A golden retriever is full-grown in about twenty-four months (2 years). Most goldies attain their full height in approximately twelve months.

However, it takes another six to twelve months for their growth plates to finally close, and if they have no health complications, they’ll continue to develop over that period.

Even when they’ve attained their full physical attributes, most goldies continue to grow mentally for another twelve months.

If you recently got a golden retriever puppy, you will agree with me that they are the best friends anyone can have. Goldies can be fun and lovely as they’re very family oriented. They love to please their owners so much, and no matter what they’ve been through, it’d be difficult to see your golden retriever angry.

However, I understand that at some point, their puppy-like tendencies can be frustrating, and you’d just want them to grow up already.

While you’re wondering when your golden retriever will be fully grown, you need to understand that every golden retriever is unique on its own. There would be variations in their growth patterns because of their uniqueness. The breeding environment, genetics, nutrition, and physical exercise also play huge roles in the growth of golden retrievers

However, even with their uniqueness, they have similar growth milestones, and we’ll discuss them in this article.

Do golden retrievers ever stop behaving like puppies?

Yes, golden retrievers stop behaving like puppies once they’re fully grown (both mentally and physically), which might be when they’re about three years old.

Though your golden retriever might lose its puppy looks when it’s about twelve months old, it’ll rarely lose its puppy-like tendencies till they’re probably 2-3 years old. However, the puppy-like tendencies of grown golden retrievers are part of what makes them endeared to their owners.

How fast will my golden retriever puppy grow?

Most golden retrievers grow really fast in their first six months. After that, they tend to slow down a bit and pick up speed again. The developmental stages of most golden retrievers are irregular. You can’t say with certainty when your golden retriever will be fully grown physically until they’re twenty-four months old.

It’d be safe to say their growth occurs in spurts. With that in mind, you just have to ensure your goldie receives the right nourishment and love as it grows. As long as it has no health issues, it will grow and attain its full growth at the right time.

How do I know my golden retriever is full-grown?

To determine if your golden retriever is full-grown, you need to look at its height and weight. You can determine their mental growth or maturity by their behaviors. Adult golden retrievers tend to behave more calmly and obediently than their puppy counterparts. Golden retriever puppies are always hyper or overly excited.

A full-grown male golden retriever stands 22 to 24 inches tall and weighs 65 to 75 pounds. Female golden retrievers have an average height of 21 to 22 inches and weigh 55 to 65 pounds. Your goldie can be slightly smaller or bigger than these figures. It’s normal. It doesn’t make them different, and you should definitely not be worried about that, except when the difference is significantly evident.

Does gender affect how fast a golden retriever grows?

Just like in humans, gender plays a role in how fast a golden retriever grows. Upon getting to their adolescent ages, their individual hormones kick in and, of course, affect their growth milestones.

Golden retrievers grow physically faster than their female counterparts. They mature faster, weight, and in their reproductive systems. That could actually be why it is smaller than the male goldie, which takes more time to mature.

When is a golden retriever fully grown mentally?

It takes a golden retriever an extra six to twelve months to mature mentally after its growth plates are closed.

This is the stage when they begin to get rid of their puppy characters and become more receptive to directions. They even become more affectionate and tend to read the room before doing anything.

Goldies are not the smartest of dogs, but their desire to please their owners and take care of those around them makes them very likable. Just like their name, golden retrievers like to retrieve items and return them to their owners.

What does a full-grown golden retriever weigh?

On average, full-grown golden retrievers weigh between 55 and 75 pounds. The male golden retrievers weigh between 65 and 75 pounds, while their female counterparts weigh between 55 and 65 pounds.

While it’s a fact that each golden retriever is unique on its own, you should know that goldies have a tendency to be obese or overweight. In fact, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reports that 62.7 percent of golden retrievers are obese.

It is advisable that you consistently check the weight of your goldie while maintaining a moderate nutrition plan. Regularly engaging them in physical activities will also ensure your golden retriever constantly sheds excess weight. This is necessary because they become calmer and less hyperactive as they age.

Weight management is an important factor in prolonging the lifespan of a golden retriever. Having known that, let’s look at the factors that affect the growth of golden retrievers.

