Two of the main concerns that dog lovers have about their beloved pets is about their growth and potential size. This is especially true for those who own medium to large-sized dogs, like the Labrador Retriever.
They start out with cute, little puppies, only to realize later on that their pups can’t seem to stop growing and growing until they have a large, goofy dog on their hands.
Have you ever been concerned about your Lab’s growth spurt? How fast do they grow? When do they actually stop growing?
Well, ask no more for we answer the top questions that you have about your Labrador’s growth!
1) Labrador Retriever Puppy Growth: How fast do they grow and when do they stop growing?
So, you are now the proud owner of a Labrador Retriever puppy. Based on the photos and videos you’ve seen on Google, Facebook, and YouTube, you know your Lab is going to grow into a large dog. Growth in dogs, including Labs, is measured in terms of height and weight.
You are probably wondering how fast do Labrador Retriever puppies grow. In answer to this question, you should expect your Lab puppy to grow fast during the first six months.
After six months, you should expect them to complete their full height or “upward growth”. In terms of weight, you should see the weight gains in your puppy slowing down by six months.
When do they stop growing? Expect your Labrador Retriever puppy to stop growing when they reach one year old. More accurate figures peg their growth to their full adult height at around nine months, although you can still expect them to gain weight or “fill out” (put on flesh) between the ages of one and four years old.
2) How big is an 8-week old, 4-month old, etc. Labrador Retriever?
This question is a valid concern for pet owners who notice that their Lab does not seem to be growing or gaining weight as fast as other puppies of the same breed. Take note that not all Lab puppies grow the same. In most cases, a lag in growth is no cause for alarm and the puppies grow eventually to their right height and weight. Some may experience lags in their growth, which may be due to the following factors:
- The parents are small to begin with, so expect smaller puppies.
- Poor nutrition
- History of illness
- Neglect or maltreatment while puppies
Growth lags caused by the last three factors can be addressed by providing a balanced diet and proper care.
If you are wondering if your Labrador Retriever is growing normally, the rule of thumb is that your puppy should weigh a little above two pounds for each week of age.
So, a puppy that is three months or 12 weeks old has an average weight of 24-25 lbs. In contrast, an older, six months or 24 weeks old puppy would have an average weight of 48 to 50 lbs.
K9 Web offers this handy Lab Growth Chart for those who wish to monitor their Labrador Retriever puppy’s weight. This chart is for both male and female puppies.
Labrador Retriever Male Puppy Weight Chart
| Labrador Age | Average Weight |
| 2 months (8 weeks) | 5-6 kgs (11-13 lbs) |
| 3 months | 10-12 kgs (22-26 lbs) |
| 4 months | 11-18 kgs (25-40 lbs) |
| 5 months | 15-19 kgs (33-49 lbs) |
| 7 months | 23-27 kgs (51-59 lbs) |
| 9 months | 26-31 kgs (57-68 lbs) |
| 11 months | 28-34 kgs (62-75 lbs) |
| 13 months | 29-35 kgs (64-77 lbs) |
| 15 months | 29-35 kgs (64-77 lbs) |
Labrador Retriever Female Puppy Weight Chart
| Labrador Age | Average Weight |
| 2 months (8 weeks) | 5-6 kgs (11-13 lbs) |
| 3 months | 9-12 kgs (20-26 lbs) |
| 4 months | 11-18 kgs (25-40 lbs) |
| 5 months | 16-19 kgs (35-49 lbs) |
| 7 months | 20-25 kgs (40-55 lbs) |
| 9 months | 22-28 kgs (48-62 lbs) |
| 11 months | 24-30 kgs (53-66 lbs) |
| 13 months | 25-31 kgs (55-68 lbs) |
| 15 months | 25-32 kgs (55-70 lbs) |
3) How long do Labrador Retrievers grow? How fast do they grow?
As we have mentioned in No. 1 above, it takes a full year for Labrador Retrievers to achieve their full adult height, although in some cases, full growth can be observed as early as nine months. You can expect your Labs to experience faster growth from 0 to 6 months of age.
