10,460 answers about dogs
From a puppy’s first feeding schedule to a senior dog’s comfort care, dog owners ask it all — this page gathers the dog library of KinsLe Answers in one place. Browse by topic below, from feeding and training to health, grooming, safety and travel. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
647 answers in Young Pets — page 1 of 27
A young West Highland White Terrier should have its first full health check within the first few days of coming home, usually at eight to nine weeks old for a puppy from a breeder. The examination covers weight and condition, heart and lungs, eyes, ears, teeth, joints and the skin under that white double coat,…
A young Staffordshire Bull Terrier should have its first full health check within the first few days of coming home, which for most puppies means around eight to nine weeks old. The visit includes a complete physical examination, weight and condition, heart, eyes, ears, teeth, skin and joints, and a review of…
A young Jack Russell Terrier should have its first full health check within the first few days of coming home, typically at eight to nine weeks for a puppy leaving the litter. Expect a complete physical examination, weight and condition check, eyes, ears, teeth, heart, joints and coat, plus a review of vaccinations,…
A young Collie should have its first full health check within the first few days of coming home, or at six to eight weeks old if you are collecting a puppy straight from the breeder's litter. That visit covers a nose-to-tail examination, weight and condition, eyes, ears, teeth, heart and joints, plus a review of…
A Yorkshire Terrier does the bulk of its growing in the first six to eight months and is usually at or near adult size by about ten to twelve months. Growth in a Yorkie is measured in small increments, so weekly weigh-ins reveal the curve better than looking at the dog. Because this breed stays tiny, any puppy whose…
A Siberian Husky reaches most of its adult height by about twelve to fifteen months, then spends another year filling out. The chest deepens, muscle builds and the double coat matures, so many Huskies do not look fully finished until around two to three years old. Feed for steady rather than fast growth and expect the…
A Shih Tzu grows quickly and is usually close to full height by about nine to ten months, with most dogs reaching their final adult size around their first birthday. A little extra filling out across the chest and body can continue for a few months after that, but this toy breed finishes far earlier than large dogs.…
A Shetland Sheepdog does most of its growing early, reaching close to full height by about ten to twelve months. The frame then fills out gradually, and the famous double coat keeps developing, so a Sheltie may not look completely finished until eighteen months to two years old. Weigh a young Sheltie under all that…
A Rottweiler gains height fastest in the first year and is close to full height somewhere around twelve to fourteen months, but the breed keeps filling out well after that. Chest width, muscle and overall bulk continue developing until roughly two to three years old, with males usually maturing later than females.…
A Poodle's stopping point depends entirely on which Poodle you have: a Toy Poodle is essentially finished by six to eight months, a Miniature by nine to twelve months, and a Standard keeps growing in height until twelve to fifteen months and does not reach full adult size until eighteen to twenty-four months. Each…
A Pembroke Welsh Corgi reaches most of her adult height by about nine to twelve months, since her short legs finish lengthening early, and she reaches her full adult size by roughly fourteen to eighteen months as her long body, chest, and herding muscle fill in. Males finish slightly larger than females. Like her…
A Labrador Retriever reaches most of his adult height by about twelve to fourteen months and his full adult size by roughly eighteen months to two years, when his chest deepens, his neck thickens, and his otter tail and double coat reach their adult form. Males finish bigger and later than females. The critical…
A Golden Retriever reaches most of her adult height by about twelve months and her full adult size by roughly eighteen to twenty-four months, as her chest deepens, her frame strengthens, and the full feathered coat comes in. Females finish a little smaller and slightly earlier than males. Much of what looks like late…
A German Shorthaired Pointer reaches most of his adult height by about twelve to fourteen months and his full adult size by roughly eighteen months to two years, when the deep chest and hard, lean muscle of a working sporting dog finish developing. Pointers mature a little faster than the biggest breeds but slower…
A German Shepherd reaches most of her adult height by about twelve to fourteen months, though some dogs keep adding a little height toward eighteen months, and she does not reach her full adult size until around two and a half to three years, when the chest deepens and the hindquarters and shoulders finish muscling.…
A French Bulldog reaches most of his adult height by about nine to twelve months and his full adult size by roughly fourteen to eighteen months, when the broad chest, heavy bone, and compact muscle of the breed finish developing. French Bulldogs grow outward more than upward, so the second phase is all width and…
A Doberman reaches most of his adult height by about twelve months, yet his full adult size is not settled until two to three years of age, because the deep chest, arched neck, and dense muscle of the finished dog develop slowly. Males finish taller, heavier, and later than females, and a male Doberman at eighteen…
A Dachshund reaches most of his adult height by about eight to ten months, because those short legs finish lengthening early, but he does not reach his full adult size until around twelve to eighteen months as his long chest deepens and his muscles develop. Standard Dachshunds finish later and larger than Miniatures,…
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel reaches close to her full adult height by about nine to ten months and is essentially finished growing by twelve to fifteen months, with only gentle filling out of the chest and coat after that. Small breeds mature faster than large ones, so a Cavalier's growth curve is measured in a…
A Bulldog reaches most of his adult height by around ten to twelve months, yet his full adult size takes longer, because the broad chest, heavy shoulders, and famous rolls keep filling in until about eighteen months to two years. Bulldogs build width rather than height, so the change after the first birthday is mostly…
A Boxer reaches most of his adult height by about twelve to fourteen months, but he is not truly finished then, because the deep chest and heavy muscle that define the breed keep filling in until roughly two to three years of age. Expect the gangly, all-legs look to linger well past the first birthday, with males…
A Bernese Mountain Dog is a slow-growing giant: she gains most of her height by around eighteen months but keeps filling out in chest, bone, and coat — and keeps maturing mentally — until she is two to three years old. That long growth window is why her joints need protecting well past the point where she already…
A Beagle reaches most of his adult height by around twelve months and finishes filling out — chest deepening, muscle replacing puppy softness — by roughly eighteen months, though the scale can creep after the skeleton is done. Weigh him every few weeks while he grows, because this food-loving breed often keeps gaining…
A Yorkshire Terrier puppy can start short, gentle training as soon as she is home, around eight weeks old, and being tiny is no reason to wait. Work at floor level for a minute or two at a time — her name, a sit, standing calmly in a harness — with rewards broken truly small, and let her walk to you rather than…
Can't find your question? Ask it here. We answer reader questions in KinsLe Answers — and we'll email you when yours is published.
KinsLe is launching soon — and the waitlist hears the date first. Join for launch updates and first access when the app opens.
We email you about the launch. Unsubscribe anytime.