Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight can extend your dog's life by up to 15%. Use these science-backed tools to assess and manage your dog's weight.
59%
of pets are overweight
15%
longer lifespan at ideal weight
10%
max calories from treats
Body Condition Score Assessment
Answer these three questions to estimate your dog's body condition score (1-9 scale).
Run your hands along your dog's sides. How easily can you feel the ribs?
Look at your dog from above. How visible is the waist (narrowing behind ribs)?
View your dog from the side. Does the belly tuck up behind the ribcage?
5
Ideal
Body Condition Score: 5 of 9
Ribs felt with thin fat layer. Waist visible from above, slight abdominal tuck.
Recommendation: Perfect! Your dog is at an ideal weight. Continue current care.
The Knuckle Test
A quick way to gauge fat coverage over ribs:
- Make a fist and feel your knuckles = Too thin (ribs too prominent)
- Lay hand flat and feel knuckles = Ideal coverage
- Feel knuckles through palm = Too much fat coverage
Based on the Purina Body Condition System, adopted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).
Breed Weight Chart
Showing 291 of 291 breeds
Affenpinscher
7-10 lbsToy
Afghan Hound
50-60 lbsMedium
Airedale Terrier
50-70 lbsMedium
Akita
70-130 lbsLarge
Alaskan Klee Kai
6-25 lbsSmall
Alaskan Malamute
75-85 lbsLarge
American Bulldog
75 lbsLarge
American English Coonhound
45-65 lbsMedium
American Eskimo Dog
6-35 lbsSmall
American Foxhound
60-70 lbsLarge
American Hairless Terrier
12-28 lbsSmall
American Leopard Hound
45-75 lbsMedium
American Staffordshire Terrier
40-70 lbsMedium
American Water Spaniel
25-45 lbsMedium
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
80-150 lbsGiant
Appenzeller Sennenhund
48-70 lbsMedium
Australian Cattle Dog
35-50 lbsMedium
Australian Kelpie
35-50 lbsMedium
Australian Shepherd
40-65 lbsMedium
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
32-45 lbsMedium
Australian Terrier
15-20 lbsSmall
Azawakh
33-55 lbsMedium
Barbado da Terceira
46-60 lbsMedium
Barbet
35-65 lbsMedium
Basenji
22-24 lbsSmall
Basset Fauve de Bretagne
23-39 lbsMedium
Basset Hound
40-65 lbsMedium
Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound
37-66 lbsMedium
Beagle
13-15 lbsSmall
Bearded Collie
45-55 lbsMedium
Beauceron
70-110 lbsLarge
Bedlington Terrier
17-23 lbsSmall
Belgian Laekenois
55-65 lbsMedium
Belgian Malinois
40-80 lbsMedium
Belgian Sheepdog
45-75 lbsMedium
Belgian Tervuren
45-75 lbsMedium
Bergamasco Sheepdog
57-84 lbsLarge
Berger Picard
50-70 lbsMedium
Bernese Mountain Dog
70-115 lbsLarge
Bichon Frise
12-18 lbsSmall
Biewer Terrier
4-8 lbsToy
Black Russian Terrier
80-130 lbsGiant
Black and Tan Coonhound
65-110 lbsLarge
Bloodhound
80-110 lbsLarge
Blue Picardy Spaniel
50 lbsMedium
Bluetick Coonhound
45-80 lbsLarge
Boerboel
150-200 lbsGiant
Bohemian Shepherd
37-60 lbsMedium
Bolognese
6-10 lbsToy
Border Collie
30-55 lbsMedium
Border Terrier
5-15 lbsToy
Borzoi
60-105 lbsLarge
Boston Terrier
12-25 lbsSmall
Bouvier des Ardennes
5-77 lbsMedium
Bouvier des Flandres
70-110 lbsLarge
Boxer
15-80 lbsMedium
Boykin Spaniel
25-40 lbsMedium
