What is the ideal weight for a medium dog? It depends on the breed — and on the individual dog's frame — but the answer is always a range, not a single number. A Beagle is typically 9–11 kg, a Cocker Spaniel 11–14 kg, a Border Collie 14–20 kg, a Bulldog 18–25 kg, and an Australian Shepherd 18–29 kg. Medium is the widest size class, from 10 to 25 kg, and it covers the most breeds — so the breed matters more here than in any other size. This guide gives the ideal weight range for every common medium breed, explains how to check body condition at home, and covers what to do when a medium dog is overweight or underweight.
The ranges below come from published breed-standard information for each breed. They are typical ranges for adult dogs of that breed, not targets for a puppy, and not exact numbers for your individual dog — a sturdy, big-boned individual of a breed may sit at the top of its range while a fine-boned one sits at the bottom, and both can be perfectly healthy. What matters is the combination of weight and body condition: the ribs, the waist, and the tummy tuck described below. Some medium breeds in the data extend above 25 kg — the Australian Shepherd at 18–29 kg, the Dalmatian at 23–32 kg, the Chow Chow at 20–32 kg — because breed-standard weight does not always sit neatly inside the size-class boundaries.
Ideal weight by medium breed
| Breed | Typical adult weight | Typical lifespan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| French Bulldog | 8–14 kg | 10–12 years |
| Bulldog | 18–25 kg | 8–10 years |
| Beagle | 9–11 kg | 12–15 years |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 10–14 kg | 12–13 years |
| Australian Shepherd | 18–29 kg | 12–15 years |
| Siberian Husky | 16–27 kg | 12–14 years |
| Shetland Sheepdog | 7–11 kg | 12–14 years |
| Brittany | 14–18 kg | 12–14 years |
| Cocker Spaniel | 11–14 kg | 10–14 years |
| Border Collie | 14–20 kg | 12–15 years |
| Chow Chow | 20–32 kg | 8–12 years |
| Australian Cattle Dog | 16–22 kg | 12–16 years |
| Basset Hound | 18–29 kg | 12–13 years |
| Dalmatian | 23–32 kg | 11–13 years |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | 26–30 kg | 12–16 years |
| Irish Terrier | 11–12 kg | 13–15 years |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | 15–18 kg | 12–15 years |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 14–18 kg | 12–14 years |
| Skye Terrier | 11–19 kg | 12–14 years |
| Glen of Imaal Terrier | 15–18 kg | 10–15 years |
| American Eskimo Dog | 8–16 kg | 12–15 years |
| Finnish Spitz | 10–15 kg | 11–13 years |
| Norwegian Elkhound | 18–25 kg | 12–15 years |
| Basenji | 9–11 kg | 13–14 years |
| Harrier | 20–27 kg | 12–15 years |
| Plott Hound | 20–27 kg | 12–14 years |
| Redbone Coonhound | 20–32 kg | 12–15 years |
| Treeing Walker Coonhound | 23–32 kg | 12–13 years |
| American English Coonhound | 20–29 kg | 11–12 years |
| Bearded Collie | 20–25 kg | 12–14 years |
| Berger Picard | 23–32 kg | 13–14 years |
| Canaan Dog | 16–25 kg | 12–15 years |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 11–17 kg | 12–15 years |
| Entlebucher Mountain Dog | 20–30 kg | 11–15 years |
| Finnish Lapphund | 15–24 kg | 12–15 years |
| Icelandic Sheepdog | 9–14 kg | 12–14 years |
| Mudi | 8–13 kg | 12–14 years |
| Norwegian Buhund | 12–18 kg | 12–15 years |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog | 14–16 kg | 12–14 years |
| Puli | 11–16 kg | 10–15 years |
| Spanish Water Dog | 14–22 kg | 10–14 years |
Read the table as a range, not a single number. A Border Collie that weighs 16 kg is not automatically healthier than one that weighs 19 kg — it depends on frame, muscle, and body condition, and a working dog carries more muscle than a pet of the same breed. Puppies are not in this table at all: a growing medium puppy gains weight every week, and your vet should check its growth against the expected adult range above. A pregnant medium dog also weighs more, which is normal and a vet matter, not a diet matter.
If your medium dog's breed is not in the table, use the size rule: medium breeds are 10 to 25 kg as adults, and a healthy medium dog of any breed should have easily felt ribs, a visible waist, and a tummy tuck. The dog ideal weight calculator gives a starting range from your dog's breed and current weight, and the medium dog food guide works out the daily calories that keep a medium dog inside its range.
How to check body condition at home
Weight alone is not enough — you need to check body condition, which is the shape of the dog under its coat. There are three checks, and they take a minute. First, feel the ribs: run your hands along the dog's sides. You should feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard. If you cannot feel them at all, the dog is probably overweight. If the ribs are sharp and visible with no fat cover, the dog may be underweight. Second, look from above: there should be a visible waist behind the ribs, an inward curve where the body narrows. If the body is straight or bulges outward, the dog is carrying extra weight. Third, look from the side: there should be a tummy tuck, an upward slope from the chest to the back legs. If the belly hangs level or sags, the dog is overweight.
