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Table of Contents
How often should I be weighing my dog?
What changes to their physique should I be looking out for?
How do I know what my dog's ideal weight is?
How do I weigh my dog at home?
Using the bathroom scales
Health and safety first - don’t try this at home with a Doberman!
Getting your dog used to being weighed
Keeping an eye on your dog’s magic number (the ideal weight for their breed and age) is super important.
If you know your dog’s weight, it's easier to work out things like how much food they should eat, or the amount of flea or worm treatment to give them. Getting the right treatment is the safest and most effective way to prevent your dog getting fleas or worms.
Just like us, a dog’s weight changes as they grow older (middle-aged spread, anyone?). It can also change according to their activity levels, so it’s no use weighing them once every few years! Once every 3 months is about right.
Short-haired dogs like Dalmatians or Greyhounds make it easier to notice any weight gain/loss, but long-haired breeds such as Rough Collies or Yorkshire Terriers can hide changes until they become drastic.
One of the easiest ways to spot changes by sight is to look at your dog from above. You should be able to see a waistline above its hips, as their sides curve in slightly. Any change to this shape is a good indicator that they may be eating too much food or indulging in a few too many treats!
Different dog breeds have guidelines as to the ideal weight ranges, they should be to be considered healthy. If your dog is a crossbreed, you can take the average weight from both breeds to find the range your dog should fall within.
To make sure your results are as accurate as possible, there are a few things you need to do before weighing your dog at home:
If you dog wears a collar, make sure they are wearing the same one each time
Take them out for a wee (and a poo if possible!) before their weigh in
Avoid weighing just after they have eaten or had a drink of water - you need their tummy to be empty
Weigh them at the same time of day each time
Don’t weigh them after a bath or a walk in bad weather - you need their fur to be completely dry
You may be looking at your bathroom scales and wondering how exactly you are going to get your sizable, clumsy Labrador to stand on something so small. Luckily, there is an easier way - but you’ll need to get those muscles flexing if you own a larger dog!
Step 1 - On a flat surface, weigh yourself on your bathroom scales and make a note of your weight. (And don’t worry, nobody but you and your dog will need to know your magic number 😉)
Step 2 - Next, pick up your dog, and step back on the scales while holding them. It can be difficult to see the number on the scales while doing this, so it’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member to read it out to you.
Step 3 - Put your slightly confused (and probably excited) dog back on the floor and subtract the first number (your weight) from the second number (you and your dog’s combined weight).
The result will give you your dog’s weight.
While your dog’s health is important, yours is too, so don’t try to do this method at home if you have a 45kg Doberman or Great Dane tipping the scales! We don’t want to be responsible for putting anyone’s back out, and we’re sure you wouldn’t want that, either!
If you have a very large dog, or even a medium-sized dog that you suspect is heavier than they should be, don’t try to weigh them at home. Instead, use the large, walk-on scales that most vets will have in their waiting areas.
Getting your dog used to being weighed from a young puppy age is important, and you can use rewards-based training to help with this.
Many dogs who feel anxious at the vets or around weighing scales have actually inherited their nerves from their owners, so try to make it a fun game by encouraging them to stand on the scales to receive a treat. With time and patience, weighing your dog will become a pleasant experience for you both, and you’ll be able to easily weigh your dog regularly, with no fuss and maximum smug-pet-parent points!
Our Vet Team are professionally qualified in veterinary medicines advice and they're here to help. Led by Dr Zoe Costigan, we're no nonsense and knowledgeable experts! Nothing makes us happier than helping you be flea and worm free. We're on the usual socials @itchpet, so slide into our DM's, drop us an email or hop on the phone.
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