dog looking up

Ideal dog weight, a complete guide by breed

Whether your dog is still a puppy or already an adult, it is important to have an idea of his or her expected size and weight when they are fully grown.

Not only is this useful to know before adopting a specific breed (large breeds need more space, smaller breeds tend to live longer, etc.), but this information has a strong influence on what you should feed your dog. For example, small breeds, generally considered to be 10kg or less, have much less growing to do than medium-sized or large breeds.

Consequently, they need less energy, so small breed dog food reflects this and provides them only with the nutrients they require to stay healthy. Conversely, large breeds, which are considered to be 25kg or more (but see the chart below for a more accurate breed-by-breed interpretation), have the most growing to do, so they need large breed dog food to get all the energy they must consume to grow at such a rapid rate.

For this reason, many dog food products have a breed size indicator on the packaging, letting you know if it is suitable for small, medium, large and even extra-large breeds. Feeding a dog food intended for a different-sized breed will result in nutritional imbalances. This can lead to long-term growth and health issues, such as obesity. Keeping a close eye on your dog’s weight can extend their life span. Thus, it is important you know the eventual size of your dog, so you can buy the right food for him or her and help keep them at their ideal and healthiest weight.

 

How much should my dog weigh?

Every dog is different and, no matter how well you feed your puppy, some dogs won’t grow to be as big or as heavy as others of the same breed. Conversely, some may become much larger. However, there are two reasonably reliable ways of estimating how large your dog will become.

  • Observing the size and weight of your puppy’s parents
  • Looking at the average weight of adult dogs of the same breed and sex as your puppy

For some owners, particularly if your dog is a rescue, you may not know the parents, so the former is not an option. However, if you adopted your puppy from a breeder, or the kennel has records of the mother, someone can probably inform you of the size and weight the mother grew to. It can sometimes be harder to find records on the father, unless the pregnancy was planned and arranged. However, even without knowing the size and weight of the parents, most dogs grow to more or less the average size of other dogs of the same breed.

The chart below lists some of the UK’s most common dog breeds, their average adult weight when fully grown based on sex, and the size category they have been determined by The Kennel Club, the UK’s governing body for canines. That being said, there are a multitude of factors which can influence a healthy weight for your dog. Some dogs build muscle more easily and so weigh more, while others can be lighter while still being of healthy size and weight.

If your dog falls outside the average weights listed below but they otherwise appear healthy, they probably are. If you want to be sure, book an appointment to have a check-up with your vet.

 

 