Vets score this on a 9-point body condition scale, where 4–5 is ideal, 6–7 is overweight, 8–9 is obese, and 1–3 is underweight. You do not need the formal scale at home — the three checks above are enough to tell whether your dog is roughly right, too heavy, or too thin. Check monthly, and write the weight down: weigh at the same time of day, and use the same scales each time. A medium dog can be weighed on bathroom scales by weighing yourself holding the dog and subtracting, or on a vet's scales at a check-up.
Coat can hide a lot in medium breeds. A thick-coated Siberian Husky or Chow Chow can look the same at 20 kg and at 24 kg, and a long-coated Australian Shepherd can hide several kilograms. That is why feeling the ribs matters more than looking: your hands tell the truth that the coat hides. If you are unsure, ask your vet to score body condition at the next visit and show you what ideal feels like on your own dog — it is a five-minute lesson that lasts the dog's whole life.
When a medium dog is overweight
Overweight is the most common weight problem in medium dogs, and it creeps up quietly. The usual causes are the same as in any dog: too much food, too many treats, and too little exercise — and medium dogs are especially prone to it, because many of them are active breeds living as pets: a Border Collie or an Australian Shepherd that was developed to work all day, fed as if it still does, gains weight fast. A medium dog that is 2 kg over its ideal weight is roughly 10–15% overweight, which is a serious amount for its joints.
Extra weight strains a medium dog's joints, heart, and metabolism, and it is linked to a shorter life. The fix is simple but needs consistency: cut food by about 10%, keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and weigh the dog every two weeks until weight is back inside the breed's typical range. Add exercise gradually — a dog that has been sedentary should build up to longer walks, not jump straight into long runs. Do not crash-diet a medium dog. If the dog is more than about 20% overweight, or if weight does not move after a month of measured feeding, ask your vet to set a target weight and a feeding plan. The overweight dog signs guide covers the full plan, and the dog food calculator works out the reduced ration.
When a medium dog is underweight
An underweight medium dog is less common but more urgent. If you can see the ribs, hip bones, or spine clearly, or if the dog has lost weight quickly, do not simply feed more — find out why first. Common causes include dental pain that makes eating hard, parasites, an underlying illness, anxiety, or food that the dog cannot chew or digest properly. A medium puppy that is not gaining weight is a vet visit, not a feeding experiment.
If the vet finds no medical cause, the fix is to feed a little more of a complete, balanced food — about 10% more — and re-weigh in two weeks. Offer smaller, more frequent meals, and check that the food suits the dog: a very active working dog may need a higher-energy food, not just more of the same. Do not add fatty scraps or supplements without vet advice; the goal is a healthy weight on a balanced diet, not just a heavier dog. If weight does not rise, or if the dog eats well but still loses weight, go back to the vet — some causes of weight loss need tests, not more food.
Keeping a medium dog at its ideal weight
Keeping a medium dog at its ideal weight is a routine, not a project: measure food with scales or a measuring cup every day, keep treats small and counted, walk the dog daily and give it work to do — training, scent games, herding-style play — and weigh it monthly. A medium dog that is lean, active, and at its ideal weight tends to live longer and stay mobile longer than an overweight dog of the same breed, and with typical lifespans of 10 to 14 years, a medium dog has many years for that advantage to add up.
The hardest part is usually the household, not the dog: everyone who feeds the dog must agree on the amount, and treats from the table must stop. Keep a measuring cup in the food bag, keep treats in a single jar so everyone can see how many have gone, and put the dog's weight on the calendar once a month. If the whole household follows the plan, a medium dog's weight stays where it should be with very little effort — and the dog gets the long, healthy life its breed is known for.
For related reading, see the dog ideal weight calculator, the medium dog food guide, the medium dog age guide, the overweight dog signs guide, the Beagle food guide, the Border Collie lifespan guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for a Beagle?
Typically 9–11 kg as an adult. A Beagle should have easily felt ribs, a visible waist from above, and a tummy tuck from the side. Beagles are famous for begging and for gaining weight, so measured food and counted treats matter more than for most breeds.
What is the ideal weight for a Border Collie?
Typically 14–20 kg as an adult. A working Border Collie carries more muscle than a pet of the same breed, so use body condition as well as weight — the ribs should be easily felt, with a visible waist.
How do I know if my medium dog is overweight?
Feel the ribs, look for a waist from above, and look for a tummy tuck from the side. If you cannot feel the ribs without pressing hard, or there is no waist, the dog is probably overweight. The dog ideal weight calculator gives a starting range.
How much should a medium dog weigh in kg?
Medium breeds are 10 to 25 kg as adults, though some extend above that. The range depends on breed: Beagles are typically 9–11 kg, Cocker Spaniels 11–14 kg, Border Collies 14–20 kg, Bulldogs 18–25 kg, and Dalmatians 23–32 kg. Use the breed table above, not a single number for all medium dogs.
My medium dog is 2 kg overweight — does it matter?
Yes. On a 15 kg dog, 2 kg is about an eighth of its body weight — the equivalent of about 10 kg on a 70 kg person. Cut food by about 10%, keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and re-weigh in two weeks.
What should I do if my medium dog is losing weight?
Do not just feed more — find out why first. Dental pain, parasites, illness, or anxiety can all cause weight loss, and a medium dog that loses weight quickly needs a vet visit. If the vet finds no cause, feed about 10% more of a complete, balanced food and re-weigh in two weeks.
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.