How to track your dog's weight loss

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1. 1. The target weight
2. 2. Weekly weigh-ins
3. 3. The monthly condition check
4. 4. Walks, by distance
5. 5. Treats, counted
6. What a good trend looks like

Track five numbers. A target weight, set from body condition with the vet. Weekly weigh-ins on the same scale at the same time of day, plus a monthly vet weigh-in. A monthly body condition check (ribs, waist, tuck). Walks, by measured distance, not minutes. Treats, counted against a 10 percent ceiling. A good trend is a loss of 1 to 2 percent of body weight a week; no change in four honest weeks means the ration or the treats need another look, with the vet.

1. The target weight

Without a target there is no "working". Score body condition on the 9-point scale and divide the current weight by 1 + 0.1 × (points above 5): a 7/9 dog at 66 lb has an ideal weight near 55 lb. The method, with a breed-range sanity check, is in How much should my dog weigh?. Have the vet confirm it, then enter it wherever you keep the log so every weigh-in is compared to it automatically.

2. Weekly weigh-ins

Weekly, same scale, same time (morning, before breakfast, after the first walk), dog dry and collar off. Write the date. Daily weighing is tempting and useless: water, meals and the scale's own noise swing a dog a pound either way. Read the trend through four or more readings, never the gap between two. Methods for weighing dogs of any size at home, and when the vet's walk-on scale is the only honest option, are in How to weigh a dog at home.

3. The monthly condition check

The scale says how much; the ribs say what kind. A dog losing fat keeps its muscle and its ribs become easier to feel; a dog losing too fast loses muscle and looks tucked-up rather than lean. Once a month, do the ribs-waist-tuck check and note the score. A dog that drops from 7 to 6 has lost about a tenth of its ideal weight in fat, whatever the scale says that week.

4. Walks, by distance

Walking's job in a weight plan is muscle, joints and routine; the calories are modest (a 25 kg dog burns 60 to 75 kcal on 3 km). Track distance and moving pace rather than minutes, because 45 sniffy minutes is half the walk of 45 purposeful ones. A GPS log of the week shows whether the plan's exercise half is happening; the eight-week progression is in Helping your dog lose weight by walking: an 8-week plan.

5. Treats, counted

The reason most correctly calculated rations fail. Everything that is not the measured meal goes on the list: training treats, chews, the crust, the thing the toddler dropped. Keep them inside 10 percent of the day's calories, which for a dog needing 1,000 kcal is 100 kcal, about two medium biscuits. The calorie needs calculator gives the daily figure for the ideal weight; feeding for the current weight is the second most common failure.

What a good trend looks like

A flat line for four weeks with the treats honestly counted is the vet's problem to solve, not yours: thyroid, Cushing's and some medications all resist diets. Faster than 2 percent a week is also a vet conversation, because muscle is going with the fat.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I weigh my dog on a diet?

Weekly at home on the same scale at the same time of day, and monthly at the vet on a walk-on scale. Daily weighing adds noise without information.

How much weight should a dog lose per week?

About 1 to 2 percent of body weight, and vets often aim lower for seniors. For a 66 lb dog that is 0.6 to 1.3 lb a week. Faster usually means the ration is too low and muscle is going too.

My dog's weight is not changing. What now?

First check that treats and table food are counted; they are the usual culprit. Then re-check the ration is set for the ideal weight, not the current one. If four weeks of honest logging show no change, the vet adjusts the plan or looks for a medical cause.

Should I track my dog's walks during weight loss?

Yes, by distance rather than minutes. Walking does not move the scale much on its own, but it keeps muscle on and joints moving, and a measured log shows whether the plan's exercise part is actually happening.

This guide is general information from published veterinary and scientific sources, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different: for exercise, weight or feeding decisions, talk to your vet. Pawdometer never gives diet advice.