When do pugs stop growing?

Most are close to adult weight by nine to twelve months, though the chest and shoulders can continue to fill out a little beyond that. Growth in height finishes earlier than growth in bulk.

How much should an adult pug weigh?

Generally somewhere around six to eight kilograms, but body condition is the better measure. A pug within the weight range can still be carrying too much, and the ribs should be easy to feel.

My pug puppy is heavier than the chart, is that a problem?

Not necessarily, as individuals vary. What matters more is the trend over time and the body condition. If the puppy is gaining faster than expected and the ribs are getting harder to feel, it is worth a conversation with your vet.

Why is weight such a big deal for pugs?

Their shortened airway means extra weight has a direct effect on breathing, and on their ability to cope with heat and exercise. Keeping a pug lean is one of the most useful things an owner can do for the breed.

Pug puppy growth chart

Most pugs reach close to their adult weight somewhere around nine to twelve months, and a healthy adult pug generally sits in the region of six to eight kilograms. The figures below are a guide rather than a target, and with this breed in particular the shape of the dog matters far more than the number on the scales.

A rough month by month picture

Pug puppies tend to gain steadily through the first six months and then slow markedly. As a very general shape, expect rapid early growth, a noticeable tailing off from around six months, and the frame filling out rather than lengthening after that.

Individual pugs vary a good deal, and litter size, sex and the parents' size all feed into it. A puppy tracking slightly above or below a chart is not a problem in itself; a puppy whose curve suddenly flattens or climbs steeply is worth mentioning to your vet.

Why lean matters especially here

Pugs are brachycephalic, which means a shortened muzzle and a compromised airway, and excess weight makes breathing measurably harder. Obesity is common in the breed and it is one of the few things an owner can control that makes a real difference to comfort and life expectancy.

Judge by feel rather than by weight alone. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of covering, and there should be a visible waist when looking down from above.

When to ask your vet

Worth raising: a puppy not gaining over a couple of weeks, a sudden change in the rate of gain either way, or a puppy that seems to tire much more easily than its littermates.

Routine weight checks at the practice are usually free and are far more useful than home scales for a small breed, because a few hundred grams is a meaningful proportion of a pug puppy.

Common questions

When do pugs stop growing?: Most are close to adult weight by nine to twelve months, though the chest and shoulders can continue to fill out a little beyond that. Growth in height finishes earlier than growth in bulk.
How much should an adult pug weigh?: Generally somewhere around six to eight kilograms, but body condition is the better measure. A pug within the weight range can still be carrying too much, and the ribs should be easy to feel.
My pug puppy is heavier than the chart, is that a problem?: Not necessarily, as individuals vary. What matters more is the trend over time and the body condition. If the puppy is gaining faster than expected and the ribs are getting harder to feel, it is worth a conversation with your vet.
Why is weight such a big deal for pugs?: Their shortened airway means extra weight has a direct effect on breathing, and on their ability to cope with heat and exercise. Keeping a pug lean is one of the most useful things an owner can do for the breed.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.