Breed weight charts give a rough range, but they cannot tell you if your individual dog is at a healthy weight. Two Labradors of the same weight can be lean and overweight, depending on frame and muscle. Veterinarians use a hands-on method instead: the body condition score.
Breed ranges are just a starting point
Breed standards from organizations such as the American Kennel Club list typical weights, for example roughly 55 to 80 pounds for a Labrador Retriever depending on sex. Mixed-breed dogs, and dogs with large or small frames, may be healthy outside those ranges.
Check your dog’s body condition at home
Most vets use a 9-point scale, where 4 to 5 is ideal. You can check three things:
- Ribs: run your hands along the sides. At a healthy weight, you can easily feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard, but they should not be clearly visible.
- Waist from above: looking down at your dog, you should see a visible narrowing behind the ribs.
- Tummy tuck from the side: the belly should rise up from the chest toward the hind legs.
If you cannot feel the ribs, there is no waist and the belly hangs, your dog is likely overweight. If ribs, hip bones and spine are very visible, your dog may be underweight. Fluffy coats hide a lot, so use your hands.
Why weight matters
Surveys by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention suggest that more than half of US dogs are overweight. Extra weight is linked to arthritis, diabetes, breathing problems (overweight dogs often snore more, see why dogs snore), heat intolerance and a shorter life. A long-running study of Labradors found that dogs kept lean throughout life lived longer than their heavier littermates.
Helping a dog lose weight
- Ask your vet for a target weight and a daily calorie amount.
- Measure food with a kitchen scale or measuring cup instead of guessing.
- Count treats: they should be no more than about 10 percent of daily calories. Use vegetables like green beans or carrots, or part of the daily kibble, as treats.
- Stop sharing table food, see how to stop a dog begging.
- Increase activity gradually, see how often to walk your dog.
- Weigh your dog every few weeks; aim for slow, steady loss.
When weight changes need a vet
Sudden weight gain or loss, increased thirst, a swollen belly or low energy can signal medical problems such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease. Your vet can rule them out. Choosing a suitable food is covered in how to choose a dog food.
