I’m a dog expert – here are the breeds not to buy as they grow the most – some balloon by 900%
DOG experts have revealed the breeds that grow the most from when they are a puppy – with some shooting up by 900 per cent.
Pooch lovers may go all gooey over that adorable tiny ball of fluff but things can radically change when that cute puppy balloons into a great big adult.
Sixty of the UK’s most popular and common dog breeds where measured when they were just eight weeks old and then again when they were one year old, in .
The breed found to gain the most weight were Labradoodles, who shot up 900 per cent as they grew from being a puppy to adulthood.
Labrador Retrievers and Rottweilers weren’t too far behind, with their bodies altering by 700 per cent and 692 per cent respectively over the same time period.
The research comes as pet centres around the UK are full with abandoned cats and dogs.
Rehoming centres believe the ongoing cost of living crisis has worsened the situation as cash-strapped Brits look to make savings by handing their pet over in numbers not seen since the crash in 2008.
Due to this, the experts at Petplan believe it is essential people are aware of how much money and effort, as well as space, is needed for certain breeds.
Joe Nutkins, a dog trainer at the Kennel Club, says larger dogs may cost as much as 50 per cent more than smaller breeds when it comes to leads, collars and other essential items.
Joe told : “When choosing your breed type of puppy or young dog it's important to remember they will grow to have varying needs.
Most read in The Sun
“A smaller dog will have the smaller costs as there's less materials for collars, beds or coats, less meds needed per dose and less daily food intake for meals and treats.
“A bigger size dog could have 50 per cent upwards added to the costs of the same items so it's worth beating this is in mind when choosing your next puppy or adult dog.”
Dog breeds that increased their weight the most
Labradoodle 900%
Labrador Retriever 700%
Rottweiler 692%
Greyhound 650%
Pug 600%
Border Collie 600%
Golden Retriever 580%
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 550%
Newfoundland 547%
Great Dane 533%
While dogs like Labradoodles may be a handful when they become adults, at the other end of the scale, there are some breeds that do not grow as much as they get older.
Mini Cavapoos, a mini Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross, only increases its weight by 50 per cent from eight weeks old to a year.
A Chihuahua’s weight goes up by 100 per cent, while a Staffordshire Bull Terrier increases its weight by 118 per cent.
Dog breeds that grew the most
English Springer Spaniel 317%
Golden Retriever 267%
Weimaraner 257%
Doberman Pinscher 243%
Boxer 243%
Saint Bernard 225%
Greyhound 225%
Bernese Mountain Dog 225%
German Shepherd 214%
Yorkshire Terrier 200%
Mr Nutkins also stressed the importance that pet owners need to be aware that cost and exercise needs are also influenced by other needs.
He told the outlet: “Levels of fitness differ with each dog, based on a dog's breed type rather than just size. A Jack Russell Terrier is likely to be more active for longer periods then a Greyhound or Mastiff breed.”
Mr Nutkins added that while taking your dog for a walk or playing games with it at home are cost free, people should also consider other costs that you may need to pay out for, such as having a dog walker, paying for dog training lessons or even hiring a secure field.
The research by Petplan used data from The Kennel Club and HelloBark as well as the pet insurance company’s own professional sources.
The study looked only at male puppies and grown adults and excluded female dogs.
Experts also looked at height changes, which can also have an impact on the cost of bedding and other pet essentials.
English Springer Spaniels were seen to grow more than three times the size than when they were puppies while Golden Retrievers shot up by 267 per cent.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Border collies though only had an increase of 13 per cent, while Pugs grew by 25 per cent and Poodles increased by 50 per cent.
Mr Nutkins said: “If you are considering bringing a dog into your family do spend time researching the breed types you are interested in to have an idea of how big a puppy may grow or the size of a rescue dog.”
