Are you a Labrador parent? Or planning to become one? You might be wondering “is a 2 year old lab still a puppy?”
For this, you should understand when a lab matures. Most dogs of this breed achieve growth within 11 to 18 months of age. But not all are the same.
Every Lab can have a different maturity point. While sexual maturity arrives at 6-9 months of age, mental maturity takes much longer.
Moreover, puppies keep showing boisterous behavior until the age of two.
Now, let’s understand when Labs mature from puppies to adults.
Physical Maturity
Big breeds like Labrador Retrievers attain physical maturity when they are within the age group of 11 to 18 months. The exact time varies with sex, genetics, and other things.
Maturity can affect how dogs behave including things like the food they eat.
Complete Growth
A lab’s size impacts the least on when the pet will achieve complete maturity. A fully developed Lab can be 55 to 80 pounds heavy and 21.5 to 21.5 to 24.5 inches tall.
Usually, females are smaller as compared to males. Besides other factors, neutering is another factor that impacts when a Lab achieves maturity.
When Should you Neuter Your Lab?
Neutering a Lab before the growth stops enables the dog to grow longer than the original time. That’s because it removes growth-hindering hormones.
But it can negatively affect the health of your dog as well. Spaying or neutering the dog before it gets six can cause health problems.
It increases the chances of joint issues such as elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, etc.
Besides, spaying or neutering your dog can help achieve a lot of health advantages as well like birth control. But for this, you need to do it at the right time.
Switching to Adult Food
Nutrition needs differ with the dog’s age and maturity. That’s why food for adults and puppies carries different nutrients.
Puppy food is focused to support the intense growth needs. It carries high amounts of protein as compared to adult dog food.
After the growth is complete, the need for that much protein level reduces. You can change your lab’s food to adult dog food at the age of 1 year old.
But it can change according to the dog type. Some dogs will still be developing at this age, so you should wait for some time.
If you need the right advice, you should consult a reputed vet for the same.
Sexual Maturity – Is a 2 Year Old Still a Puppy?
Most dog owners are interested in this level of maturity as well. Usually, a Lab attains sexual maturity at 6-9 months of age.
So, a female Lab can get pregnant before reaching adulthood.
The Right Breeding Age of a Lab
When Labs are 6 months old, they start attaining sexual maturity and can technically breed. But this doesn’t mean they should.
A female lab can get pregnant during the 1st heat. Since males get attracted to females at this age, you should avoid breeding at this particular time.
Before breeding, female labs must be sexually as well as physically mature and not very old. Generally, 2-4 years of age is the best time for Labs to breed.
However, if you don’t want your Lab to breed, visit a vet for neutering or spaying after the pet gets sexual maturity. Be careful as this can pose certain risks.
Mental Maturity
Labradors are usually known to be affectionate, eager to please, and friendly. However, these puppies can be destructive, bitey, and boisterous like other breeds.
It can cause hopelessness, exhaustion, and stress in dog owners. These worries will end once the dog attains mental maturity but that can take up to two years.
When do labs stop chewing and biting?
The biting phase is a popular part of the life of Lab puppies. This usually makes dog owners think they won’t get a loving, friendly Lab.
But they pass through this stage when they mature. Some biting involves the teething phase that happens when they are 3-4 months old.
Besides, puppies can also bite when playing. You can avoid rewarding the bitey play, ignore the bites, and stay calm to reduce the biting period.
When Will Labradors Begin Behaving?
Worried about your Lab not obeying your training commands? Want to know when the lab will mature and begin behaving? Is a 2 year old lab still a puppy?
Dogs, even if immature, do not act stubborn or naughty on purpose. And if yours is acting like that or ignoring commands, get the pet some training.
Intelligent breeds such as labs also don’t learn commands automatically such as sit, stand, and roll. That’s what makes people assume that their puppy is naughty purposely.
Arrange for Pet Training
A trained lab will behave in a way you desire it to do. You can take the puppy to a nearby class, call a trainer home, or learn yourself how to train.
Online dog training courses use a reinforcement approach that shows the best results in older dogs and puppies. It also includes teaching essential skills to a dog.
If the puppy hasn’t been trained before, start the process from step one. This helps deal with issues with the behavior of your dog.
A well-trained puppy that is not mature mentally can behave better than a lab that’s adult but hasn’t been trained.
Wrap Up
Did you get the answer to “is a 2 year old lab still a puppy?” Usually, maturity stages begin arriving when a puppy isn’t one year old.
But not all dogs are the same. And it also depends on what maturity you are expecting as physical, mental, and sexual maturities come at different points.
Keep an eye on your pet’s changing behaviors and recommend a pet or dog trainer if you feel the need to do so.
FAQs
At what age is a Lab not a puppy?
11 to 18 months is the age group when a Lab is considered to be grown fully and isn’t considered a puppy anymore.
At what age are Labs fully grown?
Some Labs achieve full growth in around 12 months while others take up to two years to grow fully.
When do Labs calm down?
It can take almost two years for Labradors to get complete mental maturity. However, rewarding them when they stay calm can help them get to that stage earlier.