At months 6-12 of your puppy’s life they’ll be moving on from being a juvenile into adolescence and adulthood. And, depending on the breed, fast approaching sexual maturity. This means, if your puppy hasn’t already been neutered, you might want to think about neutering if you don’t plan to breed from your dog.

When Does a Puppy Become an Adult?

Puppies will move into adulthood at different rates as all puppies grow and mature differently. Small breed dogs generally reach adulthood when they’re 8 months, medium sized dogs at 12 months, while large breed dogs won’t reach maturity until they’re around 18 months. Giant breeds may still not have reached full maturity until they’re 2 years old.

Exercise for Puppies Aged 6 - 12 Months

Puppies at 6-12 months of age can now enjoy longer walks or even short jogs. In general, puppies can have 5 minutes of exercise for each month of age so puppies 6-12 months, can have walks of around 30-60 minutes a day. This can be divided into sessions of 15 or 30 minutes throughout the day.

Be mindful when it comes to large and giant breeds. Over-exercising large and giant breed dog while their bones are still developing should be avoided.

Feeding Puppies Aged 6 - 12 Months

From 10-12 months, you can start moving your puppy over from puppy to adult dog food – but this only applies to small (adult weight under 10 kg) or medium sized (adult weight 10-25 kg) breeds. The size and breed of your puppy determines when they’ll reached adulthood.

Large (adult weight 25-40 kg) or giant breeds (adult weight over 40 kg) develop more slowly than smaller or medium-sized breeds so need puppy food for longer. If you’re unsure when to switch to adult food, ask your vet for advice. Your vet can also help if you have a mixed breed dog, and you’re unsure how big your dog will get.

As puppy food is higher in calories and more nutrient rich than adult food, you'll need to change the number of meals and portion sizes, as well as the type of food. Your puppy should be weighed regularly to check that they’re putting on weight at the correct rate. Strict portion-controlled feeding may be necessary if your puppy starts to pile on the pounds!

Always check that the food you choose to feed your dog is appropriate for their age and breed size. Small breed dog reach adulthood and their bones will have stopped growing at a much younger age than large and giant breed dogs.

Always make the changeover to adult food over a couple of weeks, gradually increasing the amount of adult food in their meal. Making the transition slowly will increase the chances that the new food will be accepted as well. During this stage you can reduce the number of meals your dog has to twice a day.

Grooming and Dental Care at 6 - 12 Months

Grooming is an essential part of caring for your dog. It’s a time both you and your dog can enjoy and also gives you the opportunity to check for any potential health issues. If you’ve been clipping your dog’s nails since they were 8 weeks old, your dog will now be used to the process and will happily let you complete the task. If you haven’t, don’t worry, be patient and they'll soon get used to it.

From 6-7 months, puppies should now have all their adult teeth. Keep an eye out for any signs of dental problems, i.e. pain when eating, bad breath, broken teeth, etc and stick to a regular tooth brushing routine. Aim for brushing daily or at least 2-3 times a week.

When Does a Puppy Reach Sexual Maturity?

By the age of 8 months, puppies will begin to reach sexual maturity, obviously this depends on the dog and their breed. As a result of this, puppies may begin to show unwanted reproductive behaviour like mounting and spraying. This is a good time to ask your vet about neutering if your puppy hasn’t already been neutered.

Your vet will tell you all about the pros and cons of neutering. Puppies can be neutered from 4 months old, and there isn’t any upper age limit for neutering. Often, female dogs may be spayed before they come into heat.

Socialisation and Training at 6 - 12 Months

Socialisation and training should be continued as part of puppy development. At this stage your puppy should be well socialised and happy in most day-to-day situations and environments.

But puppies can forget commands learnt earlier! Training is an ongoing process and positive reinforcement is the key. Recall training should always be practiced and rewarded with praise, treats or a game. Some may pick up bad habits and the sooner these are tackled, the better.

If they’ve become a bit naughty, make sure they have enough physical and mental stimulation by providing puzzle toys and playing games together. Pet parents are often concerned about issues such as persistent barking, aggression, destructive behaviour and separation anxiety. If you need help with any unwanted behaviour, ask for vet for advice. Your vet can refer you to a behaviour specialist if needed.

Puppy Healthcare at 6 - 12 Months

Always keep up to date with booster or follow-up vaccinations. Which vaccinations are given will depend on the health of your dog and whether the disease is prevalent in your area. Some vaccinations are given annually, others every 3 years. The vaccination appointment at your vet is also a good time to discuss any health or behaviour issues you’re worried about.

Don’t forget to keep up with regular worming and flea treatments. Puppies will need worming treatment every 3 months at this stage. Remember that worms and fleas can infect other dogs, cats and humans.

Your puppy is now almost fully grown and, depending on breed and size, can start eating adult food and getting more exercise. Training and socialisation are still important and with lots of positive reinforcement, your puppy should be well on their way to becoming a confident, friendly, well-behaved adult.

Congratulations, you’ve made it through the puppy year... years!

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Content reviewed by Vetstream Canis - https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/canis

Vetstream’s Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.