The short version: use the chart below as a rough guide for your puppy's adult size category, then check the actual shape underneath, ribs and waist, not just the number on the scale. A single weigh-in against a chart tells you very little; a few weigh-ins compared against your own puppy's own pattern tells you a lot. That's the bit most charts leave out.
How big will my puppy get?
Adult size is the single biggest factor in how much your puppy should weigh at any age, far more than the exact week they're at. The table below gives typical adult weights and rough timelines by size category. If you're not sure which category your puppy's breed falls into, check your breed's typical adult weight or ask your vet or breeder.
| Adult size | Typical adult weight | Roughly half by | Nearly fully grown by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | up to 6kg | 4 to 5 months | 8 to 10 months |
| Small | 6 to 11kg | 4 to 5 months | 10 to 12 months |
| Medium | 11 to 25kg | 4 to 5 months | 12 to 15 months |
| Large | 25 to 40kg | 5 to 6 months | 15 to 18 months |
| Giant | 40kg and up | 5 to 6 months | 18 to 24 months |
These are broad ranges, not a diagnosis. A perfectly healthy puppy can sit anywhere within their category, and cross-breeds especially can straddle two.
Why a chart alone doesn't tell you enough
A chart compares your puppy to an average. It can't tell you whether your own puppy is tracking normally, because averages hide a lot of genuine, healthy variation. Two purebred littermates can differ by a fifth in weight at the same age and both be perfectly healthy. What actually matters is the trend: whether your puppy is gaining steadily along their own pattern, not whether one weigh-in happens to land above or below a general average.
That's the real limit of any static chart, this one included. A single weigh-in against a chart tells you roughly where your puppy sits today. A few weigh-ins compared against your puppy's own earlier readings tell you whether today's number is actually normal for them.
The hands-on check: ribs and waist
Alongside the scale, the check your vet actually uses is a hands-on one. Run your hands along your puppy's sides: you should be able to feel each rib with light pressure, without pressing hard, and without them being sharply visible. Looking down from above, there should be a visible narrowing at the waist just behind the ribs. From the side, their belly should tuck up slightly rather than hanging level with the chest.
This is the 9-point body condition score vets use, and it adjusts automatically for your puppy's actual frame in a way no chart can. A lean, naturally narrow breed and a stockier one can both be a healthy weight while looking very different on a chart.
What's normal, and what isn't
Puppy weight gain isn't a straight line. Growth spurts and short plateaus are both normal, especially around big teething weeks, a vaccination, or a change of food. A single low reading, or a week with barely any gain, usually isn't worth worrying about on its own.
What's worth watching for is a pattern: weight loss that continues for more than a few days, a plateau lasting more than two to three weeks in a young, still-growing puppy, or weight gain alongside a noticeably swollen belly. Any of those, especially alongside low energy or appetite, is worth a call to your vet rather than more searching.
When to check with your vet
A single concerning weigh-in rarely needs a same-day panic. What's worth a call is a clear, ongoing pattern: consistent weight loss, a growth plateau that's lasted more than two or three weeks in a puppy still well under their expected adult size, or a puppy that seems generally unwell alongside the weight change. Trust the pattern, not the single number, and when the pattern looks wrong, a vet check beats another chart every time.
Weight and food are closely linked too: a puppy who's tracking above or below their band usually needs a portion adjustment, not just watching. The feeding calculator gives a starting point based on current weight, age and breed.
Vivlo tracks your puppy's own pattern, not a generic chart. Log a weigh-in and Vivlo builds a personalised growth curve from your puppy's real numbers, with a confidence range that narrows as more readings come in, so you can see whether today's weight is genuinely normal for your puppy, not just the breed average.
See how it worksCommon questions
How much should my puppy weigh at 12 weeks?
It depends entirely on their eventual adult size. A toy breed might be under 2kg at 12 weeks, while a giant breed puppy can already be 10kg or more. Rather than aiming for one number, use the chart above to find your puppy's adult size category, then check they're gaining steadily rather than plateauing.
Is it normal for puppy growth to slow down or plateau?
Short plateaus of a week or so are common, especially around teething, vaccinations, or a change of food, and aren't usually a cause for concern on their own. A plateau that lasts more than two to three weeks, or comes with a loss of appetite or energy, is worth a vet check.
Why is my puppy not gaining weight?
The most common causes are worms, which are very common in puppies and easy to check for and treat, an underfeeding portion for their size and activity level, or a recent stressful change like a new home or a vaccination. If weight loss continues for more than a few days, or your puppy seems lethargic, contact your vet rather than waiting it out.
When do puppies stop growing?
Small and toy breeds are usually fully grown by 8 to 10 months. Medium breeds take closer to a year. Large breeds often keep filling out until 15 to 18 months, and giant breeds can keep growing, more slowly, until they're nearly 2 years old.
How can I tell if my puppy is underweight or overweight without a chart?
Run your hands along their ribs: you should be able to feel each one with light pressure, without them being visibly sharp. Looking from above, there should be a visible narrowing at the waist behind the ribs. Both signs together are a better guide than any single number on a chart, since they adjust automatically for your puppy's actual frame.
Do mixed breed puppies grow differently to purebreds?
Not fundamentally, the same size categories and growth patterns apply. The main difference is that a mixed breed's adult size is harder to predict early on, since it depends on which parent breeds they take after, so it's worth watching their actual growth trend rather than relying on a breed-specific chart that might not fit.
How often should I weigh my puppy?
Weekly is a good rhythm for the first six months, then every couple of weeks as growth slows. Weighing more often than that mostly adds noise, since day-to-day weight can wobble with food and toileting, and weekly readings show the real trend far more clearly.