Bracco Italiano
55-90 lbsLarge
Braque Francais Pyrenean
40-55 lbsMedium
Braque Saint-Germain
40-58 lbsMedium
Braque du Bourbonnais
35-53 lbsMedium
Brazilian Terrier
22 lbsSmall
Briard
55-100 lbsLarge
Brittany
30-40 lbsMedium
Broholmer
90-150 lbsGiant
Brussels Griffon
8-10 lbsToy
Bull Terrier
50-70 lbsMedium
Bulldog
40-50 lbsMedium
Bullmastiff
100-130 lbsGiant
Cairn Terrier
13-14 lbsSmall
Calupoh
70 lbsLarge
Canaan Dog
35-55 lbsMedium
Canadian Eskimo Dog
66-88 lbsLarge
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
25-38 lbsMedium
Carolina Dog
30-55 lbsMedium
Catahoula Leopard Dog
50-95 lbsLarge
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
99-170 lbsGiant
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
13-18 lbsSmall
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
88-110 lbsLarge
Cesky Terrier
14-24 lbsSmall
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
55-80 lbsLarge
Chihuahua
6 lbsToy
Chinese Crested
8-12 lbsToy
Chinese Shar-Pei
45-60 lbsMedium
Chinook
50-90 lbsLarge
Chow Chow
45-70 lbsMedium
Cirneco dell'Etna
20-28 lbsSmall
Clumber Spaniel
55-85 lbsLarge
Cocker Spaniel
20-30 lbsSmall
Collie
50-75 lbsLarge
Coton de Tulear
8-15 lbsToy
Croatian Sheepdog
29-44 lbsMedium
Curly-Coated Retriever
60-95 lbsLarge
Dachshund
11-32 lbsSmall
Dalmatian
45-70 lbsMedium
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
18-24 lbsSmall
Danish-Swedish Farmdog
15-20 lbsSmall
Deutscher Wachtelhund
40-55 lbsMedium
Doberman Pinscher
60-100 lbsLarge
Dogo Argentino
80-100 lbsLarge
Dogue de Bordeaux
99-110 lbsGiant
Drentsche Patrijshond
70-73 lbsLarge
Drever
35-40 lbsMedium
Dutch Shepherd
42-75 lbsMedium
English Cocker Spaniel
26-34 lbsMedium
English Foxhound
60-75 lbsLarge
English Setter
45-80 lbsLarge
English Springer Spaniel
40-50 lbsMedium
English Toy Spaniel
8-14 lbsToy
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
40-65 lbsMedium
Estrela Mountain Dog
77-132 lbsGiant
Eurasier
40-70 lbsMedium
Field Spaniel
35-50 lbsMedium
Finnish Lapphund
33-53 lbsMedium
Finnish Spitz
20-33 lbsMedium
Flat-Coated Retriever
60-70 lbsLarge
French Bulldog
28 lbsMedium
French Spaniel
50-60 lbsMedium
German Longhaired Pointer
55-80 lbsLarge
German Pinscher
25-45 lbsMedium
German Shepherd Dog
50-90 lbsLarge
German Shorthaired Pointer
45-70 lbsMedium
German Spitz
24-26 lbsSmall
German Wirehaired Pointer
50-70 lbsMedium
Giant Schnauzer
75-95 lbsLarge
Glen of Imaal Terrier
32-40 lbsMedium
Golden Retriever
55-75 lbsLarge
Gordon Setter
45-80 lbsLarge
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
40-45 lbsMedium
Great Dane
110-175 lbsGiant
Great Pyrenees
85-100 lbsLarge
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
85-140 lbsGiant
Greyhound
60-70 lbsLarge
Hamiltonstovare
40-75 lbsMedium
Hanoverian Scenthound
79-99 lbsLarge
Harrier
45-60 lbsMedium
Havanese
7-13 lbsToy
Hokkaido
44-66 lbsMedium
Hovawart
65-90 lbsLarge
Ibizan Hound
45-50 lbsMedium
Icelandic Sheepdog
25-30 lbsMedium
Irish Red and White Setter
35-60 lbsMedium
Irish Setter
60-70 lbsLarge
Irish Terrier
25-27 lbsMedium
Irish Water Spaniel
45-68 lbsMedium
Irish Wolfhound
105-120 lbsGiant
