Dog Weight Chart: Is My Dog Overweight?

The short answer

On the WSAVA 9-point chart, an ideal dog (score 4 to 5) has ribs you can feel without excess fat covering, a waist you can see behind the ribs from above, and a belly that tucks up from the side. If the ribs are hard to feel, the waist has gone and there is fat over the lower back and base of the tail, your dog is likely above ideal. The result here is an estimate; check with your vet.

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Is My Dog Overweight?

Answer 4 body condition questions

Run your hands along your dog’s sides. Can you feel the ribs?

Press gently with flat hands. You are feeling for the ribs under the skin, not looking for them.

Looking down from directly above, can you see a waist behind the ribs?

From the side, does the belly tuck up behind the ribcage?

Feel the lower back and the base of the tail. What is there?

The WSAVA chart uses fat over the lower back and the base of the tail as a sign of the higher scores.

Answer all 4 questions to see the result.

A simplified, at-home version of the WSAVA 9-point body condition score. The result is an estimate, not a diagnosis: check with your vet, whose hands-on assessment is the one that counts.

The four checks, in plain words

The RSPCA Knowledgebase gives owners three checks: an observable waist from above between the end of the rib cage and the back legs, ribs you can feel with some fat covering but not excess fat, and an abdomen tucked up when viewed side on. The tool adds a fourth from the WSAVA dog body condition chart, part of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's Global Nutrition Toolkit. WSAVA groups the scores as under ideal (1 to 3), ideal (4 to 5) and over ideal (6 to 9); we split the over ideal group in two to show how it progresses:

1 to 3, under ideal: ribs easily felt and may be visible with no fat over them, the tops of the spine visible, the pelvic bones becoming prominent, and an obvious waist and tuck. At score 1 there is obvious loss of muscle mass.
4 to 5, ideal: ribs easily felt with minimal fat covering, a waist behind the ribs from above, and the abdomen tucked up from the side.
6 to 7, over ideal: ribs felt with slight excess fat, then only with difficulty under heavy fat; the waist fading; noticeable fat over the lower back and the base of the tail.
8 to 9, over ideal (the heaviest scores): ribs not felt under very heavy fat, or only with significant pressure; no waist and no tuck; heavy fat over the lower back and tail base, and at 9 fat on the neck and limbs and an obviously swollen belly.

Your vet scores this by hand, and the RSPCA advises asking them to weigh your dog and give a body condition score.

Why a healthy weight matters

The RSPCA Knowledgebase says obesity is a common health problem in Australian dogs and that, if not addressed early, it can lead to serious complications such as heart failure and diabetes, and can make osteoarthritis worse.

The WSAVA chart cites a lifetime study of 48 Labrador Retrievers (Kealy and colleagues, JAVMA, 2002) in which the dogs fed 25% less than their pair-mates had a significantly longer median life span.

Dog weight chart by breed: what Dogs Australia standards say

People search for a dog weight chart, but most Australian breed standards do not give one. The Dogs Australia standard for each breed has a Size section, and for many popular breeds it gives height at the withers only. Where a standard gives no weight, we say so rather than borrow a figure from an overseas registry. A standard describes the breed ideal for showing, not a target for your own dog, so use body condition first.

Breeds whose standard gives a weight

Breed	What the standard says	Weight given?	Source
Pomeranian	Ideal weight: males 1.8 to 2 kg, females 2 to 2.5 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Shih Tzu	Weight 4.5 to 8 kg; ideal weight 4.5 to 7.5 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Jack Russell Terrier	Ideal height 25 to 30 cm, with about 1 kg for every 5 cm of height (about 5 kg at 25 cm, 6 kg at 30 cm)	Yes	Dogs Australia
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Weight 5.4 to 8.2 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Pug	Ideal weight 6.3 to 8.1 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
French Bulldog	Ideal weight: males 12.5 kg, females 11 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Cocker Spaniel	Weight approximately 13 to 14.5 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	Weight: males 13 to 17 kg, females 11 to 15.4 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Siberian Husky	Weight: males 20 to 27 kg, females 16 to 23 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
British Bulldog	Most desirable weight: males 25 kg, females 23 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Boxer	Males of about 58.5 cm about 30 kg; females of about 56 cm about 28 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
German Shepherd Dog	Weight: males 30 to 40 kg, females 22 to 32 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Rottweiler	Weight: males 50 kg, females approximately 42 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia
Great Dane	Minimum weight over 18 months: males 54 kg, females 46 kg	Yes	Dogs Australia

Breeds whose standard gives height only

Breed	Height in the standard	Weight given?	Source
Maltese	Not over 25 cm at the shoulder	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Beagle	33 to 40 cm at the withers	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Australian Cattle Dog	Males 46 to 51 cm, females 43 to 48 cm	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Australian Kelpie	Males 46 to 51 cm, females 43 to 48 cm	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Border Collie	Males 48 to 53 cm, females 46 to 51 cm	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Labrador Retriever	Ideal height: males 56 to 57 cm, females 55 to 56 cm	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Golden Retriever	Males 56 to 61 cm, females 51 to 56 cm	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Greyhound	Ideal height: males 71 to 76 cm, females 69 to 71 cm	No, height only	Dogs Australia
Cavoodle and other crosses	Not a recognised breed, so there is no Dogs Australia standard and no registry weight.		Oodle guide

Many rescue dogs are crosses with no standard at all, so score the body, then write down the scale reading as your dog's own baseline and watch for drift. For a growing puppy, the puppy weight calculator estimates adult size, and our guides to big dog breeds, medium-sized breeds and toy breeds cover size by breed.

