Puppy Growth and Weight Chart by Breed Size
Watching a puppy grow is one of the joys of puppyhood, and weighing is a useful health check. But puppies of different sizes follow very different growth curves, and a single chart cannot fit every dog. This guide explains the patterns and how to use them.
The shape of a growth curve
Puppy growth is steep early on and flattens as the dog approaches adult size. In the first weeks, puppies may double their weight several times. After that, growth slows gradually. Small breeds finish growing early. Large and giant breeds continue for much longer, with bones and joints maturing even after the dog looks full-sized.
Growth patterns by size
These are general patterns, not strict rules.
- Toy breeds (under about 5 kg or 11 lb as adults): Grow fast and finish early, often reaching adult weight by about nine to twelve months.
- Small breeds (about 5 to 10 kg): Usually close to adult size by about ten to twelve months.
- Medium breeds (about 10 to 25 kg): Reach adult size at about twelve months, with some filling out afterwards.
- Large breeds (about 25 to 45 kg): Grow until about twelve to eighteen months, and may fill out up to two years.
- Giant breeds (over about 45 kg): Grow for eighteen to twenty-four months or longer, with rapid early gains.
Using milestones
A rough rule of thumb used by many vets is that puppies reach about half their adult weight at an age that depends on size: earlier for small dogs and later for giant dogs. Our guide to predicting adult size explains methods for estimating the final weight.
How to weigh your puppy
- Use the same scale at the same time of day.
- For small puppies, use a kitchen scale.
- For larger puppies, weigh yourself holding the puppy, then subtract your weight, or use a vet's scale. Many vets welcome free weigh-ins.
- Record the date and weight in a notebook or app.
What a healthy curve looks like
- Smooth upward trend without long plateaus.
- Occasional small dips can occur around illness or stress.
- No sudden jumps after a diet change or overfeeding.
- Body condition stays lean.
Contact your vet if your puppy loses weight, stops gaining for several weeks or gains very quickly. Our guide to the feeding chart by size helps you match food to growth.
Why slow and steady is best
Especially in large and giant breeds, overly rapid growth can stress developing joints. Keeping puppies lean and feeding a suitable diet supports healthy bone development. See our guide on exercise limits by age.
Body condition over numbers
A chart may say your puppy should weigh a certain amount, but a muscular, active puppy may weigh more, and a slender one less, and both can be healthy. Use these checks:
- Ribs are easily felt but not seen.
- A waist is visible from above.
- The belly tucks up from the side.
Mixed breeds
For mixed-breed puppies, estimates are less precise. Parents' size, paw size and a DNA test can help, but your vet's guidance and body condition checks matter most.
Common concerns
- My puppy seems small. Compare with littermates and ask your vet.
- My puppy seems big. Check body condition and diet.
- Growth stalled. Check feeding, worms and health with your vet.
The takeaway
Track weight regularly, use charts as rough guides and focus on steady, lean growth. Your vet can read your puppy's curve and spot concerns early.
Frequently asked questions
At what age do puppies reach adult size?
Toy breeds often by around nine to twelve months and giant breeds as late as eighteen to twenty-four months.
How often should I weigh my puppy?
Every week or two in the early months is helpful, and monthly later, ideally at the same time of day.
Is my puppy underweight or overweight?
Body condition is the best test. You should feel ribs easily with a visible waist.
Do puppies grow in spurts?
Yes. Growth often comes in bursts, so a flat week is not necessarily a problem, but prolonged stalls need checking.