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Doggy member Pippa, the Toy Poodle sitting eagerly at home waiting for a treat

How heavy should my dog be

4 May 2023

Written and reviewed by Dr Jill McMaster BVM&S MBA MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon and in-house expert at BorrowMyDoggy

How much your dog should weigh is a common question for pet parents. What is the ideal weight for my dog? Is my dog too heavy? Are they too thin? It’s important that your pooch is a healthy weight to keep them feeling pawsome! It’s also really useful to know your dog’s weight so that if it changes, then you can investigate potential health problems.

So how can you know if your dog’s weight is ok?

Summary

Why is it important to know how much my dog should weigh?

Weight check map

How much should my dog weigh?

1. Chihuahua

2. Yorkshire Terrier

3. Pomeranian

4. Toy Poodle

5. Miniature Schnauzer

6. Shih Tzu

7. Maltese

8. Boston Terrier

9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

10. Beagle

11. Cocker Spaniel

12. Labrador Retriever

13. Golden Retriever

14. German Shepherd

15. Boxer

Body Condition Score

What if my dog is overweight or underweight?

Dog Fitness Guides

Doggy member Arnie, the Labrador Retriever sitting on a large fallen tree
Doggy member Arnie, the Labrador Retriever

Why is it important to know how much my dog should weigh?

Knowing how much your dog should weigh is important for two reasons. Firstly, if your dog is overweight, it puts them at risk for developing health problems including heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. Secondly, if your dog is underweight, it can be a sign that they’re not getting enough to eat or are losing weight because they have an underlying health issue.


If you're not sure whether your dog is at a healthy weight or not, contact your local vet practice to book in for a weight check. Check out the map below for your local practice that provides weight check ups. They will be able to tell you whether your dog is overweight or underweight, and can give you advice on how to get your pooch in pawfect shape.

Weight check map

Do you want to be featured in this map? Visit our vets page and add your details!

How much should my dog weigh?

Every dog is different, and even within breeds there are massive ranges in what a healthy dog should weigh. So although weights should be a guide, they should not be all you rely on to see if your dog is a good weight.

1. Chihuahua

The ideal weight for a Chihuahua is between 1 and 2.5 kg.

2. Yorkshire Terrier

The ideal weight for a Yorkshire Terrier is between 2 and 4.5 kg.

3. Pomeranian

The ideal weight for a Pomeranian is between 2 and 3.5 kg.

4. Toy Poodle

The ideal weight for a Toy Poodle is between 2 and 4.5 kg.

5. Miniature Schnauzer

The ideal weight for a Miniature Schnauzer is between 5 and 8 kg.

6. Shih Tzu

The ideal weight for a Shih Tzu is between 4 and 7 kg.

7. Maltese

The ideal weight for a Maltese is between 2 and 4 kg.

8. Boston Terrier

The ideal weight for a Boston Terrier is between 6 and 11kg.

9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The ideal weight for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is between 5 and 8 kg.

10. Beagle

The ideal weight for a Beagle is between 10 and 15 kg.

11. Cocker Spaniel

The ideal weight for a Cocker Spaniel is between 10 and 16 kg.

12. Labrador Retriever

The ideal weight for a Labrador Retriever is between 25 and 38 kg.

13. Golden Retriever

The ideal weight for a Golden Retriever is between 24 and 34 kg.

14. German Shepherd

The ideal weight for a German Shepherd is between 25 and 40 kg.

15. Boxer

The ideal weight for a Boxer is between 22 and 36 kg.



Doggy member Rory, the Pomeranian sitting on the kitchen floor eagerly awaiting his dinner
Doggy member Rory, the Pomeranian

Body Condition Score

A body condition score is a number either out of 9 or 5, that animal professionals use to check if your pet is over or underweight, without using the numbers on the scales. The benefit of this kind of score is that it isn’t affected by your dog being a small or big example of a breed.  Ideally you want your dog to be a 5 out of 9, or a 3 out of 5.

To work out your doggo’s score, one of the best ways is by looking at your dog and getting your hands on them (extra cuddles!).

A very general guide is that your pooch should have a nice neat waist when you look at them from the top, and a nice swoosh up from chest to belly when you look from the side.

When you get your hands on them you should be able to feel their ribs but not count them. Getting your hands on your pup to see how they feel is also super important with our very floofy friends, to see if it really is “all fluff”.

Doggy member Lennox, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel enjoying an adventure by the lake, standing on a large rock
Doggy member Lennox, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

What if my dog is overweight or underweight?

A chat with your vet practice is always useful, to make sure there are no medical reasons for why your dog has an issue with their weight.  If there are no health concerns, underweight dogs can often be managed by giving more high quality food, and for overweight dogs, it’s the same as us, they need to eat a bit less and exercise a bit more!


More info in the Waltham pocket book of healthy weight maintenance for dogs and cats.

This article is for information only, and should never replace any advice, diagnosis or treatment from your veterinary surgeon. Always contact your local vet or out of hours vet without delay if you have any concerns about your dog.

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