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Dog Weight Chart and Calculator: How Much Should My Dog Weigh?

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Body shape matters more than a breed chart: aim for a score of 4 to 5 out of 9.
  • Each point above 5 means about 10% extra body weight.
  • Breed weights describe typical show dogs, not your dog's target.
  • 59% of US dogs scored by vets were overweight or obese in 2022.
  • Ask your vet to confirm your dog's ideal weight.

Table of Contents

Research Calculator Breed chart Dog sizes Puppies Weighing FAQ Sources

Weight Quicklinks

Weight Chart and Calculator Body Condition Score Overweight Dogs Arthritis Diabetes Hypothyroidism Cushing's Disease

How much your dog should weigh depends on its breed, sex and frame, but body shape matters more than any number on a chart. Veterinary guidelines use a 9-point body condition score, and a score of 4 to 5 out of 9 is ideal for most dogs.1,2 Breed weight ranges, such as those in American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards, tell you what is typical for a breed, not the right weight for your dog.3,4 To estimate an overweight dog's ideal weight, vets use the rule that each point above 5 on the 9-point scale means about 10% extra body weight.5,6,7 The calculator below uses that rule. In the US, 59% of dogs scored by vets in a 2022 survey were overweight or obese, so a healthy weight is often lower than owners expect.8 Weigh your dog every few months and check its body shape monthly.9,10 Your vet can confirm your dog's ideal weight.

See your vet if your dog:

  • Gains or loses weight without a change in diet or exercise11,7
  • Has a swollen belly, is drinking and urinating more, or seems tired11,12
  • Has ribs, spine or hip bones that you can see easily from a distance1

What the Research and Guidelines Say

  • Most owners misjudge their dog's weight. In a 2023 survey, only 13% of pet-dog owners correctly identified their dog's body condition.13
  • Lean dogs live longer. In a lifetime study of Labradors, dogs fed 25% less lived a median 1.8 years longer.14,15
  • Growth charts work by size, not breed. A 2017 study of millions of puppy records found growth could be tracked with charts for five size groups instead of one for every breed.16
  • Weigh as well as score. A weight change of about 10% is usually needed before the body condition score changes, so regular weighing catches problems sooner.17

Dog Ideal Weight Calculator

Enter your dog's current weight and body condition score. If you don't know the score, see body condition score for dogs.



The calculator uses a published formula: ideal weight = current weight × 100 ÷ (100 + 10 × (score − 5)).18 Each point above 5 means about 10% more than ideal weight, and a safe rate of loss is about 1% to 2% of body weight a week.5,19 Different sources use slightly different versions of the rule, so treat the answer as a starting point.20,18

Dog Weight Chart by Breed

Adult weights in pounds, from AKC breed standards where they give separate ranges for males and females, and otherwise from the AKC breed weight chart.3 These describe typical show dogs. Your dog may be healthy above or below the range.

BreedMales (lb)Females (lb)
Labrador Retriever65 to 8055 to 7021
Golden Retriever65 to 7555 to 6522
German Shepherd Dogabout 50 to 903
French Bulldogup to 2823
Bulldogabout 50about 4024
Poodle (Standard)60 to 7040 to 503
Poodle (Miniature)about 10 to 153
Poodle (Toy)about 4 to 63
Rottweilerabout 80 to 1353
Dachshundabout 11 to 323
German Shorthaired Pointer55 to 7045 to 6025
Yorkshire Terrierup to 726
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel13 to 1827
Pembroke Welsh Corgiup to 30up to 2828
Australian Shepherdabout 40 to 653
Doberman Pinscherabout 60 to 1003
Great Daneabout 110 to 1753
Miniature Schnauzerabout 11 to 203
Shih Tzu9 to 1629
Bernese Mountain Dogabout 70 to 1153
Pomeranian3 to 730
Havaneseabout 7 to 133
Boston Terrierup to 25, in three weight classes (under 15, 15 to under 20, and 20 to 25)31
Siberian Husky45 to 6035 to 5032
Shetland Sheepdogabout 15 to 253
Cocker Spanielabout 20 to 303
English Springer Spanielabout 50about 4033
Brittany30 to 4034
Border Collieabout 30 to 553
Chihuahuaup to 635
Malteseunder 7, with 4 to 6 preferred36
Collie60 to 7550 to 6537
Newfoundland130 to 150100 to 12038
Rhodesian Ridgebackabout 85about 7039
Shiba Inuabout 23about 1740
Pug14 to 1841
Great Pyreneesabout 100about 8542
Alaskan Malamuteabout 85about 7543
Mastiffabout 120 to 2303
Bichon Friseabout 12 to 183

