Labrador Retriever Growth Chart And 5 Factors That Affect It

Have you just bought your new Lab puppy but aren’t certain if he’s the right size for his age? Then you need a Labrador Retriever growth chart!

We want only the best for our dogs. One of the ways in which you can know your dog is well is by looking at his size. A healthy pup should always be of proper weight and height for his age and breed. 

But, considering that puppies grow so fast, how can you keep track of their progress? This Labrador Retriever growth chart can help!

Here’s everything you need to know about your Lab growth, what can you expect at certain ages, and how to know if he is overweight:

Labrador Retriever Growth Chart

Age Weight Height 

Age	Weight	Height
1 month	3 – 5 lbs	8 – 10 inches
2 months	10 – 15 lbs	10 – 12 inches
3 months	20 – 30 lbs	12 – 14 inches
4 months	30 – 40 lbs	14 – 16 inches
5 months	35 – 45 lbs	16 – 18 inches
6 months	40 – 55 lbs	18 – 20 inches
7 months	40 – 60 lbs	20 – 22 inches
8 months	50 – 65 lbs	21 – 23 inches
9 months	50 – 70 lbs	21 – 23 inches
10 months	55 – 70 lbs	21 – 24 inches
11 months	55 – 75 lbs	22 – 24 inches
12 months	55 – 80 lbs	22 – 24 inches

Labrador Retriever Puppy Growth Patterns  

Labrador Retrievers go through several growth stages from birth to adulthood. 

There is something truly special in watching our dogs go from puppyhood to adulthood. As Labs are large dogs, they will grow quicker than smaller breeds. In the beginning, it might seem as if every day they grow a bit more!

A Labrador Retriever growth chart and feeding chart can let you know if your pup is on the right track to reach its full growth.

And keep in mind: Just like humans, dogs can grow at various rates. Some might grow a bit slower, while others will grow at a faster pace. Both are perfectly fine, as long as they aren’t steering too far away from the growth chart. 

However, knowing how much your dog is supposed to grow can help you get an idea of where your dog should be at 

Here’s what you can expect from your beloved family pet throughout various stages of development:

0-4 Weeks

During his first month of life, your Labrador Retriever pup won’t really do much. All puppies depend on their mothers at this age, both for food and for protection.

 Lab puppies will remain blind and deaf until they are around 3 weeks old, and they won’t explore much. They’ll stick close to the rest of the litter and their mother, and they’ll never leave her side. 

As your puppy is most likely to be sleeping and eating most of this time, don’t expect them to be too active. 

At the end of 4th week, you can expect your dog to slowly start trying solid foods. 

1-2 Months 

At the beginning of this stage, your dog should wean off their mother’s milk and start entirely depending on solid foods. 

By this time, your Lab’s eyes should be fully open, and his hearing will develop. If you say something to him, you can see his ears moving towards you. He might even turn to look at you or come towards you if you call him. 

No, your dog won’t know his name by this time, but he’ll recognize a friendly voice.

As his senses develop, he’ll become curious about the world around him and start exploring. However, a little Lab will still prefer to stay close to his mother. 

During this age, the owner or the breeder should start socializing their pups. Although Labs are friendly dogs, they should still get used to all sorts of different people, animals, and experiences. 

As this is an important development stage, no reputable breeder should allow you to take your puppy home until a dog reaches at least 8 weeks of age.

2-3 Months

For most dog owners, this is the time when they’ll bring their new family companion home. By 8 – 10 weeks, your Lab puppy should have gotten the first rounds of vaccinations and deworming medication, and he is ready to be separated from his mother. 

This is also the time when they have become stronger and more independent, so they are entirely ready for the new environment.

Potty training is really important, unless you wish to deal with pretty bad messes all around the house. 

At this time, your Labrador puppy will go through a growth spurt. You’ll notice him growing bigger and more powerful day by day. 

You should also focus on socializing your puppy as much as possible. Expose him to as many sounds, smells, and people as possible to ensure he is prepared for the outside world. 

Just remember – your pooch shouldn’t go out and hang out with other dogs until he gets all of his shots. Otherwise, you are risking dangerous health problems, such as parvovirus. 

Another thing to be mindful of is that your Labrador Retriever’s bones and joints aren’t fully developed yet. So, while he might want to go on long play sessions and walks, it’s important not to go overboard. 

Sure, Labs should lead a pretty active lifestyle, but if you force him to exercise too much you’re risking improper development. 

3-4 Months

Once your Lab is 3 months old, his growth speed will slow down. Just looking at the Labrador weight chart can show you that he is already halfway towards his adult weight. However, he will still grow rather quickly.

By this time, your pup’s senses will be properly developed, and you’ll probably start seeing his individual character traits.

