When Do Golden Retrievers Mature? — All Grown Up!

An interested Golden Retriever pet parent will ask the question, “When do Golden Retrievers mature?” The answer is that Golden Retrievers mature at about 1 to 2 years of age, although some can reach a full adult size of 1 year. Just like human beings, Golden Retriever puppies develop gradually during their first year of life. By the time a Golden Retriever reaches maturity, its coat along with the major bodily functions have already fully grown. 

In this article, I’ll be answering the question, “When do Golden Retrievers mature?” I’ll also be sharing some important facts for you to take note of in order to ensure their good growth?

How big do Golden Retrievers grow?

Though it is normal for Golden Retrievers to begin walking at around 6 months of age, it is not unusual for them to not develop their greatest capabilities until they are around 12 months old, and even then some delay in their development may be expected.

Once they reach their teenage years they tend to outgrow their youthful habits and become more serious and grounded.

Golden Retriever puppies grow at a very rapid rate and can reach their adult size in only 9-12 months. The fastest-growing age category for Golden Retrievers is between 6-9 months old.

Golden Retrievers make great pets. They are energetic, love to play, and enjoy staying with the family rather than in a kennel or an independent place. It is important to remember that Golden Retrievers are dogs just like any other and just like us, they will go through different phases of growth.

Golden Retrievers mature at about 10-12 months and so it is important to start training your great dog early if you want him to be house-trained. Training starts around the age of 6 months but you should begin earliest for Golden Retrievers that are healthy enough to endure it.

Golden Retriever Puppy Growth Chart

Below is a chart of data we’ve gathered on how fast Golden Retrievers grow. 

Age	Smallest Size	Largest Size	Average Size
7 wks	5 lbs — Female3 lbs — Male	17 lbs — Female25 lbs — Male	9 lbs — Female9 lbs — Male
10 wks	13 lbs — Female10 lbs — Male	22 lbs — Female28 lbs — Male	15 lbs — Female17 lbs — Male
3 mos	16 lbs — Female9 lbs — Male	43 lbs — Female34 lbs — Male	22 lbs — Female23 lbs — Male
6 mos	27 lbs — Female38 lbs — Male	72 lbs — Female75 lbs — Male	44 lbs — Female52 lbs — Male
9 mos	44 lbs — Female45 lbs — Male	68 lbs — Female77 lbs — Male	52 lbs — Female61 lbs — Male
1 yr	55 lbs — Female65 lbs — Male	90 lbs — Female77 lbs — Male	70 lbs — Female68 lbs — Male
2 yrs	55 lbs — Female65 lbs — Male	90 lbs — Female80 lbs — Male	70 lbs — Female73 lbs — Male

When do Golden Retrievers mature?

For Golden Retrievers, the Golden years are considered to be the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th months of an owner’s life. The age at which a Golden Retriever reaches maturity is dependent on a number of factors, including the length of time that the dog has lived with its owner and whether or not the dog has shared a home with another dog or two.

If you want to talk numbers, a Golden Retriever will reach physical maturity at the age of 12 months old. However, they will need to experience things before they are mentally mature. A mentally mature Golden Retriever is usually 18 months old and beyond.

Congratulations! Your Golden Retriever is now an adult dog and you know it needs to mature into a responsible dog. Age is not necessarily the determining factor when dogs reach maturity, but there are many signs to look for. 

At first, your Golden Retriever may just want to run around and play with toys. As he becomes more confident and starts playing more independently, you can let him run around your house or in a yard where he has some space and sunshine. Always supervise your Golden Retriever to make sure he has plenty of fresh air and plenty of playtime.

Does physical maturity come before mental maturity?

Physical maturity is a term often used in dog training to describe the age at which a dog should become professional enough to stand on his hind legs and walk without a walker. Mental maturity refers to a dog’s ability to understand what comes next in a given situation.

Physical maturity comes before mental maturity for Golden Retrievers, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).

