An age that depends on the size of the dog
A dog is considered an adult when it has finished growing. Thus, the age at which a dog becomes an adult depends on the final size and weight that the dog will reach once this growth is complete. In purebred dogs, we know this weight (or at least the he althy weight range in which the dog must be) thanks to the breed standards which specify it or thanks to the breed sheets available on toutoupourlechien.com.
In crossbred dogs (and in which there is, by definition, no breed standard), we generally base ourselves on the weight of the parents (if they are known) to estimate the weight that will be the dog as an adult.
The ages at the end of growth in dogs, depending on the weight they will reach, are summarized in the table below:
| He althy weight the dog should reach | <10 kg<10 kg | 10 to 20kg | 20 and 35kg | 35 and 50kg | 50kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 months | 12 months | 15 months | 18 months | 24 months |
When do behavioral changes occur in adult dogs?
But physical development and mental development are two different things. Behavioral changes can occur in the dog even before he has fully completed his physical growth. These changes occur at the time of puberty, the period during which the dog's reproductive capacity is reached.
In the bitch, it is identified by the onset of the first heat (if the bitch is not sterilized) and it generally occurs when she has reached 80% of her adult weight.Thus, bitches belonging to small breeds or dwarf breeds reach puberty before their 9 months, while bitches from large to giant breeds may not have their first heat until between their 15 and 18 months.
In male dogs, puberty is identified by the ability to ejaculate. Depending on the breed, it is reached between 5 and 12 months. Again, it is earlier in small breed dogs than in large breed dogs.
Canine puberty is accompanied by behavioral changes that suggest that the dog becomes "psychically adult" . He then tends to assert himself in front of his congeners, rather than wanting to play systematically with them as a puppy might do. It is the same with his masters with whom the dog can have a "teenage crisis" and seek to test their limits!