Some breeds, including the Beagle and Boxer, have no weight in their AKC standard. Their size is set by height instead.44,45

Small, Medium or Large? Dog Size by Weight

There is no single official scale. Pet food label rules treat dogs that weigh 70 pounds or more as adults as large-size dogs, though some vets use 50 pounds.46 The bands below are our own rough guide, not an official standard:

  • Toy: under about 10 pounds
  • Small: about 10 to 25 pounds
  • Medium: about 25 to 50 pounds
  • Large: about 50 to 100 pounds
  • Giant: over about 100 pounds

So a 70- to 80-pound dog is large. That's a healthy weight for many Labrador and Golden Retriever males, but far too heavy for most medium breeds.21,22 Body shape is what tells you whether your dog is the right weight.1,10

How Big Will My Puppy Get?

  • Small breeds reach about half their adult weight at 3 months.47
  • Large breeds reach about half their adult weight at 5 to 6 months.47
  • Small breeds usually reach adult size by 8 to 12 months; large and giant breeds can keep growing until 16 to 24 months.48,16

Mixed-breed puppies are hard to predict, even with known parents or a DNA test.49 Weigh puppies monthly until 6 months, then at least every 3 months.17 Don't overfeed large-breed puppies: extra food doesn't make bigger adults and can harm their bones.47,48

How to Weigh Your Dog at Home

  1. Weigh yourself on a bathroom scale on a hard, flat floor.
  2. Weigh yourself again holding your dog.
  3. Subtract the first number from the second.

Use the same scale each time, since scales can differ by several pounds. Use a baby scale for very small dogs, and use the scale at your vet clinic for large dogs.9

See also body condition score for dogs and overweight dogs and weight loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my dog is a healthy weight?

You should feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above.

Is 75 pounds heavy for a dog?

It depends on the breed. It's normal for many male Labradors but overweight for most medium breeds.

Is a 70-pound dog medium or large?

Large. Pet food label rules count dogs that weigh 70 pounds or more as adults as large-size dogs.

How accurate is the dog weight calculator?

It gives an estimate. Your vet can confirm your dog's target weight.

How often should I weigh my dog?

Every few months for adults, monthly for puppies, and every 2 to 4 weeks during weight loss.

