The English Mastiff is a massive breed, and their growth chart is a crucial tool for any owner. On average, a male English Mastiff can weigh between 130-230 pounds and stand 30-36 inches tall at the shoulder.
As they grow, English Mastiffs typically reach their full height between 12-18 months, while their weight continues to increase until they're around 2-3 years old. This means owners should be prepared for a lot of food and exercise.
English Mastiffs are known for their slow growth rate, which can make them more prone to certain health issues. To ensure healthy development, owners should work closely with a veterinarian to monitor their pup's growth and adjust feeding schedules accordingly.
Additional reading: Black Mastiffs
Growth Timeline
At around one year old, your English Mastiff puppy will be close to their adult height. However, they'll still need two to three years to fill out and finish maturing.
English Mastiffs grow at a fast pace, doubling in size within three months. This means you can expect significant growth spurts in the first year.
Most English Mastiffs reach their adult height within the first year of life, but their chest will get broader and deeper in the following 1-2 years. This is especially true if they're not spayed or neutered.
To estimate your English Mastiff's size at maturity, consider their age, paw size, gender, and parents. If your puppy is already two years old, they're likely close to their final size.
Here's a rough guide to help you estimate your English Mastiff's size at different ages:
Keep in mind that every dog grows at a different rate, and your English Mastiff's size will depend on various factors.
Factors Affecting Growth
Factors Affecting Growth are crucial to understand when it comes to your English Mastiff's development. A critical factor in estimating how much bigger your English Mastiff will get is their current age, as they typically reach their final size between 1-2 years old.
Paw size is another indicator, although not an exact science. If your puppy's paws look oversized next to their legs and body, it's a good guess that they are still growing into their paws and filling out.
A puppy's gender will significantly affect their weight and height, with males generally being larger than females. Your puppy's parents are also a good indicator of their potential size, as pups rarely outgrow their mom or dad.
To get a better idea of your pup's future size, consider other relatives in addition to the parents. The size at birth is not always an accurate clue to the adult size either, as the smallest pup may grow up to be one of the largest, and the largest pup may end up at the low range of adult size and weight.
Here are some factors to consider when estimating your English Mastiff's growth:
Genetics
Genetics play a significant role in determining the size of your English Mastiff. You can get a good idea of your dog's potential size by looking at its parents, but there's no guarantee it will manifest.
Parents may have genes that indicate their offspring will be smaller, the same size, or larger than they are. This unpredictability makes it hard to tell until your dog reaches adulthood.
The size of your Mastiff's parents can give you an idea of its potential weight, but it's not a reliable predictor. Two large dogs might have small offspring, or vice versa.
Considering other relatives, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, half-siblings, and full siblings, can give you a better idea of your pup's future size. This is especially helpful if you're trying to predict the adult weight of a Mastiff mix breed.
The size at birth is not always an accurate clue to the adult size, and the smallest pup in a litter may grow up to be one of the largest.
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Factors to Consider
To ensure your dog grows up properly, consider factors like nutrition, which plays a crucial role in their development. A balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs is essential.
Genetics also play a significant part in a dog's growth, so it's essential to understand your pup's breed and lineage. This will help you anticipate potential growth patterns.
Exercise is another vital factor to consider, as it affects your dog's overall health and development. Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight and supports bone growth.
Your dog's environment and living situation can also impact their growth, so it's essential to provide a safe and comfortable space for them to thrive. This includes factors like space, temperature, and social interaction.
Understanding these factors will help you rest easy, even if your pup's growth isn't going exactly as you imagined.
Tracking Growth
Tracking growth is crucial for English Mastiff puppies, and there are several ways to do it. To estimate your puppy's final size, check their current age, as they'll likely be close to their final size by two years old.
Paw size is another indicator, but it's not an exact science. If your puppy's paws look oversized next to their legs and body, they're probably still growing into them.
Gender plays a significant role in determining your puppy's final size, with males typically weighing more than females. Giant dog breeds like the English Mastiff have especially prominent differences in weight and height between males and females.
You should regularly check your puppy's growth against an English Mastiff puppy growth chart, like the one provided in our article. If your puppy is larger or smaller than expected for their age, you may need to adjust their food intake.
Here's a table to help you track your puppy's growth:
If you notice your puppy is significantly behind or ahead of these numbers, consult with your veterinarian to ensure they're growing appropriately.
Growth Stages
English Mastiffs grow at a fast pace, doubling in size within three months. This rapid growth is a normal part of their development.
Your English Mastiff will reach full maturity around two years old, but they will continue growing even after that. Don't expect them to stop growing completely until they're around five years old.
Most English Mastiffs will be close to their adult height around one year old, but it takes them two to three years to fill out and finish maturing.
Here's an interesting read: Kinds of Mastiffs
Five Months
At five months old, your Mastiff puppy is growing fast and becoming more energetic. They may start to get harder to handle as they grow, so be patient and reward good behavior.
