gradually tapers off as they approach maturity. The growth rate slows naturally around 60–70% of adult weight. A sudden stop in growth or weight loss, however, warrants a vet visit.
6Should I worry about growth plates?
Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage near the ends of long bones. They're softer than mature bone and vulnerable to injury during high-impact exercise. Avoid forced running, jumping from heights, or strenuous exercise on hard surfaces until growth plates close — typically around 12–18 months for medium and large breeds, earlier for toy and small breeds, and up to 24 months for giants.
7Does neutering or spaying affect growth?
Research suggests that early spay/neuter (before 6–9 months) may slightly increase adult height because the hormones that close growth plates are removed. The effect is generally small. Discuss timing with your vet based on your breed and circumstances.
8How often should I weigh my puppy?
Weekly weigh-ins are ideal for the first 6 months, then every 2 weeks until maturity. Consistent tracking helps you spot growth stalls or sudden changes early. Use our free Weight Tracker tool to log and visualize your puppy's growth over time.