When is a puppy considered an adult?

Our question this week was:

At what age is a puppy no longer considered a puppy?

Marybella Oxley

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. When a puppy becomes an adult depends on the size or breed of dog. There are no hard and fast rules.

For many, the 1-year mark is used as a time most dogs were considered to transition from puppies to adults. However, there are also some subtle variations based on breed or size. In general, smaller breeds are often mature more quickly than larger breeds.

Many toy or small breeds may be considered adults at 9 months to 1 year of age. Giant breeds are often not considered adults until about 18 months of age.

Some believe dogs are considered "adult" when they reach 80 to 90% of their adult weight.

A couple articles that might be helpful to you are What to Expect from Your 12-month-old Puppy and What Your 12-month-old Puppy Needs.