The initial socialization process will be completed, and while he’ll still need to learn as much as possible about the outside world, he should already be brave and friendly toward most other dogs and people.

This is just the right time to start training your pup! Sure, he might not be as serious about learning as he’ll be once he’s at least a year old, but the earlier you start, the better the results will be.

4-6 Months

Oh no – your Lab is a teenager now! This is an important milestone in both of your lives. While they’re not overly mischievous dogs, this is the time when they’ll try to see what they can get away with. 

This is the time to go hard on that training. Fortunately, Labs are eager to please, and they love to listen to their humans. Still, many pet owners seem to like to spoil their furry companions, so even Labs can express some behavioral issues if you’re not careful during this age.

As your pup is reaching six months of age, you should start switching from puppy food to adult dog food. This transition should be gradual, and you should slowly start mixing adult food with puppy one so his stomach is used to all the good nutrients.  

6-12 Months

Most Labrador Retrievers will reach sexual maturity when they are around six months old. This is a good time to consult a veterinarian about spaying or neutering your pets unless you plan on breeding them. 

In fact, many reputable breeders in the US will require you to sign a contract that will oblige you to fix your pets before a certain age.

As their first birthday is nearing, a healthy Labrador Retriever  should reach his adult size. For Labradors, a healthy weight should be between 55 and 80 pounds. 

Before this growth stage is over, your pup should fully transition to adult dog food. 

1-2 Years

Most large dogs will be fully grown at around 12 months of age. However, while they might not grow a lot more in height, they can gain a few pounds as their metabolism slows down and their body gets that strong, adult build. 

Around this time, these loveable dogs will reach the ideal Labrador weight and height, and there shouldn’t be any changes until they grow old. 

Just be careful – Labradors are known for being living vacuum cleaners. They’ll eat everything they can find, and if you allow them, they’ll eat a lot. As a result, they are prone to obesity. 

Make sure you give your dogs enough exercise and training sessions so they can deplete their high energy levels.

This is especially important at this age, as the sudden changes in diet and growth rate can highly affect their bodies.

Factors That Affect Growth

As mentioned before, some Labrador Retrievers might grow a bit slower or faster than their peers. As long as the differences from the growth chart aren’t too significant, this isn’t a cause for concern. 

However, if you notice your pup is too behind, maybe it’s time to contact a veterinarian and think about some of the factors that might have affected your adorable dog’s height and weight. 

No matter if we’re talking about English or American Labs, all pups should be close to the statistical averages. Otherwise, there might be something wrong. 

Here are a few things that can affect your Labrador Retriever’s size:

Genetics

First and foremost, genetics play the most important role in growth. In fact, it is estimated that about 85% of variations in a dog’s size are the result of genetics.

If a dog has a parent that is taller than the breed’s average, chances are he will grow a bit bigger, as well. 

Similarly, if your pup is an offspring of a runt of the litter, he might be smaller, as well. In fact, this is how many miniature and toy dog breeds are made. 

Some Labs might have certain genetic conditions that are affecting his size, although this is extremely rare. 

Labrador mixes are also likely to have a size that is greatly different from the size of their Labrador parent. This is entirely up to the genetics and the combination of both parent breeds.  

Nutrition

Proper nutrition during puppyhood is also crucial for proper development. Dogs of different ages need different nutrients, and if you don’t give your pup the right type of food during various life stages, this can affect his growth. 

Your dog needs the right amount of fat, proteins, and carbs to grow healthy and strong. He also needs a good combination of vitamins, minerals, and amino and fatty acids.  

Malnutrition will lead to stunted growth. Not to mention, there are many other health problems this can lead to! 

If you are entirely certain you are giving your dog the food he needs, but he still isn’t growing, try to test him for some food intolerances. If his stomach cannot digest certain nutrients, this will also result in malnutrition. 

While rare, some Labradors might also be picky eaters. They will have tastes they don’t like, and they’ll refuse to eat that food. 

If you notice early on that your Labrador isn’t eating properly and change his diet, he is likely to grow back to his proper size rather quickly. However, severe malnutrition in puppyhood might lead your dog to never reach a size that is according to the breed standard. 

Physical Activity

Physical activity is another important factor in keeping your Labrador Retriever healthy. 

Dogs need a certain amount of exercise to keep their bones and joints healthy. Physical activity is also important for their metabolisms, and it’s necessary if you want to ensure your pup’s guts are healthy. 

Labradors are quite an energetic and playful breed. They love to run around the whole day, and it might seem as if they cannot get tired. 

If you don’t provide them with enough exercise, their joints won’t form the right way, leading to various health issues that might keep them smaller. Not to mention how the lack of exercise will result in dogs not having the right amount of muscle mass!

