Until how old is a dog considered a puppy

Do you know if your dog is still a puppy? And how old do you think your dog is in human years? The life cycle of a dog differs for all dog breeds, so use this simple program to calculate how mature your dog is and your dog's "human" age. All rights reserved. Username: Password: Forgot your password? Is my puppy still a puppy? Switzerland Schweiz. United Kingdom. United Arab Emirates English.

United States. For Dogs. For Cats. About Hill's. Media Press Releases Media Kit. Other Careers. Published by. When Does a Puppy Become a Dog? Here's what to look for as your puppy matures: Sexual Maturity: Most dogs become sexually mature by 6 months when they're still in the puppy stage of development — both physically and emotionally.

At this point, your pup's sex organs are fully developed, making him capable of reproducing. This is generally the best time to have your dog spayed or neutered in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies and adverse behaviors, such as roaming or marking. Physical Maturity: Physically speaking, dogs are fully grown by the time they're 1 year old, although large breeds may keep growing until they're 2 years old.

When your pup reaches physical maturity, he may still engage in puppy-like behaviors but his physical needs, including the number of calories he needs to consume and how much exercise he requires to stay healthy, become that of an adult dog.

Emotional Maturity: You'll know your dog has reached emotional maturity when he stops acting like a puppy or an adolescent and fully settles into the role of an adult dog. Typically, emotionally mature adults are less distractible, better at listening and obeying and have a calmer and more settled demeanor. The precise timing of this milestone differs but most dogs reach emotional maturity by their second birthday. How to Handle Puppy Adolescence In puppy development, the time between reaching sexual maturity and emotional maturity is akin to human adolescence.

Here's how you should expect to meet your growing dog's changing needs: Adult Dog Food: Growing puppies burn through a lot of energy in a day and need specialized food that's high in protein, fat and calories in order to keep up. Once they're fully grown, though, they should switch to adult dog food that will meet their nutritional needs and prevent them from becoming overweight. In order to avoid tummy troubles, it's best to transition slowly over the space of a week, gradually reducing the amount of puppy food while adding in their new adult food.

Veterinary Care: Barring illness or injury, healthy adult dogs in their prime typically only need to visit a veterinarian once a year for an annual wellness check and, depending on the laws in your state, an annual rabies vaccine.

For puppies, however, veterinarians will administer a series of vaccinations starting at six to eight weeks of age, ending with a final dose at 16 weeks, says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ASPCA. Some small and toy breeds can meet their exercise requirements by simply following you around the house and engaging in occasional play, while larger dogs tend to need at least 30 minutes a day of vigorous activity in order to stay calm and fit.

Without the puppy-like urge to romp and explore, your adult pooch may need more structured forms of exercise such as going on walks, accompanying you on hikes or playing fetch in the backyard.

As a puppy nears adulthood, the way that he interacts with other dogs will likely begin to change. For instance, if other dogs live in the household, a young dog may begin to assert his desire to be treated with greater deference, even becoming the more dominant dog in the group, Gruen says. If any of these behaviors occur, talk to your veterinarian about a positive-based management plan early, as it is easier to address these types of issues before they become more serious.

As a young dog reaches adulthood, he may begin to lose some interest in playtime and might become more interested in spending his time sniffing around at the dog park instead. You may be less likely to see the consistently deferential behavior toward older dogs that puppies show. An older dog may also become annoyed with younger puppies jumping all over him, so keep that in mind when walking past a stranger on the street with a little pup who may want to greet your dog.

Published: March 23, By: Chewy Editorial Published: March 23, By: Dr. Deb M. Eldredge Updated: September 16, By: Victoria Schade Updated: June 15, By: Chewy Editorial Updated: August 26, By: Somyr Perry Updated: December 16, By: Chewy Editorial Updated: June 15, By: Chewy Editorial Updated: January 20,