Article written by Lisa Greyson
Originally published by The South African (Mon, Oct 23, 2023)
Puppies are a bundle of joy, but they do grow up. Dog maturity has three aspects: physical, sexual, and emotional.
Puppies are a bundle of joy, but they do grow up. Most puppies become adult dogs between 1 and 2 years old. The exact timing varies for each puppy. It depends on factors like breed, size, socialization, and more.
WHEN DO PUPPIES TURN INTO ADULTS?
Dog maturity has three aspects: physical, sexual, and emotional.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) identifies four life stages in a dog’s life.
These stages are:
- puppy (birth to 6-9 months)
- young adult
- mature adult, and
- senior (last 25% of estimated life span)
Puppyhood ends when rapid growth stops.
Young adulthood spans from the end of rapid growth to physical and social maturity (around 3-4 years).
Mature adulthood varies with size and breed but typically starts when dogs are physically and socially mature and continues until the last 25% of their estimated lifespan.