How much should a puppy weigh? The honest answer is: it depends on the breed and its size, and on the puppy's age — a puppy's weight is a moving target, because a puppy is growing fast. A toy breed puppy may be an adult at 1 to 5 kg, while a giant breed puppy may grow to 40 to 90 kg, and the two puppies follow very different growth curves to get there. This guide is the puppy weight calculator by breed size in words: the expected adult weight by size, the growth pattern by age as a rough share of adult weight, the expected adult weights for well-known breeds, how to weigh a puppy and track its growth, and when a puppy's weight is a reason to call the vet.
The puppy months are when weight habits are set for life, and they are also when weight mistakes are easiest to make, because the right weight changes so fast. A puppy that is overfed grows up overweight, and a puppy that grows too fast — especially a large-breed puppy — puts extra strain on developing joints. A puppy that is underfed grows up stunted. Both problems are much harder to fix in adulthood than to prevent in puppyhood. Weigh the puppy every two weeks, compare with the breed's expected adult weight, and use the tables below as a starting point, then adjust by body condition: you should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above and from the side, even in a puppy.
Expected adult weight by breed size
The expected adult weight for a puppy follows its breed size, and the size bands are the starting point for any puppy weight estimate. Toy breeds, at under 5 kg as adults, typically weigh 1 to 5 kg and live 12 to 16 years. Small breeds, at 5 to 10 kg, typically weigh 5 to 10 kg and live 12 to 15 years. Medium breeds, at 10 to 25 kg, typically weigh 10 to 25 kg and live 10 to 14 years. Large breeds, at 25 to 40 kg, typically weigh 25 to 40 kg and live 10 to 12 years. Giant breeds, at 40 kg and over, typically weigh 40 to 90 kg and live only 7 to 10 years. Those ranges are the typical ranges for dogs of each size — an estimate where no published breed-standard range was available, not a breed-specific measurement.
| Size | Typical adult weight | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Toy (under 5 kg) | 1–5 kg | 12–16 years |
| Small (5–10 kg) | 5–10 kg | 12–15 years |
| Medium (10–25 kg) | 10–25 kg | 10–14 years |
| Large (25–40 kg) | 25–40 kg | 10–12 years |
| Giant (40 kg and over) | 40–90 kg | 7–10 years |
Breed ranges are a better guide than size ranges where they exist, because they narrow the band. A Labrador Retriever is typically 25 to 36 kg as an adult, a Golden Retriever 25 to 34 kg, and a German Shepherd Dog 22 to 40 kg — all large breeds, but with different bands. A Beagle is typically 9 to 11 kg, a Pug 6 to 8 kg, a Great Dane 50 to 79 kg, and a Mastiff 54 to 104 kg. If you know your puppy's breed, use the breed range first and the size range second. If you have a crossbreed, use the size range for the size you expect the puppy to reach, and ask your vet to help you judge it — crossbreeds blend the traits of two or more breeds, so individual puppies vary more than pedigree puppies do. The puppy weight predictor estimates adult weight from the puppy's current weight and age, and the dog ideal weight calculator gives a target range for an adult dog.
Puppy weight by age: how much of adult weight, and when
A puppy does not grow evenly: it grows fastest in the first few months, then slows down towards the end of its first year, and large and giant breeds keep growing long after small breeds have finished. As a very rough guide — and it is a rough guide, because individual puppies vary widely — a puppy's weight as a share of its expected adult weight looks something like the table below. Small breeds move through the table faster than large breeds: a small-breed puppy may be near its adult weight by 10 to 12 months, while a giant-breed puppy may still be growing at 18 months to 2 years.
| Puppy age | Rough share of expected adult weight |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | About a fifth to a quarter |
| 3 months | About a quarter to a third |
| 4 months | About a third to two-fifths |
| 6 months | About half to two-thirds |
| 9 months | About three-quarters to four-fifths |
| 12 months | About four-fifths or more (small breeds near-adult; large and giant breeds still growing) |
Use the table with the breed range, not instead of it. A Labrador Retriever puppy expected to reach 25 to 36 kg as an adult would be roughly 12 to 18 kg at 6 months on this rough guide — about half of 25 to 36 kg — while a Pug puppy expected to reach 6 to 8 kg would be roughly 3 to 5 kg at the same age. A Great Dane puppy expected to reach 50 to 79 kg would be roughly 25 to 50 kg at 6 months, and it would still be growing at 12 months, when a Pug is already an adult. If your puppy is well outside the rough share for its age — much heavier or much lighter than the table suggests — ask your vet to check its growth, rather than changing food on your own. The puppy dog weight calculator guide gives the same numbers by breed size, and the puppy age in human years chart explains the life stages the growth follows.
How to weigh a puppy and track its growth
Weigh the puppy every two weeks, at the same time of day, on the same scales, and write the number down — the line over weeks is what matters, not any single reading. For a small puppy, step on the bathroom scales holding the puppy, then step on without it, and take the difference. For a larger puppy, use the vet's scales at a routine visit, or a luggage scale with a sling for a small puppy. Plot the weights on a simple chart, or just keep a list with dates: what you are looking for is a smooth, steady rise, not a flat line and not a sudden jump. A puppy that is not gaining weight at all over two weeks, or that is losing weight, needs a vet check — a puppy that is not growing needs a vet, not just more food.
