How big do Labs get? Well, pretty huge actually! It might be hard to imagine right now, but that small, innocent puppy that you can hold in one hand, will grow up to be a full-fledged canine tank, which may take all your strength to pick up.
But trust us; it’ll happen much sooner than you think. Still, how big can that tank be, and is there a way to make sure your Lab completes its journey to maturity healthily? Let’s take a look.
How Big Can Labrador Retrievers Get?
The size and weight of your Lab can vary a lot based on different factors. However, in general, the average healthy Labrador can weigh between 50 to 80 lbs. (23 to 36 kg) with a height between 21.5 to 24.5 inches (1.75 to 2 feet).
* Please note that all the heights mentioned in the article are taken from the ground up to the shoulder of your Lab!
Now, such a wide range might not be the answer you’re looking for, and we get it. By the end of this article, you’ll have a pretty good idea of where your beloved pooch will end up on the size spectrum. So, why the wide range? The main reason is:
How Big Do Labs Get Fully Grown?
The main reason there’s such a broad spectrum in Labrador size is the difference in physicality between male and female Labradors.
How Big Do Male Labs Get?
- Male Labs: are between 21.5 to 24.5 inches in height and weigh anywhere between 65 to 80 lbs. (30 to 36 kg).
How Big Do Female Labrador Retrievers Get?
- Female Labs: are between 21.5 to 23.5 inches and weigh around 55 to 70 lbs. (23 to 32 kg).
That’s a difference of at least 10 to 20 pounds and an inch or two in weight. Of course, the height disparity isn’t much, but the weight factor is where the scale tips in favor of male Labs.
At What Age Are Labradors Considered Fully Grown?
Now that we know what size a fully-grown Labrador Retriever is, the next big question is how long it can take to achieve this “fully-grown” status. And the most straightforward answer is that it will take a little while.
Labradors are large canines, and like most others in this category, they take their sweet time before achieving full maturity. Most Labs reach their majestic potential around the two-year mark, and while this might seem slow (which it is), you won’t even notice how quickly they get there.
Saying two years might be a bit misleading. Your Lab will have reached around 90% of its adult size around the 1-year mark. However, this growth, for the most part, will only be in height and not in weight.
After this point, your Lab will take at least another year (or half) to gain weight and grow into its newfound height.
Average Labrador Sizes: From Pup To Adult
That said, you can check whether your Lab has thrived before the one or two-year mark. As your pup matures, you can compare its size to the average size of a healthy Labrador as it develops. On average, your beloved canine should weigh between:
- 1 – 2 months: 3 – 15 lbs. for males and 2 – 10 lbs. for females with a height of around 7 – 12 inches.
- 3 – 5 months: 20 – 45 lbs. for males and 20 – 40 lbs. for females with a height of around 10 – 15 inches.
- 6 – 7 months: 40 – 60 lbs. for males and 35 – 50 lbs. for females with a height of around 12 – 18 inches.
- 8 – 10 months: 50 – 70 lbs. for males and 40 – 60 lbs. for females with a height of around 17 – 23 inches.
- 11 – 12 months: 60 – 80 lbs. for males and 50 – 70 lbs. for females with a height of around 21 – 24 inches.
- Two years and above: 65 – 80 lbs. for males and 55 – 70 lbs. for females, with a height of around 21.5 – 24.5 inches.
A point to note, however, is that these are average readings, and there is no need to step into panic mode if your pup is slightly below or above them.
There is a simple trick to knowing whether your Lab is under/overweight (discussed below), and as long as your Labrador is happy and healthy, a few pounds above/lower the average doesn’t matter.
Is A Lab A Large Or XL Dog?
Labs generally do not reach the XXL canine criterion. Since the size spectrum for Labradors is so broad, Labs that fall on the smaller end are categorized as medium-sized, whereas those that fall towards the larger end are categorized as larger-sized dogs. Hence, the best way to describe these pups would be a medium-large breed.
Are Labs Bigger Than Golden Retrievers?