Italian Greyhound
7-14 lbsToy
Jagdterrier
17-22 lbsSmall
Japanese Akitainu
65-75 lbsLarge
Japanese Chin
7-11 lbsToy
Japanese Spitz
10-25 lbsSmall
Japanese Terrier
10-12 lbsToy
Kai Ken
30-40 lbsMedium
Karelian Bear Dog
44-49 lbsMedium
Keeshond
35-45 lbsMedium
Kerry Blue Terrier
33-40 lbsMedium
Kishu Ken
30-60 lbsMedium
Komondor
80-100 lbsLarge
Korean Jindo Dog
40-50 lbsMedium
Kromfohrlander
20-35 lbsMedium
Kuvasz
70-115 lbsLarge
Labrador Retriever
55-80 lbsLarge
Lagotto Romagnolo
24-35 lbsMedium
Lakeland Terrier
17 lbsSmall
Lancashire Heeler
9-17 lbsSmall
Lapponian Herder
70 lbsLarge
Large Munsterlander
50-70 lbsMedium
Leonberger
90-170 lbsGiant
Lhasa Apso
12-18 lbsSmall
Löwchen
15 lbsSmall
Maltese
7 lbsToy
Manchester Terrier (Standard)
12-22 lbsSmall
Manchester Terrier (Toy)
12 lbsToy
Mastiff
120-230 lbsGiant
Miniature American Shepherd
20-40 lbsMedium
Miniature Bull Terrier
18-28 lbsSmall
Miniature Pinscher
8-10 lbsToy
Miniature Schnauzer
11-20 lbsSmall
Mountain Cur
30-60 lbsMedium
Mudi
18-29 lbsSmall
Neapolitan Mastiff
110-150 lbsGiant
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
20-30 lbsSmall
Newfoundland
100-150 lbsGiant
Norfolk Terrier
11-12 lbsToy
Norrbottenspets
20-30 lbsSmall
Norwegian Buhund
26-40 lbsMedium
Norwegian Elkhound
48-55 lbsMedium
Norwegian Lundehund
15-18 lbsSmall
Norwich Terrier
12 lbsToy
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
35-50 lbsMedium
Old English Sheepdog
60-100 lbsLarge
Otterhound
80-115 lbsLarge
Papillon
5-10 lbsToy
Parson Russell Terrier
13-17 lbsSmall
Pekingese
14 lbsSmall
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
28-30 lbsMedium
Perro de Presa Canario
84-110 lbsLarge
Peruvian Inca Orchid
5-8 lbsToy
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
25-40 lbsMedium
Pharaoh Hound
45-55 lbsMedium
Plott
40-60 lbsMedium
Pointer
45-75 lbsMedium
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
30-50 lbsMedium
Pomeranian
3-7 lbsToy
Pont-Audemer Spaniel
38-48 lbsMedium
Poodle (All Varities)
4-6 lbsToy
Poodle (Miniature)
10-15 lbsSmall
Poodle (Standard)
40-70 lbsMedium
Poodle (Toy)
4-6 lbsToy
Porcelaine
55-62 lbsMedium
Portuguese Podengo
44 lbsMedium
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
9-13 lbsToy
Portuguese Pointer
35-59 lbsMedium
Portuguese Sheepdog
5-59 lbsMedium
Portuguese Water Dog
35-60 lbsMedium
Pudelpointer
45-70 lbsMedium
Pug
14-18 lbsSmall
Puli
25-35 lbsMedium
Pumi
22-29 lbsMedium
Pyrenean Mastiff
120-190 lbsGiant
Pyrenean Shepherd
15-30 lbsSmall
Rafeiro do Alentejo
77-132 lbsGiant
Rat Terrier
10-25 lbsSmall
Redbone Coonhound
45-70 lbsMedium
Rhodesian Ridgeback
70-85 lbsLarge
Romanian Carpathian Shepherd
70 lbsLarge
Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog
100-130 lbsGiant
Rottweiler
80-135 lbsGiant
Russell Terrier
9-15 lbsToy
Russian Toy
5-6 lbsToy
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka
6-9 lbsToy
Saint Bernard
120-180 lbsGiant
Saluki
40-65 lbsMedium
Samoyed
35-65 lbsMedium
Schapendoes
26-55 lbsMedium
Schipperke
10-16 lbsSmall
Scottish Deerhound
85-110 lbsLarge
Scottish Terrier
18-22 lbsSmall
Sealyham Terrier
23-24 lbsSmall
Segugio Italiano
