My puppy is growing fast and getting big. Is this normal for his age?

It depends on Zeus's age. Typically dogs reach the full growth between one year to 18 months of age (large and giant breeds of dogs take longer to reach their full growth). If he's still young, he will have more growing to do. I hope this helps :-)

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I do the trick of doubling the weight at 4 months but, like all guesstimates- it’s not perfect. Zeus will probably be about 8 lbs- give or take a pound- when all is said and done. Best wishes to you and you little guy!

Hi there and thank you for your question. Any of the premium dog foods such as Hills, Purina, Royal Canin, to name a few are excellent choices. Which ever food you choose I highly recommend getting the diet specific for large breed dogs. You also want to be diligent about being sure to weigh Zeus once a month and adjust the amount you are feeding accordingly. Following the suggested feeding amounts provided by the food is perfectly fine. Keeping on top of Zeus' weight and body condition now is important for the future health of his joints and bones since he is a breed predisposed to diseases like hip dysplasia. Keeping him leaner while his bones are still growing may not prevent him from having problems down the road, but it will give him a better chance. Unfortunately, genetics is the determining factor. This was probably way more information that you wanted, but I hope that it is helpful. Best of luck to you and Zeus.

If he has had his vaccines, consider obedience training and socialization classes. Most pet stores or even your veterinary clinic may offer them. these will teach appropriate behavior and basic commands in addition to acclimating him to other people and pets. Reinforce the training at home by making Zeus "work" for everything. This can be as simple as having him sit or wait to eat, to play, to go out, etc. He should not be allowed to initiate contact or play. This should be done on your terms. He should not be allowed on furniture or bedding. provide a crate or bed on the floor for him. these actions will teach him his place in the pack. Right now, he is trying to establish himself as the dominant dog in these situations. As he gets older and stronger, this behavior is unacceptable as it could escalate. A bite typically follows a growl. You can also discuss early neutering with your veterinarian. Most males are neutered at 6 months of age, but if both his testicles have descended, he could be neutered as early as 4 months. Some pups are done even earlier.

Atlas is a very handsome boy, congrats on your new dog! At seven months old, he will be getting close to his full size, and while he will grow some more (dogs typically reach adult size between one year to 18 months of age), he won't double in size from where he is currently. I would expect a little more growth from him but not a massive change in size or weight :-)

At 13 months of age, Yoda may grow just a bit more, but he is mostly done growing. Some dogs are just smaller in stature than others, regardless of having the same genetic background. It is unusual that Yoda (being a male) is smaller than his sister, but genes can do crazy things. Sixty pounds of muscle is still a pretty big dog! :-)

I see from your information that Zeus is a puppy. Puppies often find inappropriate things to play with and eat. I would try to engage Zeus in playing with some other (more appropriate) toys when he starts to eat dirt. You may also consider a feeding ball like a Buster Cube or similar. Make sure that Zeus is on a balanced large breed puppy food to make sure that he isn't missing any necessary minerals. And finally make sure you continue regular fecal testing and intestinal parasite dewormings as recommended by your veterinarian because there can be internal parasite eggs in soil. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and please let us know if you have any other questions.