It takes about 18 months for a Golden to reach their full adult weight
An eight week old puppy starts off around 10 pounds
Once they are full grown the average Golden Retriever size is 55–65lb for an adult female and 65–75lb for an adult male
But there are a lot of factors that can influence your baby Golden Retriever as they grow towards maturity
How big are Golden Retriever puppies?Growth and Growing UpAdult height and weightFeeding and ExerciseMini Golden Retrievers
Golden Retriever size matters
In this article we are going to help you to work out whether your dog is a healthy weight and height for their age as they mature
We’ll look at the roles that type, diet and activity levels play in a full grown Golden Retriever’s size and give you some tips for getting the balance right between food and exercise
How Big Are Golden Retriever Puppies?
All dogs are individuals, including Golden Retriever puppies
Keep in mind that your puppy could be above or below the average size and still be within a healthy range
If a puppy falls well below the small end of the typical size range, it could be the runt of the litter
While it’s easy to fall in love with a runt, be aware that small size could come with some health issues, including a fatal condition known as fading puppy syndrome
Normal Puppy Size
Generally, a newborn Golden Retriever puppy weighs around 14 to 16 ounces
How big will your puppy be when it is ready to leave its mother and go home with you?
8 week old Golden Retriever Size
Eight weeks is usually the earliest that reputable Golden Retriever breeders will let a puppy go to a new home
At this age, your cute Golden Retriever puppy will be around 10 pounds
Golden Retriever Growth – How Big Will My Puppy Get?
By the time your puppy is four months old, its weight will be around 30 pounds
At eight months, your adolescent Golden Retriever could weigh 50 pounds or more
It’s a fact, your Golden Retriever puppy won’t be a little fuzzball for long!
Golden puppies have a fairly fast growth rate, growing anywhere between 5–10% larger each week
white golden retriever
Expect your puppy to reach its full adult height although not full maturity between 9 and 12 months of age
Your puppy will continue to fill out after this and reach its full size at around 1½ years of age
Your puppy’s growth can be influenced by many things, such as genetics, sex, and age at spay/neuter
As a responsible owner, you can encourage healthy growth in your Golden Retriever puppy too!
A healthy adult male Golden Retriever will stand 23–24 inches tall at the shoulder
Female Goldens stand between 21½–22½ inches tall at the shoulder
You can expect an English male Golden to stand around 22–24 inches tall and a female to be around 20–22 inches tall
Healthy Adult Weight
The weight range for an adult male Golden is 65–75 pounds
The weight range for an adult female is 55–65 pounds
Most dog breed size charts place the Golden Retriever size in the medium-large range
The average Golden Retriever weight at maturity is 70lbs for a male and 60lbs for a female
Golden Retriever Weight By Age
Although a 1 year old Golden Retriever will have reached their full grown height, they should still be quite slim
But a 2 year old or 3 year old Golden Retriever will also be at their final adult weight too
At this stage they should have reached full maturity too
What Is the Average Golden Retriever Size?
How big will your Golden be when fully grown?
Golden Retrievers are sturdy but elegant medium to medium-large size dogs
Golden Retriever size can be influenced by genetics, whether your dog is male or female… and even where you live!
Because they have been bred from different lines, English Goldens tend to be slightly stockier than the taller American Goldens
The average English Cream golden Retriever size will be larger than the average working adult American Golden Retriever
Sex differences are linked to size in Golden Retrievers, with males being 1–2 inches taller and around 10 pounds heavier than femalesSize-based sex difference in animals is known as sexual size dimorphism
In dogs, these differences tend to be more noticeable in larger breeds (like the Golden Retriever) than in small or toy breeds
Miniature Golden Retriever Size
A full grown Mini Golden Retriever will be smaller on average than a standard Golden
It’s very hard to predict the height and growth rate of a Golden Retriever mix unless the other parent is a dog of similar size, such as a Labrador
They can fall anywhere along the vast range of 20-65lbs in weight!