How to help an overweight dog lose weight

See your vet first. The Royal Kennel Club (UK) says a vet can confirm the problem and rule out underlying medical issues, and that you should not change the diet or dramatically increase exercise without talking to a vet, because that can strain an overweight dog's body.
Measure the food. Weigh portions rather than scooping. The dog feeding calculator gives a daily energy starting point from the MSD Veterinary Manual formula to discuss with your vet.
Count the treats. WSAVA says treats should always make up less than 10% of a dog's daily calorie intake.
Build up exercise gradually. Start slowly with an unfit dog, take extra care with older dogs and those with joint problems, and avoid exercising in the heat. See dogs in hot weather and the dog exercise calculator.
Go slowly. The Royal Kennel Club says weight loss should always be gradual: never starve your dog and never restrict fresh water. It suggests follow-up vet visits every two to four weeks to track progress.

Large, deep-chested breeds have one more rule. The RSPCA advises feeding adult dogs at least twice a day and not exercising them immediately before or after eating, to help avoid bloat, which can be fatal. Read more in our guide to bloat (GDV).

Choosing or adopting a dog

An adult rescue dog comes with a known size and a body you can see and feel. The what dog breed am I quiz matches breeds to your lifestyle, and the dog age calculator converts your dog's age into human years. Our guide to adopting a dog in Australia covers the process. Browse adoptable dogs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Frequently asked questions

Tap a question to expand

How can I tell if my dog is overweight?▼

Use three checks the RSPCA Knowledgebase describes, which the tool above walks through. Ribs: when you gently feel along the rib area you should be able to feel the ribs with some fat covering them, but without excess fat. Waist: viewed from above, your dog should have a waist between the end of the rib cage and the start of the back legs. Belly: viewed side on, the abdomen should be tucked up. If your dog fails these checks, ask your vet to weigh them and give a body condition score.

What is a body condition score?▼

It is a way of judging body fat by look and feel rather than by the number on the scales. The WSAVA chart for dogs runs from 1 to 9: 1 to 3 is under ideal, 4 to 5 is ideal and 6 to 9 is over ideal. At score 5, the chart describes ribs you can feel without excess fat covering, a waist behind the ribs when viewed from above, and an abdomen tucked up when viewed from the side. The tool above is a simplified, at-home version, and your vet’s score is the one that counts.

Why does it matter if my dog is overweight?▼

The RSPCA Knowledgebase calls obesity a common health problem in Australian dogs and says that, if not addressed early, it can lead to serious complications such as heart failure and diabetes, and can make conditions such as osteoarthritis worse. The WSAVA body condition chart cites a lifetime study of 48 Labrador Retrievers (Kealy and colleagues, 2002) in which the dogs fed 25% less than their pair-mates had a significantly longer median life span.

How do I help my dog lose weight?▼

Start with your vet. The Royal Kennel Club (UK) says the first step is a vet visit to confirm the weight problem and rule out any underlying medical issues, and that you should not change the diet or dramatically increase exercise without talking to a vet first. Weight loss should be gradual: never starve a dog and never restrict fresh water. WSAVA advises that treats make up less than 10% of daily calories. Our dog feeding calculator gives a daily energy starting point you can take to your vet.

My dog looks fine but the vet says they are overweight. Who is right?▼

Go with the hands-on check. Weight usually creeps on slowly, and the RSPCA’s checks (ribs felt with some fat but not excess fat, a waist from above, a tucked-up belly from the side) are about feel and shape rather than how a dog looks at a glance. Ask your vet to show you the score on your own dog, so you know what ideal feels like and can keep checking at home.

What is the ideal weight for my dog?▼

There is no single number for every dog. Most Dogs Australia breed standards describe size by height at the withers rather than by weight, and even where a weight is given it describes the breed ideal, not your individual dog. That is why vets use body condition. Use the checker above to judge the shape, then ask your vet for a target weight for your dog and note the scale reading as a baseline.

General information only, not veterinary advice. Sources: WSAVA Body Condition Score chart for dogs (Global Nutrition Toolkit, 2025 file) and “Feeding treats to your dog” (2025); RSPCA Knowledgebase, “How do I tell if my dog is overweight?” (2019); Royal Kennel Club, “Managing weight”; Dogs Australia breed standards (opened November 2026); R. D. Kealy et al., JAVMA (2002).