Body condition is the second check, and it matters as much as the scales. Feel the ribs: you should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat without pressing hard. Look from above for a visible waist behind the ribs, and from the side for a tummy tuck. A puppy should be lean at every age — a roly-poly puppy is not a healthy puppy, and excess weight in puppyhood, especially in a large breed, strains developing joints and sets up weight problems for life. If you cannot feel the ribs or there is no waist, the puppy is probably overweight: cut food by about 10%, keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and ask your vet to check growth against the breed's expected adult weight. The puppy dog food calculator guide gives the calorie tables by weight and age, and the puppy feeding schedule guide covers the same first year from the food side.
When to worry about a puppy's weight
Call your vet promptly if your puppy is losing weight, or not gaining weight over two weeks, or if its ribs are sharp and prominent with no cover, or if it will not eat. Those are all reasons for a vet check, not for simply feeding more — a puppy that is not growing may have worms, a health problem, or a food it does not digest well, and the cause matters more than the calories. Call your vet too if your puppy is gaining weight very fast — much faster than the rough shares in the table above — especially if it is a large or giant breed, because rapid growth and excess weight in a large-breed puppy strain developing joints. Do not overfeed a puppy to make it grow faster: steady growth matters more than fast growth, and a puppy should stay lean enough that you can feel its ribs easily at every age.
Some puppies are simply small or large for their breed, and that is normal: the breed range is a range, and a puppy at the bottom of it is not necessarily underweight, any more than one at the top is necessarily overweight. What matters is the trend and the body condition, not the single number. A puppy that is gaining steadily, is lean with ribs you can feel, is bright, playful, and eating well, and is inside or near its breed's expected range, is growing well — even if it is smaller than its littermates. A puppy that is gaining in jumps, is hard to feel ribs on, or is dull and reluctant to play, is worth a vet check even if its weight looks reasonable. The dog age calculator and the dog food calculator put the puppy's weight in the context of its age and its food, and the puppy dog lifespan guide explains what the puppy year means for the whole of the dog's life.
Feeding for healthy puppy growth
Feed a puppy food — one labelled complete and balanced for puppies or for all life stages — in measured amounts, and re-weigh every two weeks, because the amount changes quickly as the puppy grows. Use the resting energy requirement (RER) formula with a factor of about 3.0 for puppies under four months and about 2.0 from four months to adulthood, applied to the puppy's current weight. For example, a puppy of 10 kg over four months old needs about 790 calories a day at the 2.0 factor — roughly 2.3 cups or about 225 g of a typical dry food at 350 kcal per cup — while a puppy of 5 kg over four months needs about 470 calories. A large-breed puppy food, designed to support steady rather than rapid growth, is often a sensible choice for a large or giant breed, because rapid growth and excess weight in a large-breed puppy strain developing joints.
Split the daily amount into three to four meals for a puppy under six months, then two meals a day from about six months. Small, frequent meals suit a puppy's small stomach and fast metabolism, and they make it easier to see appetite changes, which are often the first sign of illness in a puppy. Do not free-feed — leaving a full bowl down all day makes it impossible to know how much the puppy has eaten and hides appetite changes. Keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and do not give table scraps, which are often fatty, salty, or simply too many calories. If your puppy has a health condition, ask your vet or a veterinary nutritionist before choosing a special diet — therapeutic diets are medicines in food form and should not be chosen by guesswork. The how much food should a puppy eat by age guide gives the full calorie tables by weight and age.
For related reading, see the puppy weight predictor, the puppy dog weight calculator guide, the dog ideal weight calculator, the puppy dog food calculator guide, the puppy age in human years chart, the how much food should a puppy eat by age guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much should my puppy weigh?
It depends on the breed and its size: a toy breed is typically 1 to 5 kg as an adult, a small breed 5 to 10 kg, a medium breed 10 to 25 kg, a large breed 25 to 40 kg, and a giant breed 40 to 90 kg. A Labrador Retriever is typically 25 to 36 kg, a Beagle 9 to 11 kg, and a Great Dane 50 to 79 kg. Use the breed range first, the size range second, and body condition to settle the question.
How fast should a puppy gain weight?
Steadily, not in jumps. As a very rough guide, a puppy is about a fifth to a quarter of its expected adult weight at 8 weeks, about half to two-thirds at 6 months, and about four-fifths or more at 12 months — with small breeds finishing sooner and giant breeds still growing at 18 months to 2 years. Weigh every two weeks and watch the line, not any single reading.
How much should a Labrador puppy weigh at 6 months?
As a very rough guide, about half of its expected adult weight of 25 to 36 kg — so roughly 12 to 18 kg. Individual puppies vary widely, so if your puppy is well outside that rough band, or is not gaining steadily, ask your vet to check its growth rather than changing food on your own.
How do I know if my puppy is overweight?
Feel the ribs: you should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat without pressing hard. Look from above for a visible waist. If you cannot feel the ribs or there is no waist, the puppy is probably overweight — cut food by about 10% and ask your vet to check growth against the expected adult weight for the breed.
When is a puppy fully grown?
Most dogs are adults by about 12 to 18 months, but large breeds can take 18 months and giant breeds 2 years or more to finish growing. A dog is an adult when it has finished growing and its weight has been stable for a few months — ask your vet to confirm it at a routine check.
What if my puppy is not gaining weight?
A puppy that is not gaining weight over two weeks, or that is losing weight, needs a vet check — a puppy that is not growing may have worms, a health problem, or a food it does not digest well. Do not simply feed more: ask your vet to check for the cause first.
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.