What factors affect the growth of a golden retriever?

Important factors like nutrition, breeding environment, genetics, etc. play a huge role in the growth of a golden retriever.

Understanding these factors will help you groom your goldie and prolong its lifespan.

Nutrition

What you feed your furry friend, the quantity you feed it and the number of times you do so play a significant role in its growth. To achieve your desired result (which I’m sure is not to get your goldie obese), you have to adopt a proper nutritional plan for it.

The diet of your golden retriever can include proteins, dairy, and vegetable foods like milk, yogurt, beef, chicken, pumpkins, etc.

Environment

Two large-sized golden retrievers in a very poor environment cannot produce healthy, good-sized puppies. Even as the puppies grow, reaching their full potential would be greatly limited by the environment.

That’s why it’s necessary to ensure your golden retriever puppies are brought up in a very comfortable, clean, and spacious environment.

Genetics

The genetics of your golden retriever also play a major role in its growth. If your pup has very large parents, there’s every chance it’ll grow to be as big as the parents. Medium-sized golden retrievers are also more likely to produce medium-sized puppies.

However, as much as genetics plays a significant role, other factors like the environment, nutrition, and even neutering can alter the expected outcomes.

Health issues

Your golden retriever’s growth can be affected by health challenges like hip dysplasia and other developmental issues. You have to ensure your doggo gets the required number of shots to keep it safe from growth-inhibiting diseases.

Some of these health issues are hereditary. You need to have a full understanding of them to be able to manage them in your puppies.

Neutering or Spaying

Neutering (male) or spaying (female) is the act of partially or fully removing your dog’s reproductive organs. Doing this before your doggo attains puberty will delay the closure of its growth plate and make it grow faster and bigger.

However, neutering or spaying your puppy can result in health challenges like bone diseases and arthritis as it grows.

Tips to ensure my golden retriever is fully grown before twenty-four months

The average age for your golden retriever to be fully grown is twenty-four months. However, if you want it to grow faster and attain full growth in at most eighteen months, here are the necessary things to do:

Proper feeding

Feeding your dogs properly is essential for their growth. They need lots of protein, especially in the first four or six months. The timing and portion of food are also essential to their quick growth.

The first four months of a golden retriever’s life are very crucial to how it will grow. At this stage, you should feed it small portions of food at least four times a day. As it grows older towards one year, increase the food portion and reduce the number of times you feed it.

Regular exercise

Physical activities will help develop the muscles and bones of your golden retriever puppy. Proper physical activities help activate certain body processes that help your dog grow faster. It also makes them sleep and rest more, which is needed for the body to develop properly.

Proper care and treatment

Just like humans, taking proper care of your golden retriever puppy makes him happy and healthy. Stress and anxiety can delay the growth of your pup. A healthy and happy puppy tends to grow faster than it should. That’s why it’s necessary that you show love to your puppy, but not overfeed it.

What happens if my golden retriever is not fully grown by twenty-four months?

If your golden retriever is not full-grown by twenty-four months, it means it has stunted growth. This could be because of poor breeding, bad breeding environment, lack of exercise, and genetic disorder amongst many other things.

Golden retrievers usually attain their full height and weight by twenty-four months. If it looks like your goldie won’t attain this size by the time it’s two years old, make sure you take it to a veterinarian.

The vet will run several tests on it to determine the cause of its delay. If your dog is infected with hookworms or roundworms, both of which stunt growth in puppies, your vet will help treat it and advise you on what to do next.

How long can a golden retriever live?

The average lifespan of a golden retriever is between ten and twelve years. However, some goldies can live longer than that. In fact, there are instances when goldies lived up to eighteen years old.

How long your golden retriever lives depends on how healthy it is; and exercise and nutrition are important factors to consider here.

Conclusion: When is a Golden Retriever Full Grown?

Now you know when your golden retriever will be fully grown and the things you need to do to help it achieve that. You have to do your best to help your furry friend attain their full potential. You also need to understand that your golden retriever is an individual who has unique traits and potential. This requires you to be patient with them in their growth process.