A dog weight chart is only as useful as it is specific to your dog. The challenge is that 'healthy weight' spans an enormous range across breeds — a healthy Chihuahua weighs around 2–3 kg; a healthy Great Dane weighs around 54–90 kg. Using a generic average for 'dogs' tells you almost nothing useful.
This article organizes typical adult dog weights by size category — toy, small, medium, large, and giant — with example breeds in each, and explains how to use those ranges alongside a body condition check to assess your own dog. For breed-specific ranges on individual dogs, the breed guides and Weight Checker on this site go deeper.
Toy breeds are among the smallest dogs physically, bred primarily for companionship. Examples include the Chihuahua (typically 1.5–3 kg), Yorkshire Terrier (up to about 3.2 kg per AKC breed standard), Toy Poodle (roughly 2–4 kg), Pomeranian (1.5–3.5 kg), and Papillon (3.5–5 kg). The Italian Greyhound sits at the upper end of this group at roughly 3.5–5 kg.
In toy breeds, even small absolute differences in weight are proportionally significant. A 500 g weight gain on a 2 kg Chihuahua represents a 25% increase in body weight — the equivalent of a 70 kg person gaining 17 kg. Portion control and regular weigh-ins are particularly important for very small dogs.
Toy breeds can also make body condition assessment trickier due to coat type — long, fluffy coats on breeds like the Pomeranian can disguise fat coverage. The rib check (feeling, not looking) is the most reliable hands-on assessment regardless of coat.
Small breeds span a variety of body types — from the compact and muscular French Bulldog (7–13 kg) and the lean Beagle (9–11 kg for the smaller variety, up to 13.5 kg for the larger) to the Cocker Spaniel (9–14 kg), Miniature Schnauzer (5–9 kg), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (5–8 kg), and the Shetland Sheepdog (6–11 kg).
Small breeds tend to live longer than large breeds and can remain active and healthy into their teens. Their smaller calorie budgets mean treats and food additions add up proportionally faster, and portion discipline remains important throughout adult life.
Medium breeds include some of the most popular family dogs. Examples include the Border Collie (14–20 kg), Australian Shepherd (16–32 kg depending on sex), Bulldog (18–25 kg), Springer Spaniel (18–23 kg), Siberian Husky (16–27 kg), and Whippet (18–30 kg).
Medium breeds show significant sex-based weight variation. A female Border Collie may be healthy at 14–16 kg; a male at the same breed standard may be healthy at 18–20 kg. Checking the breed standard for sex-specific ranges rather than applying a single number gives a more accurate reference.
Many medium breeds are classified as working, herding, or sporting dogs and maintain lean, muscular builds at healthy weights. An athletic, lean-looking medium-breed dog may be perfectly healthy even if it looks 'thin' compared to a companion breed at the same body weight.
Large breeds are among the most popular in this category. Examples include the Labrador Retriever (25–36 kg), Golden Retriever (25–34 kg), German Shepherd (22–40 kg), Rottweiler (35–60 kg for males), Weimaraner (25–40 kg), and Doberman Pinscher (27–45 kg).
Large breeds are particularly prone to weight creep in middle age, especially after spay/neuter. They also carry a higher risk of orthopedic conditions (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia) where excess weight significantly increases joint loading and discomfort. Keeping a large breed in lean-to-ideal body condition throughout adult life is among the most impactful preventive health steps an owner can take.
Senior large-breed dogs typically age faster than small breeds and often begin showing signs of reduced activity and muscle loss earlier — from around 7–8 years — which affects their calorie needs and can affect body weight even without food changes.
Giant breeds occupy their own category due to the scale of weight variation and the specific health considerations that come with very large body mass. Examples include the Great Dane (54–90 kg), Saint Bernard (55–90 kg), Mastiff (55–100 kg or more for large males), Great Pyrenees (38–54 kg typically), Bernese Mountain Dog (36–55 kg), and Irish Wolfhound (48–70 kg).
Giant breeds have the shortest lifespans among dogs — many have average lifespans of 7–10 years, with Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds often living only 6–8 years. Their large body mass means joint health is a major focus: keeping them lean reduces orthopedic strain significantly. They also mature slowly and shouldn't be fed a high-calorie diet in puppyhood that drives overly rapid growth.
A giant breed at an ideal body condition should still have a discernible waist and feelable ribs under a modest fat covering. Their large size can make visual assessment harder — a hands-on body condition check is especially important for giant breeds.
Weight ranges are reference bands, not prescriptions. Within any breed, healthy adult weight varies based on sex (females typically 15–30% lighter than males), frame size (larger-framed individuals within a breed are healthy at the top of the range), and muscle mass (an athletic, well-muscled dog may weigh more than a sedentary dog of the same breed while having a better body condition).
The most reliable way to assess your dog's weight is to combine the breed-appropriate weight range with a body condition score. At an ideal BCS of 4–5 on a 9-point scale, ribs are easily felt with light pressure (not visible), a waist is visible from above, and there is a slight abdominal tuck from the side. If the weight is within the breed range but the body condition suggests excess fat, the weight target is probably at the lower end of the range for that individual.
If you're uncertain whether your dog's weight is appropriate, the Weight Checker on this site compares your dog's weight to a breed-specific healthy range, and the Body Condition Score Calculator guides you through the hands-on assessment that gives the clearest picture.
There isn't a meaningful average — the range across breeds is too vast (from 1.5 kg to over 90 kg). A better question is: what is the healthy weight range for my dog's specific breed and sex? The breed guides on this site and the Weight Checker provide breed-specific ranges.
Compare your dog's current weight to the breed-appropriate range for their sex, then confirm with a body condition check. At an ideal weight, you should be able to feel (but not see) the ribs with light pressure, see a waist from above, and see a slight belly tuck from the side. If ribs are hard to find and the waist has disappeared, the dog is likely overweight regardless of where the number falls in the breed range.
No — males are consistently heavier than females in most breeds, often by 15–30%. Many AKC breed standards list separate weight ranges for males and females. When looking up an ideal weight, always check the sex-specific range rather than applying a single number.
For mixed-breed dogs, breed-specific standards don't apply cleanly. The most useful tools are a body condition score (which is breed-agnostic) and a comparison to the size category that matches your dog's overall build. If your dog has been DNA tested and you know the primary breeds, those breed standards can provide a rough reference.
It depends on breed size. Toy and small breeds typically reach adult weight by 9–12 months. Medium breeds by around 12–15 months. Large breeds by approximately 15–18 months. Giant breeds can continue filling out until 18–24 months or later. A dog is generally considered 'adult' for feeding purposes once they've reached their breed's typical adult size.