Dogs typically stop growing at different ages depending on their breed size:
- Small dog breeds (e.g., Chihuahua, Pug) usually stop growing by 6 to 12 months of age.
- Medium breeds generally stop growing around 9 to 12 months.
- Large dog breeds can take 12 to 18 months to fully grow.
- Giant breeds (e.g., Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound) may continue growing up to 24 months or even slightly longer.
Growth stops when the growth plates in the bones close, marking skeletal maturity. Smaller breeds mature faster, often finishing by a year, while larger breeds require more time to reach full size, sometimes up to two years. So, the timeline for when dogs stop growing ranges from about 6 months for the smallest breeds to 18-24 months for the largest breeds.
