What is a dog size calculator?
Puppy owners often wonder what their pet will look like as an adult: what its weight will be in adulthood, what size category it will belong to, and how its growth will change over time. Our dog size calculator offers two calculation methods to help you answer these questions: the basic and the advanced methods.
A dog size calculator is a tool that predicts the estimated adult weight of a dog and determines its size category based on the puppy’s age and current weight. There are two calculation methods:
- Basic method - uses the age and weight of the puppy to determine the estimated adult weight and size category.
- Advanced method - adds breed and gender to the basic variables and provides a graphical representation of the pet’s growth to better understand its development.
Basic method
Formula for the basic method
To obtain the estimated adult weight of a dog, a simple linear interpolation based on the average growth rate is used:
where:
- – estimated adult weight of the dog,
- – current weight of the puppy,
- – average maturity age for the breed in weeks (usually around 52 weeks for most breeds),
- – current age of the puppy in weeks.
Size categories
Once the estimated adult weight is determined, the dog is classified into one of six size categories:
- Miniature: less than 14.33 lbs (6.5 kg),
- Small: 14.33–19.84 lbs (6.5–9 kg),
- Medium: 19.84–33.07 lbs (9–15 kg),
- Large: 33.07–66.14 lbs (15–30 kg),
- Very Large: 66.14–88.18 lbs (30–40 kg),
- Giant: more than 88.18 lbs (40 kg).
Advanced method
Additional variables
The advanced method considers factors such as:
- Breed of the dog: Based on studies from this publication, we determine the average sizes and growth rates of various breeds.
- Gender of the dog: Males and females of the same breed can have different growth characteristics.
Growth forecast on a graph
The advanced method also provides a graphical representation of the dog’s growth from 12 to 100 weeks, allowing for more accurate tracking of changes in weight and size over time. This feature is especially useful for owners who want to know how their pet’s weight will change over time.
Calculation examples
Basic method example
Suppose you have a puppy weighing 5 kg at 15 weeks of age. Using the basic method, we calculate the estimated adult weight:
The puppy will likely grow into a medium-sized dog, as its estimated adult weight is 38.21 lbs or 17.33 kg.
Advanced method example
Similarly, consider a German Shepherd puppy (a “very large” category) weighing 30.86 lbs or 14 kg at 16 weeks:
- Based on the breed and gender of the puppy, growth coefficients vary.
- The forecast shows that by the adult age (about 78 weeks), the weight of a male will be approximately 73.41 lbs or 33.3 kg, female - 68.34 lbs or 31 kg.
Interesting facts about dogs
- Growth rates: The first 6 months of life are the most important for a puppy, during which they gain up to 60% of their future weight.
- Breed influence: The size characteristics of an adult dog often depend on breed-specific features. For example, sled dogs like Alaskan Malamutes have a denser body structure compared to hunting breeds.
Table of size categories and breeds
| Category | Weight (kg / lbs) | Breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Miniature | <6.5 kg / <14.33 lbs | Affenpinscher, American Eskimo Dog (Toy), Biewer Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Coton de Tulear, English Toy Spaniel, Havanese, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Chin, Lowchen, Maltese, Manchester Terrier (Toy), Miniature Pinscher, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, Russian Toy, Schipperke, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, Toy Fox Terrier, Xoloitzcuintli (Toy), Yorkshire Terrier |
| Small | 6.5–9 kg / 14.33–19.84 lbs | American Eskimo Dog (Miniature), Australian Terrier, Beagle (under 20 lbs), Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, French Bulldog, Lakeland Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Norwich Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Pug, Rat Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog, West Highland White Terrier, Whippet |
| Medium | 9–15 kg / 19.84–33.07 lbs | American Eskimo Dog (Standard), Australian Cattle Dog, Basenji, Beagle (20–30 lbs), Bedlington Terrier, Boykin Spaniel, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Cesky Terrier, Cirneco dell’Etna, Cocker Spaniel, Standard Dachshund, Finnish Spitz, Icelandic Sheepdog, Keeshond, Lagotto Romagnolo, Miniature Bull Terrier, Norwegian Lundehund, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Pyrenean Shepherd, Scottish Terrier, Shiba Inu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Xoloitzcuintli (Miniature) |
| Large | 15–30 kg / 33.07–66.14 lbs | Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, American Foxhound, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Basset Hound, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Chow Chow, Collie, Dalmatian, English Springer Spaniel, Finnish Lapphund, German Pinscher, Golden Retriever, Greyhound, Irish Setter, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Pointer, Portuguese Water Dog, Saluki, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Vizsla, Xoloitzcuintli (Standard) |
| Very Large | 30–40 kg / 66.14–88.18 lbs | Alaskan Malamute, Beauceron, Borzoi, Briard, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Rhodesian Ridgeback, German Shepherd Dog, Kuvasz, Weimaraner |
| Giant | >40 kg / >88.18 lbs | Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Akita, Bernese Mountain Dog, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Komondor, Scottish Deerhound, Spanish Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, Leonberger, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Tibetan Mastiff |
To classify a dog into a particular size category, the breed weights given in this article were used.
Frequently asked questions
How to calculate the weight of an adult dog?
For the basic method, multiply the puppy’s weight by a growth coefficient depending on age. For example, a 11 lbs or 5 kg puppy at 12 weeks could grow to 48.5 lbs or 22 kg as an adult.
What does a dog’s size category influence?
The size category helps determine the proper diet for your dog and predicts how much space and activity it will need.
Which breeds fall into the “Giant” category?
Giant breeds include the Irish Wolfhound and English Mastiffs, which can weigh over 88.18 lbs or40 kg.
How do puppy growth rates change?
Growth rates are most intense in the first few months of life but depend on the breed and genetics of your dog.
Can an adult dog’s weight differ significantly from the estimate?
Yes, factors such as nutrition and health can greatly affect the final weight and size of an adult dog.
Why is the weight of a puppy under 12 weeks not indicative of its adult size?
Before 12 weeks, a puppy’s body undergoes significant development stages, and growth is not uniform. During this period, many factors such as diet, health, and genetics can greatly influence weight, and it doesn’t always accurately reflect their future size and weight. Genetics, which are predetermined by the parents of the puppy, play a crucial role in determining the main parameters of future growth.