The first year of a puppy’s life is the period of greatest growth — and greatest vulnerability. Weighing your puppy from the start is one of the simplest and most valuable things you can do to ensure their development is on track.
From what age should you weigh a puppy?
The short answer: from day one, if you have access to the litter. Responsible breeders weigh puppies right after birth and every 24 hours during the first week, because weight loss in the early days can signal serious nursing or health problems.
If you adopt a puppy from a litter (usually from 8 weeks), start weighing on the day they arrive home and continue doing so regularly.
How often should you weigh a puppy?
The optimal frequency varies by age:
| Age | Recommended frequency |
|---|---|
| 0–4 weeks (breeders only) | Daily |
| 4–8 weeks | Every 3–4 days |
| 8–16 weeks | Weekly |
| 4–6 months | Every 2 weeks |
| 6–12 months | Monthly |
| Giant breeds (up to 24 months) | Monthly until growth is complete |
A healthy puppy should never lose weight, except for the slight physiological loss in the first 24–48 hours after birth (maximum 10 % of birth weight, recovered by day 7).
What weight gain is normal?
Expected weight gain varies enormously by breed size:
Small breeds (< 10 kg adult)
- Week 1–2: Double their birth weight.
- Month 1: Approximately four times birth weight.
- At 8–10 months: Close to final adult weight.
Medium breeds (10–25 kg adult)
- Gain around 100–200 g per day during the first weeks.
- Reach 50 % of adult weight by around 4 months.
- Adult weight at 12–15 months.
Large and giant breeds (> 25 kg adult)
- Can gain 200–400 g per day in the first months.
- 50 % of adult weight is reached around 5–6 months.
- Growth completes between 18 and 24 months.
Don’t try to speed up growth in large breeds with high-calorie diets. Overweight in large-breed puppies increases the risk of hip dysplasia and other orthopaedic problems.
Warning signs during growth
Contact your vet if you notice:
- Weight loss with no obvious cause (illness, parasites, digestive problems).
- Stagnation for more than 5 consecutive days.
- Excessive gain clearly exceeding the breed’s reference curves.
- Marked difference between the puppy and its litter siblings of more than 25 %.
How to weigh a puppy at home
For weights up to 5 kg, a precision kitchen scale (with 1–5 g resolution) is ideal. For larger puppies, a bathroom scale works well: weigh yourself, then hold the puppy and subtract the difference.
Practical tips:
- Always weigh at the same time of day and under the same conditions (before feeding, for example).
- Place a non-slip cloth on the scale so the puppy is comfortable and doesn’t slip.
- Write the result down immediately — memory is less reliable than it seems.
Why recording matters as much as weighing
A single weight tells you nothing. The trend over time is what has clinical value. A puppy weighing 6 kg at 3 months may be perfectly fine or cause for concern: it depends on the breed and whether those 6 kg represent proper growth or stagnation.
That’s why it’s essential to note every weigh-in with its date and review it regularly.
Track your puppy’s history with Dogtorcito
Dogtorcito lets you log your puppy’s weight from day one, build a history with an evolution chart, and spot any deviation visually before it becomes a problem.
When you visit the vet, you’ll have all the data at hand so the professional can assess growth in real context — not just from the day’s single measurement.
FAQ
When should I start weighing my puppy?
Start from day one if you have access to the litter. Breeders weigh newborns right after birth and every 24 hours during the first week to catch nursing or health problems early. If you adopt a puppy, begin weighing on the day they arrive home and continue regularly.
How often should I weigh a puppy?
Daily from birth to 4 weeks (breeders), every 3–4 days from 4–8 weeks, weekly from 8–16 weeks, every two weeks from 4–6 months, and monthly from 6 months to 1 year. Giant breeds should be weighed monthly until growth is complete at around 18–24 months.
What is normal weight gain for a puppy per week?
It depends on breed size. Small breeds (under 10 kg adult) roughly double their birth weight in the first two weeks. Medium breeds (10–25 kg) gain about 100–200 g per day in the first weeks. Large and giant breeds can gain 200–400 g per day during the first months of life.
How do I weigh a puppy at home?
For puppies under 5 kg, a precision kitchen scale with 1–5 g resolution works well. For larger puppies, use a bathroom scale: weigh yourself, then hold the puppy and subtract the difference. Always weigh at the same time of day, before meals, and note the result immediately.
When should I be concerned about my puppy’s weight?
Contact your vet if your puppy loses weight without a clear reason, shows no gain for more than five consecutive days, gains excessively beyond breed references, or weighs 25 % or more less than its litter siblings.
Start early, weigh regularly, record every reading: these three simple habits are the foundation of tracking any puppy’s growth. Your vet will thank you — and so will your dog. 🐾
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