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Sources and further reading

This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 25, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Body Condition Score: Dog. World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Nutrition Toolkit, 2025.
  2. Freeman L, Becvarova I, Cave N, MacKay C, Nguyen P, Rama B, Takashima G, Tiffin R, Tsjimoto H, van Beukelen P. WSAVA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2011.
  3. American Kennel Club. Breed Weight Chart. AKC, updated April 26, 2023.
  4. WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Calorie Needs for Healthy Adult Dogs. World Small Animal Veterinary Association, updated July 2020.
  5. Naik R. Nutritional Management of Canine and Feline Obesity. Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, posted October 2022.
  6. Corbee RJ. Dietary Management of Obesity. EVC Voorjaarsdagen, Amsterdam, 2012 (via IVIS).
  7. Cohen A. Obesity and Our Dogs Health. Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center, August 16, 2023.
  8. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. 2022 Pet Obesity Prevalence Survey. APOP, 2022.
  9. McCarthy C. How to Weigh Your Dog at Home. PetMD, January 18, 2017.
  10. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Dog Body Condition and Weight Management. APOP, accessed October 2026.
  11. Abood SK, Weir M, Williams K, Downing R. Obesity in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated March 3, 2025.
  12. Shipstone M. Hormonal Treatment for Integumentary Disease in Animals. MSD Veterinary Manual (professional version), reviewed April 2022, updated June 2026.
  13. Kluess HA, Jones RL. A comparison of owner perceived and measured body condition, feeding and exercise in sport and pet dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023;10:1211996.
  14. Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002;220(9):1315-1320. Industry-funded.
  15. University of Pennsylvania. Dogs fed a reduced-calorie diet live nearly two years longer (news release). Penn Today, September 13, 2002.
  16. Salt C, Morris PJ, German AJ, Wilson D, Lund EM, Cole TJ, Butterwick RF. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLOS ONE, 2017;12(9):e0182064. Industry-funded.
  17. German A, Woods G, Blackmore T. Promoting healthy growth in pets. Vet Times, January 5, 2017. Industry-sponsored content.
  18. Stilwell N. How to Calculate Your Dog's Healthy Weight. PetMD, December 4, 2019.
  19. Linder DE. How Fast Is Too Fast For My Pet To Lose Weight? Petfoodology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, October 9, 2018.
  20. Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Nutritional Management of Weight. UC Davis, June 21, 2018.
  21. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Labrador Retriever. AKC, approved February 12, 1994.
  22. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Golden Retriever. AKC, approved October 13, 1981.
  23. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the French Bulldog. AKC, approved April 10, 2018.
  24. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Bulldog. AKC, approved July 12, 2016.
  25. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the German Shorthaired Pointer. AKC, approved October 11, 2022.
  26. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Yorkshire Terrier. AKC, approved July 10, 2007.
  27. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. AKC, approved January 10, 2023.
  28. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. AKC, approved June 13, 1972.
  29. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Shih Tzu. AKC, approved May 9, 1989.
  30. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Pomeranian. AKC, approved July 12, 2011.
  31. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Boston Terrier. AKC, approved February 11, 2011.
  32. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Siberian Husky. AKC, approved February 9, 2021.
  33. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the English Springer Spaniel. AKC, approved August 8, 2023.
  34. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Brittany. AKC, approved April 10, 1990.
  35. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Chihuahua. AKC, approved August 12, 2008.
  36. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Maltese. AKC, approved March 10, 1964.
  37. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Collie. AKC, approved May 10, 1977.
  38. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Newfoundland. AKC, approved May 8, 1990.
  39. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. AKC, approved April 8, 2025.
  40. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Shiba Inu. AKC, approved February 7, 1997.
  41. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Pug. AKC, approved April 8, 2008.
  42. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Great Pyrenees. AKC, approved June 12, 1990.
  43. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Alaskan Malamute. AKC, approved April 12, 1994.
  44. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Beagle. AKC, approved May 10, 2024.
  45. American Kennel Club. Official Standard of the Boxer. AKC, approved February 11, 2005.
  46. Linder DE. Confused About What to Feed Your Large Breed Puppy? New Rules May Help! Petfoodology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, February 24, 2017.
  47. Elliott D. Nutritional Considerations for Optimal Puppy Growth. Veterinary Focus 22(2), June 2012 (via IVIS).
  48. Sanderson SL. Feeding Practices in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (professional version), reviewed November 2023, updated October 2024.
  49. Spadafori G. Can You Predict the Adult Size of a Mixed Breed Puppy? Vetstreet, July 5, 2011.

About this article

Last updated : fully rewritten with a new ideal weight calculator, using WSAVA and AAHA nutrition guidelines, AKC breed standards, the Merck Veterinary Manual, IVIS proceedings and studies published 2017 to 2023.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.