39-62 lbsMedium
Shetland Sheepdog
15-25 lbsSmall
Shiba Inu
17-23 lbsSmall
Shih Tzu
9-16 lbsSmall
Shikoku
35-55 lbsMedium
Siberian Husky
35-60 lbsMedium
Silky Terrier
10 lbsToy
Skye Terrier
35-45 lbsMedium
Sloughi
45-65 lbsMedium
Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer
50-65 lbsMedium
Slovensky Cuvac
68-97 lbsLarge
Slovensky Kopov
33-44 lbsMedium
Small Munsterlander
40-60 lbsMedium
Smooth Fox Terrier
15-18 lbsSmall
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
30-40 lbsMedium
Spanish Mastiff
140-200 lbsGiant
Spanish Water Dog
31-49 lbsMedium
Spinone Italiano
31-49 lbsMedium
Stabyhoun
40-60 lbsMedium
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
24-38 lbsMedium
Standard Schnauzer
30-50 lbsMedium
Sussex Spaniel
35-45 lbsMedium
Swedish Lapphund
30-45 lbsMedium
Swedish Vallhund
20-35 lbsMedium
Taiwan Dog
26-40 lbsMedium
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
8-25 lbsSmall
Thai Bangkaew
40-43 lbsMedium
Thai Ridgeback
35-75 lbsMedium
Tibetan Mastiff
70-150 lbsGiant
Tibetan Spaniel
9-15 lbsToy
Tibetan Terrier
18-30 lbsSmall
Tornjak
62-110 lbsLarge
Tosa
100-200 lbsGiant
Toy Fox Terrier
4-9 lbsToy
Transylvanian Hound
55 lbsMedium
Treeing Tennessee Brindle
30-50 lbsMedium
Treeing Walker Coonhound
50-70 lbsMedium
Vizsla
44-60 lbsMedium
Volpino Italiano
8-16 lbsToy
Weimaraner
55-90 lbsLarge
Welsh Springer Spaniel
35-55 lbsMedium
Welsh Terrier
20 lbsSmall
West Highland White Terrier
15-20 lbsSmall
Wetterhoun
50-75 lbsLarge
Whippet
25-40 lbsMedium
Wire Fox Terrier
15-18 lbsSmall
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
35-70 lbsMedium
Wirehaired Vizsla
45-65 lbsMedium
Working Kelpie
28-60 lbsMedium
Xoloitzcuintli
10-55 lbsMedium
Yakutian Laika
40-55 lbsMedium
Yorkshire Terrier
7 lbsToy
Source: American Kennel Club
Weight Management Tips
Watch the Treats
All treats add calories. Keep treats to less than 10% of daily intake.
Stay Active
Regular walks and play prevent weight gain. Indoor pets need extra activity.
Monitor Regularly
Check body condition monthly. Weight alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Adjust Portions
Food labels are starting points. Adjust based on your dog's body condition.
Why Healthy Weight Matters
Reduces Disease Risk
Overweight dogs face higher risks of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and certain cancers.
Improves Mobility
Excess weight strains joints and reduces quality of life, especially in larger breeds.
Extends Lifespan
Purina research shows dogs at ideal body condition live up to 15% longer than overweight dogs.
Wet Food vs. Dry Food: Does It Matter?
The type of food doesn't cause weight gain—calories do. Wet foods are 70%+ water, so larger volumes can be fed. Dry foods are more calorie-dense per gram. Both are nutritious options when portion-controlled properly. Focus on total daily calorie intake, not food type.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace veterinary advice. If your dog is significantly over or underweight, consult your veterinarian for a personalized assessment and feeding plan.
Sources: Purina Institute | American Kennel Club | WSAVA