After that, their growth rate, especially their weight gain, starts to slow down. However, it should be mentioned that Labradors are prone to obesity. So it is strongly advised to give them a healthy balanced diet in the right amounts to keep them from getting fat in adulthood and in their senior years.
4) At what age is a Labrador Retriever fully grown? When do they stop growing?
Let’s expand the term “growth”. You see, the term “growth” in dogs does not only include physical maturity, but also sexual and mental maturity.
When it comes to physical maturity, you can expect your Labrador Retriever to have achieved its full height or full growth between nine months and one year of age, although they may continue to gain weight or fill out up to four years of age.
When it comes to sexual maturity, female Labs go into their first heat between the ages of six and nine months. On the other hand, male Labs are ready to mate even before they hit the age of one year old.
Full mental maturity in Labradors is achieved at 18 months or 1 1/2 years old. However, some Lab owners continue to observe puppy behaviors in their dog even beyond two years of age.
5) How big do Labrador Retrievers get, both male and female?
According to the breed standard of the American Kennel Club (AKC), the average size of the Labrador Retriever in general is 21.5 to 24.5 inches at the shoulder with a weight of 55 to 80 lbs.
Male Labrador Retrievers have an average height of 22.5 to 24. 5 inches and an average weight of 65 to 80 lbs. Female Labradors, on the other hand, have an average height of 21.5 to 23.5 inches and an average weight of 55-70 pounds.
It should be noted, however, that Labrador Retrievers may have figures that vary from the standards set forth by the AKC. For example, Labradors in the UK have been found to have heights that are 2 to 3 cms higher than the AKC breed standard.
6) How fast do Labrador Retriever mixes grow? How big do they get?
Labrador Retriever mixes are considered as “designer dogs”. These are dogs that cross breed Labs with canines from other breeds. The growth of a Labrador Retriever mix is dependent upon the dog that the Lab has been cross bred with.
On average, Lab mixes experience growth spurts up to their sixth month, achieving full growth at 12 to 18 months. Labs that have been cross bred with larger dogs achieve full maturity at a later age. For example, the Labrador and Pitbull Terrier mix, called the Pitador, achieve full growth between the ages of 12 months and two years.
So far, there are 51 known Labrador Retriever mixes. Here is a list of the most common Lab mixes, the breed to which the Lab has been cross bred with, and their average heights and weights:
| NAME OF MIX | LAB CROSSED WITH | AVERAGE HEIGHT | AVERAGE WEIGHT |
| Labloodhound | Bloodhound | 22-28 inches | 70-110 lbs |
| Labbe | Beagle | 19-24 inches | 25-70 lbs |
| Dachsador | Dachshund | 9-15 inches | 15-30 lbs |
| Bassador | Basset Hound | 13-20 inches | 45-70 lbs |
| Greyhound Lab | Greyhound | 22-28 inches | 67-70 lbs |
| Pitador | Pitbull | 17-25 inches | 45-90 lbs |
| Afador | Afghan Hound | 20-29 inches | 60-75 lbs |
| Borador | Border Collie | 19-24 inches | 40-65 lbs |
| Cavador | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 18-24 inches | 22-55 lbs |
| Goldador | Golden Retriever | 22-24 inches (male); 20-22 inches (female) | 60-80 lbs |
| Labernese | Bernese Mountain Dog | 24-26 inches | 65-110 lbs |
| Labmaraner | Weimaraner | 24 inches (male); 22 inches (female) | Around 65 lbs |
| Labradoodle | Standard Poodle | 21-24 inches | 50-90 lbs |
| Rottador/Labrottie | Rottweiler | 24-27 inches | 70-115 lbs |
| Springador | English Springer Spaniel | 18-24 inches | 50-90 lbs |
| Labsky | Siberian Husky | 20-28 inches | 40-60 lbs |
In conclusion, Labrador Retrievers as a breed have a growth spurt up to six months, after which they grow taller and gain weight less rapidly. By the time they are fully grown, you can expect them to be 21.5 to 24.5 inches tall and weighing between 55 and 80 lbs.
Definitely, purebred Labs and their mixes are medium to large sized dogs. As a dog owner, given our figures above, you can already anticipate their height and weight as they grow from being puppies to full adulthood.
