When Is Your Dog Not A Puppy Anymore? Here's What A Vet Thinks!

When Is Your Dog Not A Puppy Anymore? Here's What A Vet Thinks!

We love our dogs so much and often think of them as babies forever. But although they’ll always be puppies to us, they do leave behind those baby or child years at some point. So when, exactly, does that happen?

Vets often consider 12 months to be the beginning of a dog’s “adulthood”, but different dog breeds and sizes have different timelines in their growth. Sometimes, you’ll just be able to know when your dog has grown out of their baby phase. Here are some surefire signs that your puppy isn’t a puppy anymore:

More Sleeping

Does your dog need to rest more often? Do they nap longer, or tire out faster? This can be a sign that the days of puppy months are behind them.

Weight Gain

As a dog gets older, they stop burning as many calories, and they often gain some weight.

Decrease In Hyperactivity

Puppies are often very hyper. They run around all the time and often can’t seem to sit still. While adult dogs can still be playful and energetic, it’s a far cry from the rush of puppyhood.

Graying

A dog tends to start to go gray as they get older. Their fur, especially around the muzzle, may start to lose its color – but typically, this only happens to senior dogs.

Feature Image Source: Pixabay

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