Physical maturity comes before mental maturity for Golden Retrievers, according to Charles Napier, DVM, founder of Golden Retriever Senior Dog Training in Bentonville, AR. Dr. Napier notes that Golden Retrievers begin showing signs of being ready for work around the age of 9 months, just like humans mature physically — they gain strength, move around better and become more independent. 

However, he cautions that Golden Retrievers don’t develop their full working ability until between the ages of 13 and 15 months, which means they need a lot of guidance as they learn to work with people.

Do Golden Retrievers mature faster than other breeds? Maybe. But it is important to remember that all dog breeds are unique in their own ways. The rate at which Golden Retrievers age will depend upon many factors including genetics, life experiences, and interactions with humans.

Regardless of when your Golden Retriever matures, it’s important to remember that you cannot speed up the process by doing anything other than letting him loose when he’s ready. 

How do I ensure that my Golden Retriever grows up healthy?

Keeping a Golden Retriever as your pet is an investment. And like any investment, you need to put in time and effort into it to make sure it grows into a healthy, confident dog. 

Babies learn things at a very early age. They can sense and understand the difference between rewards and punishments; they can learn that staying quiet is better than speaking up. Babies will also have the ability to set rules fast if they don’t understand what is happening and how things work. 

For this reason, it is very important that you make sure your Golden Retriever grows up in a house with people who help provide her with everything she needs — water, good toys, fresh air, and plenty of attention.

Golden Retriever puppies are so cute and loveable but when they grow up they have special needs that you must take care of. Their size will make it difficult for them to walk. Thus, they can suffer from joint disease, allergies and other issues that may be hard to diagnose.

It is crucial that you make certain that your puppy grows up healthy. You can do this by ensuring that they have a well-balanced diet, a lot of water, and plenty of exercise.

When will my Golden Retriever stop growing physically?

Golden Retrievers are classic and elegant dogs. But like humans, Golden Retriever puppies have a growth spurt around 8-12 weeks of age. When will your Golden Retriever stop growing physically? 

Most Golden Retriever owners assume their puppy will stop growing when they reach around 40 pounds, but that doesn’t happen by default. Golden Retrievers continue to grow throughout their lifetime and sometimes grow faster than their owners anticipate.

Golden Retriever puppies thrive during the first year of their lives. This is the time when their muscles and bones are working hard to make those long, flowing ears, and their eyes are turning from a variety of colors into a solid Golden brown. 

Golden Retriever puppies grow up at different rates. Some reach adulthood before age 9 months, while others reach adulthood at approximately 18 months of age. The majority of Golden Retriever puppies will continue to grow and develop throughout their lives, making them attractive family members. 

However, there are some physical milestones that both young and older Golden Retrievers may reach, and these milestones will impact how much your Golden Retriever ages physically.

As time goes by, however, your Golden Retriever will begin to thin and might start to lose interest in things that used to excite him and keep him hyper. He will eventually reach adulthood. However, that doesn’t mean that he will stop maturing mentally. A Golden Retriever tends to stop physically growing at the age of 15 months to 18 months. 

That doesn’t mean that your Golden Retriever will stop growing, though. There are reported cases of bigger Golden Retriever breeds who don’t stop growing until they reach the age of 20 to 24 months. This all depends on how fast your Golden Retriever grows. After all, no two Golden Retrievers are the same.

Final Words

So, to answer your question “When do Golden Retrievers mature” it’s good to take a step back. This is because it depends on a number of factors, including the age at which the puppy was weaned and the length of time since that weaning. Each Golden Retriever is different from others. The development of your Golden Retriever may not match what others are saying. 

However, don’t worry! As long as you’re feeding them a well-balanced diet, giving them plenty of water, and making sure that they’re exercising properly, they will reach the age of maturation naturally.

Did you find this article useful? Share your favorite experience with your Golden Retriever as they were growing up in the comments section below!