Breed
Average Adult Weight (kg)
Size
Male Female
Affenpinscher 3-5 Small
Afghan Hound 25-30 20-25 Large
Akita 40-50 30-40 Large
Alaskan Malamute 38-40 35 Large
Anatolian Shepherd Dog 40-70 Large
Australian Cattle Dog 15-20 Medium
Australian Shepherd 20-30 20-25 Medium
Australian Silky Terrier 3-5 Small
Australian Terrier 5-7 Small
Basenji 10 Small
Basset Hound 20-25 Medium
Bavarian Mountain Hound 20-25 Medium
Beagle 8-14 Small
Beauceron 30-40 Large
Bedlington Terrier 7-10 Small
Belgian Shepherd Dog 25-30 20-25 Medium
Bergamasco 32-38 26-32 Large
Bernese Mountain Dog 40-55 30-45 Large
Bichon Frise 5-7 4-7 Small
Black and Tan Coonhound 25-35 Large
Bloodhound 30-35 25-30 Large
Bolognese 2.5-4 Small
Border Terrier 5-7 Small
Borzoi 35-48 27-38 Large
Boston Terrier 4-11 Small
Boxer 30-37 22-30 Large
Bracco Italiano 25-40 Large
Briard 35-45 20-30 Large
Brittany 13-18 Medium
Bull Terrier 28-32 20-28 Medium
Bullmastiff 50-60 45-55 Large
Cairn Terrier 5-7 Small
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 5-9 Small
Cesky Terrier 7-10 Small
Chihuahua 2.5 Small
Chinese Crested 2-6 Small
Chow Chow 20-30 Medium
Collie 27-32 22-30 Medium
Coton De Tulears 4-6 3.5-5 Small
Dachshund (Miniature) 5 Small
Dachshund (Standard) 7-14 Medium
Dalmatian 20-25 Medium
Dandie Dinmont Terrier 8-11 Small
Deerhound 39-50 34-43 Large
Dobermann 30-40 Large
Dogue de Bordeaux 50 45 Large
English Setter 27-30 22-25 Large
English Toy Terrier 3.5-6.5 Small
Entlebucher Mountain Dog 20-30 Medium
Estrela Mountain Dog 40-50 30-40 Large
Eurasier 23-32 18-26 Medium
Finish Lapphund 15-24 Medium
Fox Terrier 7.5-8.5 6.5-7.5 Small
Foxhound 29-34 20-29 Large
French Bulldog 12.5 or less Small
German Longhaired Pointer 27-32 Large
German Pinscher 11-16 Medium
German Shepherd 35-45 Large
German Shorthaired Pointer 25-30 20-25 Medium
Giant Schnauzer 27-48 25-35 Large
Gordon Setter 25-35 20-30 Large
Great Dane 60-80 50-70 Large
Great Swiss Mountain Dog 50-65 40-50 Large
Greenland Dog 30-32 Large
Greyhound 29-32 27-30 Large
Griffon Bruxellois 4-5 Small
Hamiltonstovare 23-27 Medium
Havanese 3-6 Small
Hovawart 25-40 Large
Hungarian Kuvasz 45-52 35-40 Large
Hungarian Puli 13-15 10-13 Medium
Ibizan Hound 23 20 Medium
Irish Red & White Setter 25-34 Large
Irish Setter 32 27 Medium
Irish Terrier 12 11 Small
Irish Wolfhound 54 or more 47 or more Large
Italian Greyhound 3-7 Small
Italian Spinone 34-39 29-34 Large
Jack Russell Terrier 7-8 Small
Japanese Akita Inu 34-54 32-45 Large
King Charles Spaniel 4-7 Small
Komondor 36 31 Large
Kooikerhondje 9-11 Small
Korean Jindo 18-23 15-19 Medium
Korthals Griffon 23-27 Medium
Kuvasz 45-52 32-40 Large
Lagotto Romagnolo 13-16 11-14 Small
Lakeland Terrier 7.5 Small
Lancashire Heeler 2.5-6 Small
Leonburger 48-75 41-59 Large
Lhasa Apso 6-7 Small
Maltese 2-3 Small
Manchester Terrier 3-3.5 Small
Maremma Sheepdog 30-45 Large
Mastiff 80-85 Large
Miniature Schnauzer 6-6.5 Small
Munsterlander (Large) 23-32 Large
Munsterlander (Small) 18-27 Medium
Neapolitan Mastiff 60-65 50 Large
Newfoundland 60-70 50-55 Large
Norfolk Terrier 5-5.5 Small
Norwegian Buhund 14-18 11.5-15.5 Medium
Norwegian Elkhound 25 22 Medium
Norwich Terrier 5.5 Small
Old English Sheepdog 32-40 28-35 Large
Parson Russell Terrier 6-7 Small
Pekingese 6 or less Small
Pharaoh Hound 20-25 Medium
Pointer 25-35 20-30 Medium
Poodle 2-3.5 Small
Portuguese Podengo 4-6 Small
Portuguese Pointer 20-27 16-22 Medium
Portuguese Water Dog 20-27 16-22.5 Medium
Pug 6.35-8.16 Small
Pyrenean Mastiff 80-100 Large
Pyrenean Mountain Dog 50-54 36-41 Large
Pyrenean Sheepdog 20-25 14-20 Medium
Retriever (Golden) 30-34 25-32 Large
Retriever (Labrador) 29-36 25-32 Large
Rhodesian Ridgeback 38 32 Large
Rottweiler 40-60 37-45 Large
Russian Toy 2.5 or less Small
Saint Bernard 63-81 Large
Schnauzer 5.4-9.1 5.4-8.2 Medium
Scottish Terrier 8.5-10 8.5-9.5 Small
Sealyham Terrier 10.5 8-10 Small
Segugio Italiano 18-27 Large
Shar Pei 25-30 18-25 Medium
Shetland Sheepdog 9 Small
Shih Tzu 4-7 Small
Siberian Husky 20-25 16-22 Medium
Skye Terrier 16-18 12-13.5 Medium
Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer 25-35 Large
Snorkie 3-6 Small
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 16-18 13.5-15 Medium
Spaniel (Clumber) 32-39 25-32 Large
Spaniel (Cocker) 13-16 12-15 Small
Spaniel (English Springer) 20-25 18-23 Medium
Staffordshire Bull Terrier 16-18 13.5-15 Medium
Swedish Lapphund 19-21 Medium
Tibetan Mastiff 40-70 35-50 Large
Weimaraner 25-40 Large
Welsh Corgi 10-14 10-13 Small
Welsh Terrier 9-10 Small
West Highland White Terrier 7-9.5 Small
Whippet 7-13.5 Small
White Swiss Shepherd Dog 30-40 25-35 Large
Xoloitzcuintle (Toy) 2.5-6.5 Small
Xoloitzcuintle (Miniature) 7-13.5 Small
Xoloitzcuintle (Standard) 11.5-18 Medium
Yorkshire Terrier 3 or less Small

 

Size matters

If you’re still unsure about your dog’s size or you cannot find your dog’s breed in the list, the best thing you can do is consult your vet. They will be able to advise on the size of your dog, their ideal weight range, and what food you should be feeding them.