As they reach this age, you'll notice a difference in their size. Males typically weigh around 80 pounds and stand about 20 inches tall, while females are slightly smaller, weighing around 65 pounds and standing around 18 inches tall.
As they continue to grow, their size difference becomes more noticeable. By the time they're five months old, males can weigh up to 155 pounds and stand around 24.5 inches tall, while females top out at around 110 pounds and 21.3 inches tall.
To help them grow into strong and healthy dogs, make sure to introduce more playtime at this age. However, remember to keep their exercise sessions short, as their bones and joints are still developing.
Full-Grown
As your English Mastiff grows, you'll want to know when they'll reach their full-grown size. Most dogs of this breed will be close to their adult height around one year old.
However, English Mastiff puppies require two to three years to fill out and finish maturing. Unlike small to medium dogs, giant dog breeds can take years to finish growing.
By one year old, a female Mastiff will weigh between 110 and 150 pounds. A male Mastiff can be expected to be 140-195 pounds at 1 year of age.
Here's a rough idea of what to expect at different ages:
Your English Mastiff will continue growing slowly after two years, but their growth rate will stabilize at this age. They'll reach their full-grown size somewhere between two and four years old, with growth stopping around 5 years of age.
Health and Nutrition
Nutrition plays a huge role in your English Mastiff's growth and overall health. A balanced diet is essential for their development, and it's not just about feeding them a lot to make them big.
In the first two formative months, make sure your dog is getting enough milk from its mother, and then feed them a few meals daily of high-quality dog food specifically designed for large breeds. This will ensure they're getting the complete and balanced nutrients they need.
Feeling your dog's ribs is a good way to check if they're at a healthy weight. If you can't feel their ribs but can see them, your dog is likely underweight, while if you can't feel them at all, they're probably overweight.
Nutrition
Your dog's nutrition is crucial for its growth and overall health. It's essential to feed your Mastiff puppy a balanced diet that meets its nutritional needs.
In the first two formative months, ensure your dog is getting enough milk from its mother. This is a critical period for growth and development.
Feed your dog a few appropriately-sized meals daily of the best dog food for Mastiffs. This will help ensure balanced health and nutrition.
Mastiffs need to eat a lot of food relative to their size to grow properly, so feed them 3-4 times a day when they're young. As they grow, you can decrease the number of feedings.
A good test to see if your dog is overweight or underweight is by checking their ribs. You should be able to feel them, but not see them.
Too much fat will require a balanced diet, plus extra exercise. Too little fat will require veterinary assistance.
Mastiffs can take over 3 years to mature physically, so be patient and consistent with their nutrition and exercise routine.
Intriguing read: English Mastiff Dog Pics
Common Health Issues in Large Breeds
As a responsible pet owner, it's essential to be aware of the common health issues that can affect large breeds. One condition that affects growing English Mastiffs is hypertrophic osteodystrophy, which introduces painful swelling in the growth plates, often accompanied by a fever.
This condition usually resolves itself, but it's crucial to monitor your pet's health closely. Hip dysplasia is another common issue in growing Mastiffs, where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly in the hip socket, causing severe pain and potentially leading to arthritis.
Most reputable breeders screen for hip dysplasia and won't breed parents with this condition.
Exercising Your
Exercise is crucial for large-breed puppies like Mastiffs, but it's essential to avoid strenuous activities until they're at least 18 months old to prevent joint damage and broken bones.
Long walks are a great way to provide physical exercise for your puppy, but be mindful of the temperature, as Mastiffs are prone to overheating.
Gentle play indoors is another excellent option for keeping your puppy active without putting too much strain on their joints.
Feeding some or all of your puppy's meals in enrichment toys like lick mats or Kongs can provide mental stimulation and keep your pup's mind and body busy.
This type of enrichment can also help acclimate your puppy to a crate and prevent separation anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Mastiffs grow after 1 year?
Mastiffs continue to grow rapidly after 1 year, with full maturity taking 2-3 years to achieve. They can gain significant weight and height during this period, reaching up to 90% of their adult size.
How much should a 8 week old Mastiff puppy weigh?
At 8 weeks old, a Mastiff puppy typically weighs between 15-25 pounds. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian will help ensure your puppy is growing at a healthy rate.
How big is a full size Mastiff?
A full-size Mastiff can reach heights of up to 36 inches and weigh between 160-230 pounds for males and 120-170 pounds for females.
Sources
- Reddit (reddit.com)
- Dog Size Calculator | How big will my puppy get? (omnicalculator.com)
- Mastiff - Canine Cancer (mastiff.org)
- Mastiff Dog Breed (vcahospitals.com)
- Official Standard of the Mastiff (akc.org)
- English Mastiff Growth Chart & Weight Calculator (spiritdogtraining.com)
- Cathy (Catie) Arney (thedogplace.org)
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