Yes, the average Labrador is slightly larger than the average Golden Retriever (emphasis on slightly). Whereas your average Lab ranges from 21.5 to 24.5 inches and 50 to 80 lbs., the average Golden Retriever weighs 55 to 75 lbs. and 21.5 to 24 inches in height.
Can I Estimate How Big My Lab Can Get?
The short answer is yes, you can. For the larger answer, let’s start by saying that the online calculators you will find during your own research aren’t the best answer to your question.
Most of these online calculators work through the following formula:
(Current Weight) / (Current age) x 52
The age is kept in weeks, and the weight is kept in pounds.
However, this formula doesn’t predict accurately in real life as it predicts a set amount of growth for your puppy weekly. As we all know, canines (like most other living beings) do not grow linearly and have their growth spurts, along with periods where it seems they do not progress at all.
A far better and more accurate way to predict your Lab’s size would be to wait until the six-month mark. Once your Labrador has reached six months or more, it has already completed ⅔ its size journey, allowing you to estimate the rest pretty correctly.
How Big Will My Labrador Retriever Get?
Aside from gender, a few more factors can determine how large your Lab will grow or if it’s still growing. These include:
Genetics
A good way to guess your pup’s size at maturity is to look at its parents. Were they large? If you sourced your puppy from a breeder, you can contact them to look at the size of your Lab’s parents or the fully-grown size of any litter birthed previously from the same parents.
Secondly, Labradors bred for conformation (or English Labradors) are stockier (more in weight) but a little smaller in size than Labs bred for game (American Labradors). Although the difference isn’t substantial, around 5-10 lbs. in weight and an inch or two in height, you might also want to check what your beloved pooch was bred for.
Age
On average, a healthy Lab reaches its full height around a year after birth. For the next year or a half, your Lab will put on weight to grow into its newfound stature and resemble an actual adult Labrador.
Proportion of Paw Size
No, regardless of popular belief, paw size does not indicate the size of your Lab. Instead, gender, genetics, and the fact that your Labrador retrievers are a medium-large breed are the main factors (since Labs are commonly on the large end of the spectrum, you’ll find them classified as just large in most places).
However, paw size CAN indicate whether your pup has stopped growing. If your Lab’s paws seem disproportionate to the rest of its body, your puppy probably still has room to grow.
How Big Do Chocolate Labradors Get?
According to a viral study conducted in the United Kingdom, chocolate Labrador Retrievers weigh around 3 pounds more than their yellow and black counterparts. However, there aren’t any other studies to back the matter, and the difference is more other factors rather than just the color of a Lab coat.
To sum up, with the current evidence, the color of a Labrador’s coat doesn’t determine whether its size will be larger than other Labs.
Is My Labrador Too Big?
Although you’ll probably need a vet to get the most accurate answer, you can also check whether your pup is putting on the correct weight for its size (this is very important). You can do this by putting your hand around your puppy and feeling its ribcage:
- If you feel its rib cage through a normal layer of fat, your Lab is at an ideal weight for its progress.
- If you’re unable to feel the ribs or have a hard time feeling them because of a thick layer of fat, you should revise your pup’s calorie intake.
- If you feel your Lab’s rib cage way too easily, or you can see them visibly, your pup needs to be at the required weight for its size.
Why is this important? Ensuring your Labrador remains healthy is the key to ensuring it gets a long and happy life. Furthermore, checking whether its weight is appropriate for its size is essential because Labrador Retrievers have a history of overeating and putting on more weight than is good for them (which may be due to a genetic mutation).
A recent study conducted on veterinarians concluded that more than 60% of Labs that visit the vet are obese, and that’s a LOT!
Summary
The average healthy Lab can be between 21.5 to 24.5 inches (1.75 to 2 feet) in height and around 50 to 80 lbs. (23 to 36 kg) when fully grown. This means that Labradors are medium-large-sized breeds.
A Lab can reach its full height after its first year of life, and it may take another year to put on the weight necessary to become a fully-fledged adult. And that’s “How big do Labs get?” summed up; we hope it helped!
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