Chaperoning hunters, fluffing around homes and winning hearts since the ’90s, there’s no questioning that the “American sweetheart dog breed, aka Labrador Retrievers, has the most versatility of all canines. Little wonder you are considering adopting a labrador if you’re not a labs parent already. Either way, watching your cute paws grow into an adult is an exciting moment for you, as well. It’s okay if you want to be sure that they are growing well in size and weight as labs do not only have a large heart but could be a little extra in size as well, and this growth triggers search queries like When Do Labs Stop Growing & Weight Gaining – growth chart.
This article covers everything you need to know about Labrador Retriever size, weight, and growth pace:
How well do you know your labs? 5 Fun facts about Labrador Retrievers:
- They have webbed toes, which makes them great swimmers. The webbing also serves as a snowshoe in colder climates since it prevents snow from gathering between the toes.
- As fast runners, Labradors are known to run 12 miles per hour
- The versatility of the lab means it can work in a wide range of fields from search and rescue to therapy to hunting to assisting the handicapped and tracking.
- In America & the UK, Labradors are the most popular breed of dog.
- They love to eat and can easily get overweight.
When do Labs Stop Growing?
If you’re thinking, “when do labs stop growing”? worry not your headasit is impossible to use age as a determing factor. Even though, statistically speaking, labs are done growing by their first birthday – it’s relative.
Although, it’s pretty evident that a Labrador who is four years old will not grow any taller (but he may gain more weight as well). However, what about two-year-old or one-year-old Labradors? Well, in broad terms, dogs stop growing sometime between one and two years old. One thing to note is that this depends on the breed.
While the AKC’s official breed standards state that male labs should weigh 55-80 pounds and females should weigh 55-70 pounds, nearly 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight due to a lack in adequately tracking labs’ growth and size.
As stated earlier, labs will continue to gain weight between their first and second birthdays, despite not growing in height.
That is why it is crucial to monitor its weight and ensure it’s staying on the right side of the growth curve, and one of the best ways to do that is to track its growth using a labrador growth chart.
Lab Growing & Weight Gaining Chart
Age | Male Weight | Female Weight |
1 month old | 3 – 5 lb | 2 – 6 lb |
2 month old | 10 – 15 lb | 5 – 10 lb |
3 month old | 20 – 30 lb | 15 – 25 lb |
4 month old | 30 – 40 lb | 25 – 35 lb |
5 month old | 35 – 45 lb | 30 – 40 lb |
6 month old | 40 – 55 lb | 35 – 45 lb |
7 month old | 50 – 60 lb | 40 – 50 lb |
8 month old | 50 – 65 lb | 40 – 55 lb |
9 month old | 55 – 70 lb | 45 – 60 lb |
10 month old | 55 – 70 lb | 50 – 60 lb |
11 month old | 60 – 75 lb | 55 – 65 lb |
12 month old | 65 – 80 lb | 55 – 70 lb |
2 years old | 65 – 80 lb | 55 – 70 lb |
“It is essential to know that every dog is unique and will grow at its own pace. Rest easy if your lab weighs more or less than these numbers, you will learn about tips to help overweight labradors lose weight as you read on”.
How Quickly Do Labs Grow?
Although each Labrador puppy follows the same pattern of growth, the numbers on the scale may vary depending on the dog. Your puppy’s size will quickly change when it arrives home at the age of 8 or 9 weeks.
In a 2007 study, researchers in Norway found that Labrador puppies’ weight gain is highest at 89 days old for females and at 95 days old for males. This is generally between 12 and 14 weeks of age. When they are 18 to 19 weeks old, Labradors usually weigh half what they will as adults.
How big is a Labrador Retriever at six months old?
The weight of a Labrador Retriever should increase by at least two pounds per week until it reaches six months of age. The average 6-month-old Lab grows even faster than this, resulting in a weight gain of 50 pounds. They weigh twice as much at 6 months than at 4 months.
Nevertheless, this rapid growth will come to an end in six months. Labradors will typically slow down their growth at this point, though they will continue to grow for quite some time, however not rapidly as before.
Can my Labrador Retriever get any bigger?
To determine when Labs Stop Growing & Weight Gaining, you must consider these three factors:
- Genes. If you acquired your Lab from a breeder, you could contact them for information about the height and weight of the parents and the adult size of other litters to gauge your puppy’s size on the Labrador Growth & Weight Gaining – growth chart.
- Age. Labrador Retrievers are typically their full size and weight by their first birthday. It may take larger labs up to 18 months to build up their chests; however, they generally gain only minimal weight after that time. In Labradors that are less than a year old, their muscles are still growing to reach adult size.
- Paw Size. Additionally, you should check out your Labrador Retriever’s paws. As this is a classic puppy characteristic, your puppy’s paws may look oversized compared to their legs and body.
How big is a full-grown Labrador Retriever?
According to the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) breed standard, male Labradors stand 23 and 24 inches (57 and 62 cm) tall, while females measure 21.5 and 23.5 inches (54 and 60 cm).
Ideally, a Labrador Retriever should demonstrate its full build by its weight. Initially, their large, tapering tails (known by their breeders as “otter tails”) were intended to serve as a rudder that assisted Labs were swimming in retrieving ducks.
How to weigh a Labrador?
Regularly weighing your dog can help determine whether your Labrador is overweight or underweight so you can know where it fits on the growth chart.
Labradors can be boisterous, and weighing them can be a “thug of war.” However, to track Labrador Growth & Weight Gaining on the growth chart, it is crucial to consistently weigh them over specific periods. Can I weigh my Labrador at home?
Putting them on a bathroom scale would be the simplest method.
Step by step guide on how to weigh a Labrador
- Weigh yourself on a Digital or Analog scale
- then record your weight on a piece of paper
- Carry your dog and weigh the second time.
- Minus the new weight from the former – without the dog
Your Labrador’s weight will determine the difference in weight. Now that you’ve successfully determined your Labrador’s weight let’s determine if their weight falls into the average range.
Helping an overweight Labrador lose weight
It is crucial to keep Labradors’ weight in check as they are prone to becoming overweigh, and a host of other conditions.
What are some of these conditions?
Hip dysplasia is a commonly occurring condition in Labradors. It is a condition whereby the thigh bones of a dog dislocate from the hip socket. As a result, they usually face a lot of pain and are susceptible to degenerative arthritis in a later age. A Lab with hip dysplasia will limp, walk strangely, or stand awkwardly.
Dogs, however, cannot control their health, or weight as they grow. So the responsibility rests on you to ensure your lab is fit at all times.
Here are a few DIY practices to help reduce your dog’s weight – after you’ve seen a vet.
- Be mindful of his treats intake. It’s okay to reward your dog for being a good boy from time to time; make sure you’re feeding him the right ones. Healthy treats are calorie deficient.
- Healthy Eating? Ensure you’re feeding your dog healthy meals in the right proportion. Nutritional foods have high protein value and grains.
- Increase his active hours. Your lab needs physical activity just as you do. Take him out on more strolls or employ the services of a professional dog walker, and you’ll be glad you did.
Bottom Line
- As per American Kennel Club standards, female Labs should weigh between 55 and 70 pounds, and male Labs should weigh between 65 and 80 pounds.
- Using this Labrador Growth & Weight Gaining – growth chart you can predict your lab’s growth between the ages of 1-24 months.