A healthy male golden retriever weighs 65-80 lbs, but this mature weight is only achieved when at two years of age
The same goes for the female goldens, which will weigh anywhere between 55 and 90 lbs
By one year, both genders will have reached their peak height: 23-24 inches for males and 215 – 225 inches for females
Monitoring your golden retriever puppy’s health in the formative years and ensuring that they hit all of their growth milestones is one of the best ways to ensure their long-term health
That’s exactly what a golden retriever growth chart is for!
Malnutrition and stunted growth or overfeeding and growing too quickly can both have significant long-term impacts on the health of your dog
While each golden retriever pup is unique and individual, they go through similar growth phases and should be hitting similar weight targets
Below, you will find a comprehensive weight chart for both male and female golden retrievers, telling you exactly what kind of weight range they should be in at each stage
Meanwhile, we will start by going through the five main stages of puppy growth and listing the key developmental milestones they should be hitting in each period
Later on, we will discuss a little bit more about why it is important to ensure your golden retriever is neither too small nor too big for their age, then finish off with tips for healthy growth
Puppy Growth Stages
All puppies go through similar growth phases in the first year or so of their lives
Each stage has different developmental milestones and behaviors to look out for, and the puppy will need different types of care
This period generally lasts from the birth of your puppy until they are about three weeks old
During this period, they are largely helpless and should be kept with their mother, who will be able to feed them and keep them clean and warm
At this stage, you will see their eyes and ears beginning to open, their first baby teeth coming through, and they will slowly start crawling, and then eventually walking unsteadily
The size of puppies will vary significantly during this period, but they tend to be small and weigh less than five pounds
Keep an eye on any dogs in the litter that are smaller than their siblings–the runts of the litter, if you will
These runts often struggle in the earlier stages of life, as they cannot compete for the food and care they need from their mother
Life is especially hard if the runt is from a large litter
golden retriever litters can be anywhere from four to twelve pups, with eight being the average
WHAT A PUPPY NEEDS IN THE NEONATAL STAGE
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Lasting from about three to twelve weeks old, this stage is when puppies start to take in the world around them, so this is a vital period for their growth
While puppies should continue to stay with their mother throughout this period, they will also need to start eating some solid foods as their mother’s milk dries up
It is important to socialize puppies beyond their mother at this age; socialization should be with people and with other animals so they find it easier to get along with others when they are older
This is also a good age to start taking them on car rides and introducing them to regular household menaces, such as the vacuum cleaner
“A well-socialized pup should be outgoing and uninhibited while meeting new people, animals and being introduced to new places and will likely be very active and exploratory”
They also tend to start using their vocal cords more at this stage, so expect a bit of barking and growling
It is also at the start of this period that your puppy will begin to learn to control their bladder and bowel movements, and by following the example of their mother, they are likely to leave the sleeping area to relieve themselves
As soon as they start to demonstrate this behavior, house training can begin
It is also during this period, from around eight weeks old, that golden retriever puppies can start to experience fear
For this reason, it is very important to protect the pups from fearful situations, as bad experiences at this stage can have a lasting influence on their behavior
Don’t be worried if your pup seems like a scaredy-cat at this age; it is just a phase that will pass
Don’t forget to take your pooch for their first vaccinations around the six- to eight-week mark
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During this period, which lasts from three to six months old, your puppy’s rapid growth will start to slow down a bit, as they are now pretty much fully developed and are just smaller versions of the adult dogs that they will be
At this point, they will lose their baby teeth, and their adult teeth will start coming through
It is also at this stage that puppies can be removed from their mother and taken to their family home, though this should be done with care
This is also a vital period for training as well, during which the puppy will develop habits for life
It is important to have clear and consistent rules and to train the dog through positive reinforcement at this time, and never rely on punishment
Again, during this period, the dog is still learning about fear
Any fearful experience, such as punishment, can have a long-term, negative impact on their behavior
Unless you are planning on breeding your golden Retriever, this is also the age to have them spayed or neutered, just before they reach sexual maturity
