Labrador Retriever Puppy Growth Chart & Weight Calculator
May 20, 2021 2022-08-16 17:10Labrador Retrievers are considered medium-to-large dogs. However, their weight can vary quite a bit. To get some idea of how big your puppy might grow, enter your pet’s current weight and age into the growth calculator below.
Labrador Retriever Weight Calculator & Growth Chart
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How big will my Labrador Retriever get?
Male and female Labrador Retrievers vary slightly in size. According to the official breed standards of the AKC, males weigh about 55-80 pounds, while females weigh 55-70 pounds. Almost all dogs fall within this guideline, though there may be a few rarer dogs just on the outside of the weight guidelines. Because of how carefully bred these dogs often are, this is extremely rare, though.
Male Labrador Retrievers stand between 21.5-24.5 inches. Females stand at 21.5-23.5.
As you can see, males Labrador Retrievers can be a bit larger than females, though they may not necessarily be. This is particularly true for American Labs. In other countries, the weight and height minimum for males is often higher than it is in America.
What does a 4-month Labrador Retriever weigh?
From their birth to about six months, Labrador Retriever puppies grow very rapidly. Right after birth, they often gain about two pounds a week or more. Genetics begin to play a role in the puppy’s size after it is born, while placement in the uterus often plays the largest role in the dog’s size before birth.
This rapid weight continues as the puppy ages. By four months, most Labrador Retrievers weigh about 25 pounds. Of course, the dog’s genetics do play a role. Smaller dogs will often stay smaller at this point, while larger dogs often stay bigger.
How big is a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever?
Labrador Retrievers should continue to gain at least two pounds a week until they reach six months old. Most of them will gain even more than this, putting the average weight of a 6-month-old Lab at 50 pounds. That is double what they weighed at four months.
However, six months does mark the end of this rapid period of growth. The average Labrador will typically start growing slower at this point, though they will still grow for quite a while. It just won’t be nearly as fast as it was the first six months of their life.
When is a Labrador Retriever fully grown?
Most Labrador Retrievers reach their full height at around six to 12 months. Typically, they grow very quickly in the first six months of their life, but this growth slows down considerably after the sixth month. After that, they may still continue to gain a little bit of height, but their full adult height has basically been reached. You can’t expect your dog to get much taller.
While their full height may be reached this early, many dogs continue to “fill out” until they are close to two years. During the first six months to a year, the dog’s calories are mostly going towards their height and development. Many dogs are often lanky during this period for this reason. However, once they reach their full height, the calories can be put towards muscle gain and fat storage. Most Labrador Retrievers won’t reach their adult weight for some time after they reach their full height.
Some owners may attempt to speed up the dog’s weight gain by feeding them extra, but this isn’t recommended. Too many calories can make the dog grow too quickly, which can cause hip dysplasia and other problems. Your dog will have plenty of time to bulk up. Don’t misinterpret their lankiness for being too skinny.
Because all Retrievers (such as also Flat-Coated and Golden Retrievers) are very food-motivated, you need to be careful to not overfeed your dog.
Is a Labrador a medium or large dog?
Technically, a Labrador Retriever can fall into either the medium or large category. They straddle the line as a breed. Individual dogs will either fall at the upper end of the medium category or rest just inside the large category. It isn’t uncommon for Labs to technically switch between the medium and large categories throughout their life.
For this reason, they are often described as medium-to-large-sized dogs.
What is a healthy weight for a Labrador?
This depends on the dog. The health range for a Labrador is 55-80 pounds if they are a male and 55-70 pounds if they are a female. However, this doesn’t mean that your particular dog is healthy if they fall anywhere in this range. That is a large range. Your dog’s healthy weight will depend on genetics and height.
A dog that is naturally 55 pounds would be terribly overweight at 80 pounds. For this reason, it is important to use your dog’s body condition when determining if they are at a healthy weight. Use the official breed guidelines as a guide but consider your dog’s body condition first and foremost.
If you aren’t sure whether your pet is a healthy weight or not, consider paying your vet a visit. They will be able to accurately weigh your dog and determine if they are a healthy weight or not.
Why is my Labrador so skinny?
Many Labradors will appear skinny as puppies. It takes them until about the age of two to bulk up to their adult weight. However, they reach their adult height much sooner than this, so it isn’t unusual for them to look a bit skinny for a bit.
This doesn’t mean you need to feed them extra or anything of that sort. They will bulk up naturally as they age. Gaining weight too fast can put unnecessary strain on their joints, which can cause health problems further down the road. Our recommendation is to be patient in your Labrador’s weight gain.
It may seem that your Lab practically stops growing after about six months. However, they do have growth spurts after this, and they are all focused on muscle and fat gain. These dogs do not grow “evenly.” Don’t let this worry you, though.
If you’re particularly concerned about your dog’s weight, we recommend visiting your vet. This especially applies if your Labrador is a senior dog that has stopped eating.
