How to Calculate Adult Dog Weight During Puppyhood

What will he weigh when he's grown?

Dogs come in all mixes and sizes. When selecting and caring for a puppy, use this general calculation to project your puppy's adult weight.

Things You'll Need

• Your dog
• Scale for weighing
• Optional: pencil/pen, paper, calculator

Instructions

Your Puppy's Size, Age and Weight

1. Determine which size category your dog belongs to. Dogs are categorized as small, medium and large. Based on your dog's breed, identify its size.

2. Calculate your puppy's age in weeks. Dogs of different sizes have grow the fastest during these time frames:

   Toy and small: birth to 3 months (12 weeks)

   Medium: birth to 4 months (16 weeks)

   Large: birth to 5 months (20 weeks)

3. Weigh your puppy on the scale.

Calculate Projected Adult Weight

1. Use an equation to give you a general idea of your puppy's adult weight. Remember that males are often larger than females; depending on your puppy's age, he may be past his stage of rapid growth.

   Growth = Current weight / Age in weeks

   Estimated adult weight = Growth x 52

2. Consider this example: A toy poodle is 3 pounds at 14 weeks. His projected adult weight is less than 9.75 pounds.

   Growth = 3 pounds / 14 weeks = 0.214 pounds per week.

   Estimated adult weight = 0.214 pounds per week x 52 weeks = 9.75 pounds.

   The toy poodle has passed his rapid growth stage, so he should grow to less than the estimated adult weight.

3. Consider another example: A beagle weighs 10 pounds at 4 months. His projected adult weight is 32.5 pounds.

   Growth = 10 pounds / 16 weeks = 0.625 pounds per week.

   Estimated adult weight = 0.625 pounds per week x 52 weeks = 32.5 pounds.

   The beagle is at the end of his growth spurt, so the estimated adult weight can be considered fairly accurate.

Tips & Warnings

• For purebreds, check with your dog's breeder for a better estimate on the expected adult weight. The breeder can give you a better estimate based on your puppy's parentage and previous litters.

• It may be easier to hold the puppy in your arms while getting his weight. To get your puppy's weight, remember to weigh yourself first and then subtract your weight from your combined weight.

• There are many factors that affect a puppy's growth: gender, size of parents, general health, nutrition, exercise and preexisting conditions. Each size grows at different rates during puppyhood. This calculation is useful to get a ballpark estimate of your puppy's adult weight.

References

• The-Puppy-Dog-Place.com: Puppy Weight Estimates

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• American Kennel Club