How Much Weight Should Puppy Gain?
Puppy weight gain is different from adult dog weight gain, and it is important to know how much your puppy should weigh at this early stage. Newborn Mastiff puppies weigh about twice as much as Shih Tzu puppies and medium breeds weigh about eight ounces (250 grams). While pet parents will need to monitor their new puppy’s weight gain closely, the average increase in weight should be between ten and fifteen percent a day.
Average weight gain for toy breeds
Although toy breeds are smaller than larger breeds, their growth rate is quite rapid. The average toy dog will gain five to ten ounces per day, reaching maturity between eight and nine months. Toy dog growth is the fastest during the first six weeks of life, and the average adult weight of a toy dog is around twelve pounds. To give you a better idea of how much your new puppy will grow, we’ve listed some of the most popular toy breeds and their average growth rates.
To determine the ideal adult weight, start by using the growth curves of each breed. Toy breeds and small breeds reach T99 at 9-10 mo, while giant breeds reach T99 at 14-16 mo. You’ll find that a large toy breed can reach T99 at 11 to 15 mo, but this is not always the case. You can also use the formula that’s shown in the following table.
Using the chart, double the weight of a toy puppy at six weeks. Since most people won’t know their puppy’s weight at this age, we’ll have to use a chart to calculate the adult weight of a toy dog. A 12-week-old toy breed will weigh 24 ounces (1.5 pounds), while a giant breed will take as much as a year or more to reach full size.
Average weight gain for larger breeds
The growth curves of larger breed puppies follow a different pattern than small-breed dogs. The slopes are different, and so are the rates of growth. The logarithmic scale, however, makes the curves parallel. This makes it difficult to determine the average gain of a larger breed puppy. The following are some important aspects to consider when determining the average weight gain for larger breed puppies. This information may prove helpful in determining the optimal feeding schedule.
The growth rate for each breed is different, and this is the reason why puppy growth charts are not perfect. While the growth rate of a smaller breed puppy is similar to that of a medium-sized German Shepherd puppy, a larger breed puppy will grow slower than a small one. While a small dog will grow to adulthood in about 10 months, a larger dog can take between one and three years. If you are interested in determining the average weight gain for larger breed puppies, it is best to consult with a veterinarian about the growth rate of your particular breed.
During the early stages of growth, the weight of a large-breed puppy is higher than that of a small-breed puppy. Females, for example, were more likely to protect the smaller pup during nursing time, which led to a higher weight difference between the genders. But after weaning, the growth rate of a larger-breed dog falls to only one third of that of a smaller breed.
There is no one size for larger-breed puppies. Puppy weight charts are only estimates and guidelines, and will vary from puppy to puppy. Purebred puppies, on the other hand, grow at a predictable rate based on breed size. In general, however, a puppy will grow within a range of size and weight. So, the size of your new pet should not surprise you! You may even be surprised by their size when they reach adulthood.