How do you weigh your dog at home? For a small dog, the bathroom-scale method: step on the scales holding the dog, then step on without it, and take the difference. For a larger dog, use the vet's scales at a routine visit, or a large set of bathroom scales on a hard floor. This guide covers the method in detail, how often to weigh, how to keep a record, and what the numbers mean. Weighing monthly is one of the simplest and most useful things an owner can do: weight change is often the first sign of illness, and a dog weighed monthly is a dog whose problems are caught early.
The short version is: weigh monthly, at the same time of day, on the same scales, and write the number down. The line over months is what matters, not any single reading: a dog that is slowly gaining weight needs a small food cut, and a dog that is slowly losing weight needs a vet check, even if it still looks well. Weigh a puppy every two weeks, because it grows fast and the amount of food changes quickly. The dog ideal weight calculator works out a target weight range, and the dog body condition score chart shows the nine-point scale vets use alongside the scales.
The bathroom-scale method
For a dog that you can lift comfortably, the bathroom-scale method is simple and accurate enough for home use. First, weigh yourself alone, in light clothes, and write the number down. Then pick up the dog, step on the scales again, and write that number down. Subtract the first number from the second, and the difference is the dog's weight. Do it twice, and take the average if the two readings differ — bathroom scales can vary by a few hundred grams from one reading to the next, so two readings are better than one.
Use the same scales every time, on a hard, flat floor — not on carpet, which makes the reading unreliable — and weigh at the same time of day, ideally in the morning before food. A dog that has just eaten or drunk a lot will weigh more, and a dog that has just been to the toilet will weigh less, so the time of day matters. If the dog will not sit still, have someone else hold it while you read the scales, or weigh it in a carrier and subtract the carrier's weight. The how to tell if your dog is overweight guide gives the hands-on check to use alongside the scales.
Weighing a larger dog
A larger dog cannot be weighed in your arms, so use the vet's scales at a routine visit, or a large set of bathroom scales on a hard floor. Many vets will let you pop in for a free weigh-in between visits — it takes a minute, and it is worth doing monthly. Some pet shops and grooming salons also have large scales. If you are buying scales for a large dog, look for a wide platform, a capacity well above the dog's weight, and a clear display — and always use them on a hard, flat floor.
Train the dog to stand on the scales: lure it on with a treat, let it stand squarely with all four feet on the platform, and read the number when it is still. A dog that is half on and half off the scales will give a wrong reading, and a dog that is moving will make the number jump. Weigh at the same time of day, before food, and write the number down. The ideal dog weight chart by breed guide gives the typical ranges to compare with, and the average dog weight by breed size guide gives the ranges by size for crossbreeds and mixes.
How often to weigh, and how to keep a record
Weigh an adult dog monthly, and a puppy every two weeks. A puppy grows fast, and the amount of food changes quickly, so a puppy weighed once a month is being weighed too rarely. A pregnant or nursing dog should be weighed weekly, because she needs to hold her weight while nursing, and a dog on a weight-loss or weight-gain plan should be weighed monthly, so the plan can be adjusted. Keep a simple record: a notebook, a phone note, or a spreadsheet, with the date and the weight — a sentence a month is enough, and the line over months is what matters.
Do not weigh daily: daily weights jump around with food, water, and toilet, and they will worry you for no reason. Monthly is enough for an adult, and fortnightly for a puppy. If the weight is moving in the wrong direction, or moving fast, see a vet — especially if the dog is a senior, a young animal, or has a health condition. Bring the record to the vet: a list of weights with dates is far more useful than a single number, because it shows the line over months. The senior dog weight loss causes guide covers weight loss in older dogs, and the puppy weight chart by age guide gives the growth shares by age.
What the numbers mean
A dog whose weight is steady month after month, and whose ribs are easy to feel and whose waist is visible, is at a healthy weight — keep the food measured and the exercise daily, and the job is done. A dog whose weight is creeping up, a few hundred grams at a time, needs a small food cut: cut food by about 10% and re-weigh in a month. A dog whose weight is creeping down needs a vet check if it is losing weight without a change in food, because unexplained weight loss is always worth checking — dental pain, parasites, thyroid problems, kidney disease, and diabetes all cause weight loss, and they need a vet to find them.
A dog whose weight jumps suddenly in either direction needs a vet check promptly: a sudden gain can be fluid, not fat, and a sudden loss can be illness. A puppy whose weight is not rising needs a vet check too, because a puppy that is not growing needs a vet, not just more food. The dog body condition score chart gives the nine-point scale to use alongside the scales, and the how to help a dog lose weight safely guide and the how to help a dog gain weight safely guide give the safe plans for both directions.
Mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake is weighing on different scales, at different times, on different floors — the numbers will jump around, and you will not know whether the dog has changed or the scales have. Use the same scales, on a hard floor, at the same time of day, every time. The second is weighing on carpet, which makes the reading unreliable. The third is weighing daily and worrying about every small change: daily weights jump with food, water, and toilet, and they will worry you for no reason. The fourth is not writing the numbers down: a weight you do not write down is a weight you will forget, and the line over months is what matters.
The fifth is weighing the dog but not checking it with your hands: the scales tell you how heavy the dog is, but the hands tell you whether that weight is fat or muscle, and whether the shape is right. Feel the ribs at every weigh-in — you should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat — and look for a waist from above and a tummy tuck from the side. The how to tell if your dog is overweight guide gives the hands-on check in detail, and the dog ideal weight calculator works out a target range for any breed and weight.
For related reading, see the dog ideal weight calculator, the dog body condition score chart, the how to tell if your dog is overweight guide, the ideal dog weight chart by breed guide, the how to help a dog lose weight safely guide, the how to help a dog gain weight safely guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I weigh my dog at home?
For a small dog, use the bathroom-scale method: step on the scales holding the dog, then step on without it, and take the difference. For a larger dog, use the vet's scales at a routine visit, or a large set of bathroom scales on a hard floor. Always use the same scales, on a hard floor, at the same time of day.
How often should I weigh my dog?
Monthly for an adult dog, and every two weeks for a puppy, because it grows fast. A pregnant or nursing dog should be weighed weekly, and a dog on a weight-loss or weight-gain plan should be weighed monthly so the plan can be adjusted. Do not weigh daily — daily weights jump with food, water, and toilet.
Why do my dog's weights jump around?
Because food, water, and toilet change the number by a few hundred grams, and because different scales, different times, and different floors all change the reading. Use the same scales, on a hard floor, at the same time of day, every time — and look at the line over months, not any single reading.
My dog is gaining weight — what should I do?
Cut food by about 10% and re-weigh in a month, keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and build exercise up gradually. If weight is still rising after a month, cut by about 10% more. See a vet if the dog needs to lose a lot of weight, or if it has a health condition.
My dog is losing weight — what should I do?
See a vet promptly if the dog is losing weight without a change in food. Unexplained weight loss is always worth checking — dental pain, parasites, thyroid problems, kidney disease, and diabetes all cause weight loss. Bring the weight record: a list of weights with dates is far more useful than a single number.
Can I weigh my dog on kitchen scales?
Only a very small puppy — kitchen scales are not made for a dog that moves, and most dogs are too heavy for them. Use bathroom scales for a small dog you can lift, and the vet's scales or a large set of bathroom scales for a larger dog.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.