However, too much physical activity is also harmful, especially for Labradors who are prone to bone problems. Not only that but Labs are known to overdo it and to keep on running beyond their limit, especially if they think this will bring you joy. 

One of the best ways to ensure your dog is having the right amount of exercise is to provide him with long walks and play sessions but monitor his body language. 

If you notice signs of fatigue, such as panting, give him some well-deserved rest.

Spaying And Neutering

Spaying and neutering is something that is absolutely necessary for all family pets. However, one thing not many people know is that fixing your pet might also affect their growth.

If you spay or neuter your dog too early, you will prevent the creation of hormones that affect a canine’s development. In certain cases, this can affect a dog’s growth, but not in the way you might think. 

Fixing a Labrador Retriever too early might affect his joint health, causing them to form inappropriately. As a result, your dog might grow taller than the breed average. 

Many owners of large, intimidating dogs prefer spaying their pets as early as possible for this reason. They want their dogs to grow as large as possible, and they hope this will be a good tactic. 

Fortunately, most Labs are bred to be family pets and service dogs. Size doesn’t play a huge part for most owners, so it isn’t important to make sure your Labrador grows huge. 

Still, this shouldn’t be a reason not to spay or neuter your dog. Simply consult with a veterinarian to make sure you are doing this at the proper time.

Most vets will recommend fixing your Labrador by the time he is 12 months old. However, this depends on the time your dog reached sexual maturity, his overall health, and a few other factors.  

Health 

Finally, your dog might be below the average weight because of some health problems. 

Labrador Retrievers are mostly a healthy breed, but they can get several health conditions that affect their bones, such as:

• Canine hip dysplasia 
• Elbow dysplasia
• Osteoarthritis 
• Osteochondritis 

Any bone condition can affect a dog’s size. 

While Labs can suffer from a few other conditions, such as epilepsy, gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), gastric distention, and canine atopic dermatitis, they aren’t likely to lead to stunted growth or other problems regarding his height and weight.

Infections and parasites that happen at a young age will also affect a dog’s size. For example, if your pup has a severe worm infestation, these parasites will feed off the food your dog has eaten. Your Labrador puppy won’t get all the necessary nutrients, leading to malnutrition. 

As worms are one of the most common health problems most puppies will deal with, they are one of the most significant reasons why your dog isn’t the right size. 

You can notice your dog has worms or some other intestinal parasites by the appearance of his stomach, which will be round and bloated. Also, you might see worms in your Lab’s stool.

Fortunately, most parasites are easy to treat, and the damage they’ve done is usually reversible.

Is Your Lab Overweight?

A survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention in 2022 found that about 56% of dogs in the United States are obese! Sadly, many of these pups are Labrador Retrievers, as these dogs are known for overeating. 

This is especially true if your Lab is more of a couch potato since they require plenty of exercise to stay fit – especially if they love to eat as much as most Labradors do.

Most of the time, pet parents can recognize whether their gorgeous pet is overweight just by looking at them. Their bodies will be round and plump, and they might walk slower than usual. 

Another good way to check whether your dog is obese is to feel his ribs. If you can barely feel them upon touch, this means there is too much fat over them, and your dog needs to lose some weight. 

Fat pads or sacks between the dog’s legs that wiggle when he walks are another clear indication that he is overweight.

Of course, if your dog has much more weight than the growth chart states he should have, this is another sign that it might be the time to start working out.

While putting your dog on a diet will be of significant help, exercise is also necessary if you want your pooch to remain healthy. 

This isn’t about your dog looking good. Obesity can lead to many health problems, such as heart problems, hip dysplasia, and diabetes. Diabetes can further lead to blindness and heart conditions, and your dog’s health will be significantly impacted.

This is why it’s essential to make sure your Lab eats just the right amount of food – not too much and not too little.

How To Help Your Labrador Grow

Honestly, chances of seeing a Labrador that’s too small for his size are fairly small – but this can still happen. Some pups are smaller than the Labrador Retriever growth chart suggests, and this can be a troublesome sign. 

The first thing you need to do is to take your pooch to the vet to rule out any health problems that might be halting his growth. 

If the veterinarian confirms that there’s nothing wrong with your dog, try feeding him more. Giving him more meals throughout the day can improve his weight and increase his appetite. If he is a picky eater, find a type of food he will love. This shouldn’t be hard with a Labrador. 

Proper exercise can not only help increase a dog’s muscle mass but also make him hungrier, which will further improve his calorie intake and increase his weight. 

Finally, some dogs are simply smaller or bigger than others due to genetics. This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your pup. He is simply built that way.