Adopting is always a great act of love and a way to give a second chance to those animals that have no home. However, when we adopt a dog whose breed origin we do not know, we may be afraid that it will grow too big and we will not be able to provide it with the space and place it needs.
These mixed breed dogs, usually come from an unknown ancestry so they are a mixture of several breeds. This means that they are usually less predisposed to genetic diseases than purebred dogs, as they inherit the best and strongest genes from each of their parents.
But if you’re in doubt about how big your dog will grow, don’t worry! Here are a few ways to find out.
We’ve got some ways to find out.
How do I know what size my mixed breed dog will be?
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Knowing this can be really tricky but there are a few factors that can give us clues as to how big our furry one will grow.
On the one hand, having the parents located will be a great help as they are usually of a similar size and we can get a closer idea of what our dog will be like. If there are important differences in the size of the parents, it is normal for the offspring to be of intermediate size.
Another factor to take into account is thatfemales, as a general rule, tend to be smaller than males and have a slower growth curve. However, we cannot rely entirely on their sex since, being dogs of mixed descent, the genetic variability is very great.
An interesting fact is that, in general, if a newborn puppy weighs more than 500 grams it will be large and if it weighs less than 150 grams it will be small. Also, if a puppy has very large paws and ears compared to its body, it will almost certainly be a sizable dog.
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The growth rate is different between small, medium and large dogs, so by observing when it stops, we can know in an orientative way its size:
Growth rate is different between small, medium and large dogs.
- The small dogs usually have a very accelerated growth in the first 3-4 months of life so they reach their sexual maturity and their definitive size, more or less, at 5-6 months.
- Medium-sized dogs, on the other hand, grow actively until 7 or 8 months. However, their height and size will develop when they reach around year of age.
- Larger dogs develop more slowly. Their height will develop until about 18 months while they can continue to bulk up until 3 or 4 years.
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The importance of correct growth
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Of course, to ensure that our dog grows as it should, it is essential to provide it with correct nutrition and to guarantee its health and basic care. That is why, together with your vet, we must keep track of his weight and height to evaluate his growth, as everything we take care of when he is a puppy will be fundamental for the rest of his life.
At Lenda, we have two recipes, Lenda Puppy and Lenda Puppy Maxi, formulated and adapted to the needs of each type of dog to ensure the correct development of their joints, bones and ligaments.
In any case, if you want to adopt a dog and you want it to be a specific size, a perfect option is to adopt an adult dog because you will already know its size and they deserve, like everyone else, a second chance. In addition, they generally require less work than a puppy as they have already developed their personality. Adults are a great choice and you will be helping a dog that is less likely to be adopted as people are usually looking to adopt puppies.
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In any case, if you really want to adopt a new best friend, height, weight or breed will be the least of your concern. But it never hurts to consider some variables in order to take care of it and provide it with the best possible life.
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