Golden Retriever Growth Chart: A Complete Development Guide 2024
It’s important to know about the exact Golden Retriever Growth Chart. You might know about its weight range from 65 to 80 pounds and its peak height up to 23 inches. But what are its main stages during growth and what should be an ideal height and weight during those stages?
A Golden Retriever maintains a decent height and weight during complete life. These two metrics are enough to find out the health condition of your lovely puppy. There are five main stages in the life of a Golden Retriever for which we need to carefully analyze its growth.
Stage 1: Puppy Growth
Like any other dog in the world, the first stage in the growth of a Golden Retriever is when it’s a puppy. In Neonatal, we analyze the puppy from its birth till the first 3 weeks. They are completely helpless in said stage and it’s better they should spend maximum time with their mothers.
They slowly open their opens and learn to crawl as well. They should contain a weight of around 5 pounds during said phase. This stage is very crucial as the puppy needs more attention than other stages.
Key Milestones During the Puppy Phase
Stage 2: Social Bonding
This stage remains valid from three weeks to three months. The milk of the mother slowly dries and the puppy starts to intake solid food along with milk. Socialization is the key at this stage.
The puppy learns to behave well with human beings and pets. You should introduce your dog to household items. You can bring it outside in a car so that it understands various things in the universe and tries a establish a social bond.
They experience various things during this phase. Some are as follows:
Key Development Milestones
Stage 3: Juvenile
This stage covers the age of the puppy from 3 to 6 months. During said phase, the growth process looks very slow. One of the reasons for slow growth is that a puppy turns adult and muscle strength increases with time.
The puppy teeth drop and the adult teeth come out. During said stage, we can teach the dog to isolate itself from its mother slowly and gradually. This stage is considered the most crucial as far as training of the Golden Retriever is concerned.
Positive reinforcement and punishments impact a lot on the personality of the dog. You need to appreciate regularly so that it establishes good habits. It remains fearful during said stage and any bad experience will leave marks till later parts of its life.
Key Development Milestones
Stage 4: Sexual Maturity
This stage starts immediately after the first six months of life. It slowly grows into a complete dog and shows heat cycles as well. Your puppy will not be more of a puppy during this stage.
You will see quick growth in almost all body parts of your Golden Retriever. Its legs, ears, and nose will grow very quickly. Don’t worry! It is very normal as the growth process will remain in full swing during said phase.
The bones of the dog grow quickly as well. But this may cause an issue as the elbow or other joints of the pet may degrade or you may see any sign of weakness. Excessive exercise and exertion may be discontinued immediately if you see any kind of damage to bones or muscles.
Key Development Milestones
5: Adults Maturity
After 16 months of Golden Retriever’s age, you can call it an adult dog. Though it grows slowly for some more years after that, it has almost grown during that period. Males enjoy the height of 23 to 24 inches whereas females enjoy the height of 21.5 to 22.5 inches.
Usually, the height of the pet becomes fixed at this stage but its weight fluctuates even till the last months of its age. You may see your pet as the leanier one but don’t worry as things will balance out more quickly.
A male carries an ideal weight of 65 to 80 pounds while a female carries a weight from 55 to 90 pounds. The weight of your pet should be around above said values. If that is not the case, then you should consult your vet for your dog and change its diet and exercise sessions immediately.
Key Development Milestones
When does a Golden Retriever stop Growing?
The Retriever grows gradually till 2 years of its life. After 2 years, it has gained a maximum height and almost a maximum weight. The ears, legs, and other features of the dog are also grown to their full extent. So, technically we can say that its growth completes at the age of 2 but in some cases, you may see slight growth patterns.
Golden Retriever Growth Chart
By now, it has become easy for you to gauge the growth of your pet at different stages. Still, we know that each dog’s growth rate varies and sometimes changes occur in just a few weeks. So, we will present you different charts, separate for male and female Retrievers, for better understanding.
