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.
