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For a dog under about 50 lb (23 kg): weigh yourself, weigh yourself holding the dog, subtract. For a wriggler, put them in a carrier and subtract the carrier's weight. For a big dog, use the walk-on scale at any vet clinic or most pet-supply stores, which is free and takes a minute. Weigh at the same time of day on the same scale, and weigh monthly for a healthy adult, weekly during a weight-loss plan, and every three to four weeks for a growing puppy. Read the trend, never a single number.
Hold and subtract
- Put a digital bathroom scale on a hard, level floor (carpet ruins the reading).
- Step on and note your weight.
- Pick up the dog, hold them against your chest so nothing dangles to the floor, step on, and note the total.
- Subtract. Repeat once; if the two results differ by more than a pound, do a third and take the middle one.
Most bathroom scales resolve to 0.2 lb or 0.1 kg, which is plenty for a dog over 10 lb. For toy breeds under 8 lb the scale's rounding starts to matter; a kitchen or baby scale is more precise.
The carrier method
For a dog who will not be held, or a puppy who treats the scale as a trampoline: weigh an empty carrier, put the dog in, weigh again, subtract. A laundry basket works for medium dogs who tolerate it. A baby scale, if you have one, is ideal for anything under about 20 lb and reads to the ounce.
Walk-on scales at vets and pet stores
Any vet clinic has a floor scale in the lobby, and clinics generally welcome owners who come in between visits just to weigh the dog; it is good medicine and it gets the dog used to walking in happily. Many pet-supply chains keep a scale near the entrance. Bring a treat, walk the dog on, wait for the number to settle, done. For dogs over about 50 lb this is the only accurate method, and for a weight plan it pairs well with the monthly vet check anyway.
Consistent readings
- Same scale. Two scales can disagree by a pound or two; that is fine as long as you always use one.
- Same time of day, ideally morning before breakfast and after the first walk.
- Hard floor, no rug, scale not wobbling.
- Coat and collar: a wet coat or a heavy harness adds weight. Dry dog, light collar or none.
- Write it down, with the date. A number you do not record is a number you will misremember by next month.
How often to weigh
| Dog | How often | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | Every 3 to 4 weeks | Growth is fast; the vet plots it against a growth chart. See When do puppies stop growing?. |
| Healthy adult | At least 1 to 2 times a year; monthly is better | Weight creeps a pound at a time; a year of creeping is a body condition point. |
| Adult managing weight | Monthly | Enough to see a trend and adjust the ration by 10 percent at a time. |
| On a weight-loss plan | Weekly at home, monthly at the vet | Aim for no more than 1 to 2 percent of body weight lost per week. See Helping your dog lose weight by walking: an 8-week plan. |
| Senior or medical condition | Monthly | Unplanned loss or gain is often the first sign something is wrong. |
Logging and reminders
The number matters less than the line through the numbers. Log each weigh-in with its date, keep the ideal weight next to it (how to estimate that is in How much should my dog weigh?), and look at the last four to six readings together before deciding anything. If the trend is drifting up, revisit the ration for the ideal weight using the calorie needs calculator and count the treats honestly. A reminder at the right interval is what turns good intentions into a record: daily during an intensive plan, every three days when settling in, weekly for maintenance. Pair it with the two-minute condition check in Is my dog overweight? How to check in two minutes and you have everything a vet would ask for.
Pawdometer. Pawdometer logs each weigh-in in seconds, draws the trend against your dog's ideal weight, and reminds you daily, every three days or weekly, whichever your plan needs.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I weigh my dog without a scale?
You cannot get a number without one, but you can track condition: the ribs, waist and tuck checks, and a tape measure around the widest part of the chest and the narrowest part of the waist, recorded monthly. Any change in those is real even without a weight.
How often should I weigh my dog?
Puppies every three to four weeks; adults at least once or twice a year, monthly if you are managing weight; weekly during an active weight-loss plan. Seniors and dogs with medical conditions, monthly.
Where can I weigh a big dog?
Any vet clinic has a walk-on floor scale and most are happy to let you use it between visits; many pet-supply stores keep one near the entrance. Ask, and make it part of a regular errand.
Why does my dog's weight change from day to day?
Water, food in the gut, a bowel movement, the scale's own noise. A pound either way on a 50 lb dog is nothing. Weigh at the same time, on the same scale, and read the trend across weeks, not the difference between two days.
Sources
- Hill's Pet Nutrition, "How to weigh your dog at home". www.hillspet.co.uk/dog-care/healthcare/how-to-weigh-your-dog-at-home
- PetMD, "How to weigh your dog at home". www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-weigh-your-dog-home
- VCA Animal Hospitals, "Body condition scores". vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/body-condition-scores
- AAHA, 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines. www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-nutrition-and-weight-management-guidelines/home/
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.