“…spaying greatly reduces the chance of mammary cancer and eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer, while neutering will decrease the possibility of prostate disease and eliminates testicular cancer in your golden retriever
Spaying and neutering can also help to lessen the development of certain behavioral issues in your puppy as he or she continues to grow”
Adult teeth start to come through
Stage Four: Sexual Maturity
Starting at around six months old and continuing until as late as 16s, golden retrievers will grow to their full size, and if they have not been neutered, they will reach sexual maturity and start entering heat cycles and displaying mating behavior
Expect your 6-month-old golden retriever to also start trying to understand and define its role within the pack
They can also start displaying territorial behavior
During the early months of this period, you may feel like your golden Retriever has unusually long legs for its body, but this will even out over time
Their ears and nose also tend to grow faster than the rest of them, so they will go through a period of having floppy ears as well
Goldens grow very quickly during this period, which leaves their bones vulnerable to injury
If not neutered, begin displaying mating behavior
Start of territorial and challenging behavior
Legs, ears, and nose grow disproportionately faster than the rest of the body
Fragile bones due to rapid growth
Stage Five: Adults
From about 16 months on, most golden retrievers are considered adults, though they may still have some growing to do
Males will have a height of 23-24 inches while females will be 215 – 225 inches tall
Although this is the point where they stop growing taller, the same cannot be said of the weight of golden retrievers
Do not be concerned if your golden still looks lean and lanky
This will begin to change as they approach the golden retriever full size
Most goldens are fully grown by the time they are two years old
However, facial and head features may take an extra year to fully develop
By now, your dog’s weight should be within the golden retriever size range recommended by pet experts ie 65-80 lbs for males and 55-90 lbs for females
If your pup has not yet reached the average golden retriever weight, now’s the time to talk to your vet
Even though your golden will have adult features at this point, they may still carry on some attributes from puppyhood for a few more years
It’s not an anomaly; that’s how goldens are and, in fact, this is what makes them a favorite breed for many
Reach full golden retriever size and weight
Long hair/feathers begin to grow on their tail and legs
When do golden retrievers stop growing?
Golden Retrievers will reach their full height between 16 and 24 months
By around two years, a healthy male golden retriever weighs 65-80 lbs and reaches the height of 23-24 inches, while a healthy female will weigh between 55 and 90 lbs and will reach the height of 215 – 225 inches
Here is a great book about golden retriever growth
Golden Retriever Weight Chart
While every puppy is different, you can expect your golden to hit different weight goals at different ages
Target weights vary depending on whether the dog is male or female, with female dogs usually growing faster and male dogs reaching a higher overall weight
For this reason, we have put together a golden retriever growth chart for both male and female retrievers
The weight of your pup will also depend on whether they were bred for show or for work, with show dogs tending to be heavier
If you have a working golden retriever, their weight should be near the lower end of the weight ranges given here, while show dogs should be at the higher end
Male Golden Retriever Weight Chart
Female Golden Retriever Weight Chart
AgeWeight Range% of Adult Weight7 Weeks4 -17 lbs, av
AgeWeight Range% of Adult Weight7 Weeks4 -17 lbs, av
Dangers Of Stunted Or Accelerated Growth
I believe the above growth and weight chart answers the much-asked question about this topic: How much does a golden retriever weigh?
Not all goldens will grow to the same size and at the same rate
The size of the parents is always a good indicator of whether your dog will be above or below average in size
If a golden retriever puppy is malnourished or suffering from an unidentified medical condition (usually hookworm or ringworm), their natural growth can be compromised
This can lead to serious medical issues in later life, as it can leave them with weak bones, weak muscles, and a weak immune system, as well as a tendency to develop both skin and digestive issues
Growing too quickly, largely as a result of overfeeding, can also pose a major health risk
As well as leading to obesity, carrying too much weight at the development stage can leave your golden retriever with skeletal abnormalities, hip dysplasia, and osteochondrosis, a condition that affects the joints
Tips For Healthy Puppy Growth
As your puppy goes through various golden retriever growth stages, there’s a lot you can do to help her stay healthy
Let’s not forget that, as a purebred dog breed, Goldens are vulnerable to genetic diseases
With these tips, you will help fight off those genetic health disorders as well
Start off by speaking to your vet for guidance on foods to use for the different life stages
At the very least, you will need a nutritionally complete and balanced diet made for large breeds
