Charlie

[Patty G.]

Hello
I’m a new member to this club, as well as first time owner of a 10 weeks old American cocker Spaniel named Charlie. He’s a beautiful solid black and white chested puppy. He’s the cutest thing on earth!
My question is when are cocker spaniels considered fully grown or adults? I read somewhere that it’s six months, some say 9 or even 18 months??? Confused!

 

[Polly]

Hi welcome Patty and Charlie! We would love pictures please. Some cockers stay puppy like all their lives. They are called the Merry little hunters.
My Pye will be 5 in July, I have just seen some signs of maturity in him this year.

It's in individual thing. Some of my past dogs, have been more settled at a younger age. But, my excuse is that Pye was and is my first and last puppy that I have raised. One of my best friends is his breeder, she brought him to me at 7.5 weeks and stayed a week to help me settle in with him. He's been a joy.

 

[manuel]

Sorry, I can't give you an exact answer. When your dog stops growing he is physically mature. The best source I found says 1 to 1.5 years for a medium sized breed: When Does a Puppy Reach Maturity?

 

[karenwalksthedogs]

I think they physically mature between a year and a year and a half but even after reaching full growth their shape does keep changing slightly for another couple of years. Think how a teenage boy may reach his full height in high school but his shoulders and waist continue to broaden for several years yet.

Mentally, I think that depends on the individual dog. I know that showing Ki as a one year old was very different than showing him as a three year old. When he was theee, something in his brain clicked and he suddenly knew just what to do. Cockers can have puppy like enthusiasm and energy for quite a few years.

 

[Polly]

I think they physically mature between a year and a year and a half but even after reaching full growth their shape does keep changing slightly for another couple of years. Think how a teenage boy may reach his full height in high school but his shoulders and waist continue to broaden for several years yet.

Mentally, I think that depends on the individual dog. I know that showing Ki as a one year old was very different than showing him as a three year old. When he was theee, something in his brain clicked and he suddenly knew just what to do. Cockers can have puppy like enthusiasm and energy for quite a few years.

Karen! You can sure tell our boys are related!

 

[manuel]

I read somewhere that it’s six months

That link I posted mentions 6 months as reproductively mature. Please understand that is still a puppy.