Knowing when a dog stops being a puppy is a very common question. Age serves as a reference to modify its diet, giving way to that of an adult dog. The change in age also helps us to know when we can start exercising actively and many other issues related to daily care.
However, not all dogs age in the same way: large dogs tend to reach adulthood later than small ones.
In this article on our site we will detail with you when a dog stops being a puppy and becomes an adult as well as some useful tips and considerations you should take into account:
When is a dog considered an adult?
As we discussed earlier, this consideration is directly related to the size of the dog and can vary greatly from breed to breed. In this way, we consider that a dog is an adult in the following way:
- Small dogs: between 9 and 12 months.
- Medium and large dogs: between 12 and 15 months
- Giant dogs: between 18 and 24 months
Once the corresponding age is reached according to its size, the dog becomes a young dog and generally over two years old it is considered to be fully adult.
However, you must remember that each dog has a specific growth rate and that aging is also related to other factors. To know exactly when your dog stops being a puppy, you can go to your trusted veterinarian, who will provide you with an assessment of him after examining him.
What does it mean for your dog to stop being a puppy?
To begin with, there are a series of changes related to care, such as feeding. The puppy will stop using the junior gamma to start on the adult food, which contains less fat and more protein, specific nutritional requirements for this stage.
It is also time to start lengthening his walks as well as introducing him to physical activity and dog sports progressively. This will help him develop his muscles and relieve the stress that accumulates in her body.
It is also time to consolidate basic obedience (sit, come, stay still, lie down…) and give way to the commands of advanced training. Everything you can teach him, including mental stimulation games, will be essential for your dog's mind to stay young for much longer. Offering him new experiences and doing activities with him that he could not do as a puppy will provide him with the well-being he needs.
We must not forget he alth and hygiene routines, very necessary and essential to keep you free from any disease or parasite. Some of these routines are:
- Internal deworming
- External deworming
- Follow-up of the vaccination schedule
- Veterinary visits every 6 or 12 months
- Mouth cleaning
- Eye cleaning
- Hearing cleaning
- Monthly baths
Don't forget that when a dog stops being a puppy he can undergo castration or sterilization, a highly recommended practice to avoid future behavior problems as well as unwanted litters. Castration entails endless advantages, which have a positive impact on her he alth.
