Full Grown Bolognese Dog: When, Size, Weight & More

The Bolognese is a well-loved small white breed that is full of love and affection. Originally from Italy, the breed was bred to be the perfect companion and it is a wonderful friend to many. The Bolognese is great in apartments and could even adapt to live in a studio, making it very popular among those living in city environments.

If you have one or are considering getting one, you might be wondering how large the Bolognese will grow. Continue reading to find out.

When Does a Bolognese Dog Stop Growing?

Since the Bolognese is an incredibly small dog, the breed does not grow for long when it is a puppy. On average, a healthy Bolognese puppy will reach its full size by the time it is around 9 months old.

Bolognese Size and Weight by Age

Typically, smaller dog breeds like the Bolognese grow slower than larger ones. However, as puppies, this is not the case. The Bolognese will grow quickly as a puppy and its metabolism will then gradually slow down once it has reached its full size.

When your Bolognese is 2-4 weeks old, it should weigh between ½ and 1 lb. It will, at this point, begin to open its eyes. It will not be able to see fully until it is a little bit larger and older, though. The Bolognese’s legs will be growing stronger, particularly its front legs. It will, by four weeks, start to roam and play. It will start exploring and relaxing away from its mother more and more.

By the time your Bolognese is 6-8 weeks old, it should weigh between 2.2 and 2.7 lbs. The puppy should be showing signs of fearfulness and confidence in certain situations. It will begin to be a bit more lively than before and will be entirely fed on puppy food.

At 12 weeks old (or three months), a Bolognese should weigh between 2.7 and 4.4 lbs. The puppy will start to learn and will begin to understand its surroundings. Among other dogs, the Bolognese will find its place in the hierarchy at about this age.

When the Bolognese hits four months old, it will usually weigh between 3.5 and 6.6 pounds lbs. At this point, the Bolognese will likely stop looking like a puppy and begin to look like just a small Bolognese.

At the 5-6 month mark, the Bolognese’s weight should have increased a little more. By the end of the sixth month, the Bolognese should weigh between 4.4 and 8.8 lbs. At this age, the breed will have almost reached its full size. For female dogs, this is around the age that they will have their first heat.

By 8 or 9 months old, the Bolognese should have reached its full size.

Full-Grown Bolognese Size and Weight

The Bolognese is a small breed. After 9 months or so it will have reached its full size, to the surprise of many owners. Its full size is only 10” to 12” tall, weighing around 5.5 to 9 lbs. The breed may have reached its full height before its full weight, in which case owners will likely see the Bolognese filling out over the course of the next month or so.

How to Tell If Your Bolognese Has Fully Grown

If your Bolognese begins to gain weight without you changing its diet or exercise, it is likely that its metabolism has slowed down. This is often because the Bolognese breed has stopped growing. If you’ve noticed that your Bolognese has gained a bit of weight, it is probably worth measuring their height and weight to see if they’re in the ‘fully grown’ ballpark!

3 Reasons a Bolognese Might Not Be Growing as Fast as Expected

Is your Bolognese not growing at the rate you expected? It might be because there’s something going on with them. There are a number of reasons that your Bolognese might not grow as fast as anticipated.

Worm Infections Can Stunt Growth

One of the most common causes of stunted growth in puppies and dogs is hookworms and roundworms. These are intestinal parasites and they are incredibly common in the United States.

Typically, a puppy will pick up worms from their mother or from their environment. If the worm infestation with the Bolognese’s gut gets bad enough, the worms will begin to steal enough nutrients and calories from the Bolognese to stop it from being able to grow at the usual rate.

As well as stunted growth, a Bolognese with a worm infection is likely to also have poor hair quality, diarrhea, a pot belly, and will likely have a huge appetite despite putting on no weight.

Worms can be tackled with a deworming schedule and can be prevented with deworming drops or tablets on a regular basis.

Malnutrition

Sometimes, if a puppy does not receive the correct nutrients from its diet, it can suffer from slowed or stunted growth. This is usually easy enough to avoid and fix, so long as you are willing to discuss your Bolognese’s stunted growth with a veterinarian in order to come up with a suitable diet plan to correct any issues in their existing diet.

Congenital Hypothyroidism

If your Bolognese is receiving the right nutrition but still seems to be growing too slowly, it might be that there is a genetic element at play. Most commonly, stunted growth in a Bolognese is likely to be caused by a condition called congenital hypothyroidism.

This condition will result in stunted growth, lethargy, poor coat condition, alopecia, clumsiness, and a lack of appetite. You will likely spot some of these symptoms sooner than others, and it can be hard to tell things like lethargy and clumsiness apart from typical puppy traits. If you are concerned that your Bolognese is suffering from congenital hypothyroidism, it’s worth taking a trip to your vet.

The Main Reason a Bolognese Might Be Growing Faster Than Expected

With smaller dogs, it’s quite rare that they will grow faster than they should, and is much more common in larger dog breeds. But, that’s not to say that it does not happen!

Too Rich a Diet

A diet rich in calories can lead to your dog growing too fast. As puppies, the Bolognese’s metabolism is increased to put its food to use as best as possible. But when it is fed food that is high in fat and very calorific, it can sometimes lead to the Bolognese’s body using that food to grow faster than necessary.

This can cause issues with joints and mobility later on in life, as growing too fast can create loose joints that don’t sit right.

Summary

The Bolognese is an adorable and very small dog breed. It weighs around 5.5 to 9 lbs and measures approximately 10” to 12” tall. It should usually reach its full size around 9 months old but may fill out slightly after that.

Owners should be sure to keep an eye on their Bolognese as it grows, measuring its height and weight at set intervals to ensure that the Bolognese is on track to grow at the right speed. Bologneses that are growing too slowly may have issues with their thyroid or may have a worm infestation, and Bologneses that grow too fast may have a diet that is simply too fatty.