More importantly, make sure the food you’ve selected is specially formulated for your pup’s life stage
Don’t make the mistake of feeding a 6-week-old retriever foods that are meant for a 12-month-old Golden Retriever
You will also come across diets made for specific functions such as strengthening your puppy’s bones
Good food will help your pup gain the right amount of weight, look healthy, and have enough energy
Studies about this breed show that goldens are more likely to gain excess weight, especially when you don’t exercise them often
But since we’re dealing with puppies here, the exercise should not be as intense as the exercise routine you would take your adult dog through
Proper exercise will build their muscle and bone strength, prevent obesity, increase their agility, stop destructive behavior, and help them release pent-up energy
As you do that, closely monitor her weight just to be sure she’s within the recommended range
Once your puppy has been weaned, speak to your vet to find out if it’s necessary to sign up for a vaccination program
Normally, this depends on various risk factors, your pup’s individual health, the litter she came from, and the area you live in
Vaccines will help to prevent infectious diseases such as hepatitis, parvovirus, rabies, and distemper, all of which could affect the growth and overall health of your puppy
Many of the genetic diseases goldens are prone to, such as aortic stenosis and oral tumors, can effectively be treated by a good vet through medication and/or surgery
It would also be great to have your vet do routine health checks on your puppy
It’s up to you to look out for the signs
Generally, when their weight is within the recommended range for their age and you can clearly see that she’s full of energy, that’s a sign they’re doing well
Alternatively, if you notice rapid weight gain or loss, unusual bumps and lumps on their skin, digestive issues, changes in behavior, and visual or hearing complications, take your dog to the vet right away
Left untreated, these conditions could seriously affect a golden retriever’s growth
Frequently Asked Questions About Golden Retriever Growth
How Fast Do Golden Retrievers Grow?
Compared to other breeds, Golden Retrievers, especially females, grow pretty quickly
Between weeks 7 and 11, they will be gaining mass at an average rate of around 3%
A female 12-month-old Golden Retriever will have reached their full-body size (100%)
Males could take up to 18 months to achieve the same milestone
However, both will still need an additional year to fill out the chest fully
Adult height, on the other hand, will be reached between 9 and 12 months
As always, females will get there a bit faster than males
How Can I Tell How Big My Golden Retriever Will Be?
You can get a rough idea of how big your golden retriever will grow by first studying the parents
Take note of the size that both of the parents and previous litters have had
Rarely will a puppy grow larger than its parents, so the measurements you gather will give you a better idea of how tall and heavy your golden retriever will get
How Tall Is A Full-Grown Golden Retriever?
Full-grown, healthy, male golden retrievers have a height of between 22 and 24 inches while the females are 20 to 22 inches tall
What Is The Biggest Golden Retriever?
In terms of height and body structure, the Canadian golden retriever has no rival
It’s not a difference you will quickly notice, as they are only one to two inches taller than their American and English counterparts
However, there’s a noticeable difference in their body structure that makes them look a bit bigger
Does Neutering / Spaying A Golden Retriever Early Affect Their Growth?
There’s evidence that spaying and neutering can bring numerous health benefits to your dog, including reducing the risk of certain cancers and uterine infections, but can the same be said when it comes to their growth?
Spaying and neutering specifically affect the development of bones and also ligament and tendon strength
In fact, some studies report higher incidences of cranial cruciate ligament tears and hip dysplasia among golden retrievers that went through this procedure
Therefore, consult your vet when deciding if and when to spay or neuter your dog
While every golden retriever puppy is different, ensuring that your puppy is meeting key developmental milestones and is not racing too far ahead and growing too quickly is a certain way to pick up on problems and deal with them early, ensuring your dog’s overall health in later life
The weight of your golden retriever is a good indication of their healthy development
While male and female Goldens will have different weights and show goldens tend to be heavier than working goldens, overall, they should be hitting the weights listed in the growth and weight chart above
If your dog is not hitting these milestones, consult your vet about malnutrition, possibly caused by worms, and excessive golden retriever growth, which is often the result of overfeeding
There are also key development and behavior milestones to look out for at each stage of your puppy’s development
If you feel like your pooch is missing any of them, again, it is time to consult your vet
In general, good nutrition and a loving home is a recipe for a happy and healthy golden retriever
If you want to know more about your golden retriever, you can do a DNA test, too
Embark Breed Identification DNA Test