Male Golden Retriever Growth Chart
Female Golden Retriever Growth Chart
Age
Weight Range
% of Weight
7 Weeks
4 -17 lbs, av. 9 lbs
12%
8 Weeks
5 – 17 lbs, av. 10 lbs
13.5%
9 Weeks
8 – 17 lbs, av. 12 lbs
16.5%
10 Weeks
10–22 lbs, av 15 lbs
20.5%
11 Weeks
12–25 lbs, av. 17 lbs
23%
3 Months
16–43 lbs, av. 22 lbs
30%
4 Months
25–44 lbs, av. 30 lbs
41%
5 Months
27–57 lbs, av. 40 lbs
55%
6 Months
29–72 lbs, av. 44 lbs
60%
7 Months
32–77 lbs av. 48 lbs
66%
8 Months
49–85 lbs, av. 55 lbs
75%
9 Months
45–77 lbs, av. 61 lbs
83.5%
10 Months
50–77 lbs, av. 63 lbs
86%
11 Months
55–77 lbs, av. 68 lbs
93%
1 Year
65–77 lbs, av, 68 lbs
93%
2 Year
65–80 lbs, av. 73 lbs
100%
Age
Weight Range
% of Weight
7 Weeks
4 -17 lbs, av. 9 lbs
13%
8 Weeks
5 – 17 lbs, av. 10 lbs
14%
9 Weeks
8 – 17 lbs, av. 12 lbs
17%
10 Weeks
10–22 lbs, av 15 lbs
21.5%
11 Weeks
12–25 lbs, av. 17 lbs
24%
3 Months
16–43 lbs, av. 22 lbs
31.5%
4 Months
25–44 lbs, av. 30 lbs
43%
5 Months
25–52 lbs, av. 40 lbs
57%
6 Months
27–61 lbs, av. 43 lbs
61.5%
7 Months
31–67 lbs av. 45 lbs
64%
8 Months
40–68 lbs, av. 52 lbs
74%
9 Months
44–68 lbs, av. 52 lbs
76%
10 Months
52–68 lbs, av. 60 lbs
86%
11 Months
52–80 lbs, av. 65 lbs
93%
1 Year
65–77 lbs, av, 68 lbs
93%
2 Year
65–80 lbs, av. 73 lbs
100%
Male Golden Retriever Growth Chart
| Age | Weight Range | % of Weight |
| 7 Weeks | 4 -17 lbs, av. 9 lbs | 12% |
| 8 Weeks | 5 – 17 lbs, av. 10 lbs | 13.5% |
| 9 Weeks | 8 – 17 lbs, av. 12 lbs | 16.5% |
| 10 Weeks | 10 – 22 lbs – av 15 lbs | 20.5% |
| 11 Weeks | 12 – 25 lbs, av. 17 lbs | 23% |
| 3 Months | 16 – 43 lbs, av. 22 lbs | 30% |
| 4 Months | 25 – 44 lbs, av. 30 lbs | 41% |
| 5 Months | 27 – 57 lbs, av. 40 lbs | 55% |
| 6 Months | 29 – 72 lbs, av. 44 lbs | 60% |
| 7 Months | 32 – 77 lbs av. 48 lbs | 66% |
| 8 Months | 49 – 85 lbs, av. 55 lbs | 75% |
| 9 Months | 45 – 77 lbs, av. 61 lbs | 83.5% |
| 10 Months | 50 – 77 lbs, av. 63 lbs | 86% |
| 11 Months | 55 – 77 lbs, av. 68 lbs | 93% |
| 1 Year | 65 – 77 lbs, av, 68 lbs | 93% |
| 2 Years | 65 – 80 lbs, av. 73 lbs | 100% |
Female Golden Retriever Growth Chart
| Age | Weight Range | % of Weight |
| 7 Weeks | 4 -17 lbs, av. 9 lbs | 13% |
| 8 Weeks | 5 – 17 lbs, av. 10 lbs | 14% |
| 9 Weeks | 8 – 17 lbs, av. 12 lbs | 17% |
| 10 Weeks | 10 – 22 lbs, av. 15 lbs | 21.5% |
| 11 Weeks | 12 – 25 lbs, av. 17 lbs | 24% |
| 3 Months | 16 – 43 lbs, av. 22 lbs | 31.5% |
| 4 Months | 22 – 44 lbs, av. 30 lbs | 43% |
| 5 Months | 25 – 52 lbs, av. 40 lbs | 57% |
| 6 Months | 27 – 61 lbs, av. 43 lbs | 61.5% |
| 7 Months | 31 – 67 lbs av. 45 lbs | 64% |
| 8 Months | 40 – 68 lbs, av. 52 lbs | 74% |
| 9 Months | 44 – 68 lbs, av. 52 lbs | 76% |
| 10 Months | 52 – 68 lbs, av. 60 lbs | 86% |
| 11 Months | 52 – 80 lbs, av. 65 lbs | 93% |
| 1 Year | 55 – 90 lbs, av. 70 lbs | 93% |
| 2 Years | 55 – 90 lbs, av. 70 lbs | 100% |
Dangers for Quick Growth
You might be thinking of feeding excessively to achieve quick results compared to the age of your Golden Retriever. But remember one thing early growth causes a lot of health issues including obesity and muscle non-development. So, try to provide a balanced diet and exercise time to your dog for better results.
Better Health Growth Tips and Tricks
Here are some best practices that will help you achieve good health for your lovely Golden Retriever.
Appropriate and Balanced Diet
There is no alternative to a good diet to achieve good health for your pet. Give the desired diet to your dog for that specific age. Don’t feed a six-month-old dog with a 1-year diet recommended plan. A lot of your efforts will lessen if you food your dog properly.
Regular Exercise
Golden Retrievers tend to gain weight quickly. So, a proper exercise plan is crucial along with a proper diet plan. Half an hour to an hour of exercise will be sufficient for the dog.
Muscle growth will be better if a dog does regular exercise. It will help him tackle muscle or joint pains in a better way. The importance of exercise can’t be over-emphasized as it is as important for dogs as it’s important for any other breed.
Vaccinations
Although extra vaccinations aren’t recommended. But still, they help against hepatitis, rabies, and distemper. So, don’t overrule the option of vaccination especially when it’s critical.
Genetic Issues Handling
Your dog may suffer from various genetic issues and the best to deal with them is to closely observe the traits of its immediate parents. Consult your vet in case of severe issues.
Watch Out for Abrupt Changes
Your dog will not be able to tell you clearly if it suffers from any pain. Your job is to monitor closely its routine matters. If you see a quick change in its weight, movement issue, or any other unusual thing, then consult your vet for immediate treatment.
Conclusion
A Golden Retriever grows gradually mostly in 5 different stages. It opens up its eyes in the first few weeks, learns to crawl and walk, replaces adult teeth with puppy teeth, displays mating signs during the adult phase and finally grows at the age of 16 months or 2 years. Proper diet, exercise, and regular visit visits help in better growth of the Golden Retriever.
