Question about growth patterns

Hi everyone,

Archie has continued to grow like a weed. He's seven months and 70lbs, but most of that seems body these days. His father had the huge block head that we wanted for our boy, but Archie's head seems a little small for his body these days. When he was little, it seemed that his paws grew, then his body grew, and then his head grew to match. Now I see that he's developing brows and a ridge on top of his head, but the melon itself seems a mite small for his body.

Have those of you with older pups seen this? He is still as handsome as anything. I just wonder if his head will catch up with his body soon or at all. I know, I know, of all things to worry about!!!

Deb (AKA The Blockhead Loving Worry Wart)

 

Corona is a female 7 month old and weighs 55lbs. She WAS growing like a weed up until 6 months old, but then has only gained about 5 lbs in the last month. She just now seems to have all this extra skin so I'm assuming she will be filling in and putting on some more weight. As far as head size (since I can't figure out how to post a pic), it seems to match the size of her body for now. There was a time though when it seemed too small to me but looks like it has caught up. Her legs are ridiculously long though, and her feet still seem to be too big for her body. We get comments about her long legs all the time. Makes no difference to us, she's still adorable.

 

Sparky is close to 9 months now and looks very similar to Archer. He is very stocky. His hind legs are taller than the front. His brow ridges are coming out and head is still smaller it seems. Although now, his snout is getting longer. I can see more muscle definition at first on his hind legs and now more visible and distinct with his front legs.

 

I think from two years old they start to broaden and get more blocky. How old is Archie?

Snowie has a bigger, more block of a head than his brother. I often wonder if it's because, unlike his brother, Snowie is still intact (male hormones giving him the more muscled, chunky look) and eats meaty bones (lots of chewing and working the jaw muscles).

 

I often wonder this as well. Axel's dad had a nice blocky head. Axel is 14 months old and seriously lacking in the blocky head department. His breeder said once he's two he will get the big head. I don't know how accurate that is. But that being said, I ran into one of Axel's older siblings the other day who just turned three, his owner told us that he has only started to fill out about 4 months ago. He had a nice big head and muscles, and he was neutered at 7 months old. She said that he looked exactly like Axel did at his age which is why she ran over to me at the dog park to ask where I got him. So I have hope that he will thicken out, but like you said, obviously we love them no matter what! But I do understand why you're asking.

 

I can't answer for a blocky head as I have a working whippersnapper but there was a time when Dexter's head definately broadened and became what we called his 'Big Boy Head'.I can't really remember what age but it was past 12 months ...he could be kind of funny looking at times up until then while everything levelled out ....all I ever worried about while he was growing and changing was his weight,we kept a really good watch on that and then expected everything else to match up in the end and it did! Apart from his ears! He's only got little ears !

 

Aw! I've never noticed his little ears

 

we say they are titchy....
He says it's all about the angle you look at him!




He can still hear a crisp bag opening in the next room

 

They are very little! He's so so handsome and sophisticated looking.

 

Depends if he's neutered or not? Their heads become more masculine around 12 to 18 months .

 

I don't know about Labs, but for my Rotties their heads were the last thing to "fill out". My first boy, who was neutered around a year, kept growing until about 2 years old, but my second, who was neutered at 8 weeks old (not my choice), stopped growing at about 11 months. Neither had the normal massive Rottie head - for that, you need to keep them intact until 2-3 years old. I saw a big difference between my first Rottie and his littermates who were shown and therefore not neutered, for example.

Most large breed dogs are still very much a work in process at seven months old and can look a little Franken-puppish. Like parts of them don't quite fit. Archie is a very handsome boy who looks like he's well on the way to that big blocky head you'd like him to have.

 

Rorys got a very long back and I noticed yesterday he looked in better proportion and has filled in a bit. He is 3 so he's not finished yet. Hes getting his dads head but bodywise he looks like his mum whem she was his age. He's looking pretty buff he wanted me to say that

 

At a year old Bailey's head still looks not in proportion to his body. It seems too small for his body too. His neck is just solid muscle and his body is starting to get definition - he is beautifully slim with a defined waist etc. I think he is an interesting mix between his doggy mum and dad. Mum is tall and willowy (working lines) and dad is a complete tank - quite short compared to his mum but beautiful wide block head and muscled body. I find it very interesting to watch Bailey develop and grow.

 

Growth rates in labrador pups varies considerably. You only have to read this thread about puppy weights to see this: https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/how-much-does-your-puppy-weigh.5888/page-54#post-277935

Variables such as the genetics of the parents, age of pup, diet, and whether they are neutered or not will affect growth rates of your pup. In addition, skeletal growth rates vary too, the skull develops early, which is why in malnourished dogs the head appears slightly large for the body, even when fully grown. Muscle mass gives definition to their features, and this laying down of muscle mass in males can take a bit later to develop. Muscle mass is affected by hormones, so males neutered very early, ( before 12 months ) may have slightly less definition.
I also mentioned diet, and I hope you don't mind but Archie at 31kgs seems a little on the heavy side for 7 months? Of course this may be perfectly normal for him

 

Aww he is beautiful!

I think his ears are perfect. I find it unusual to see big ears. Again, I suppose differences in gene pools - Labs I see have small neat ears. Not to say I don't like big floppy ears, but not what I'm used to seeing in my parts.

 

I think Dexter's ears are perfectly beautiful.

 

On the subject of ears...I have been willing Brambles' ears to grow...but alas! At 14 months I think she is stuck with them..tiny flaps on the side of her head..

 

My Lab was 30kg at 7 months, he's a big muscular boy :O When he was 5 months old, people were shocked at his age, he was so big and muscular already by that point. I wonder though if this might have something to do with having one undescended testicle, I read that it being constantly warm can cause more testosterone to be released. But anyways, I guess they're all different

 

Someone said Stanley looks like an awkward teenager the other day and it's definitely perfect to describe him.

He's nearly 11 months and had dead long gangly legs, he's starting to fill out on his body and has a funny head.

Poor Stanners

 

This photo shows it quite well. I meant to say puppy head. He's such a titch as well