Average Puppy Weight by Age: Charts for All Sizes

Every new puppy owner eventually picks their dog up, sets them on the scale, and wonders: is this normal? The challenge is that "normal" varies enormously. Average puppy weight by age depends on size category more than anything else — a 6-month-old toy breed is almost done growing, while a 6-month-old Great Dane is barely halfway there. Use our puppy weight calculator to see exactly where your puppy falls on their specific growth curve right now.

The data in this article comes from veterinary growth records analyzed by Salt et al. (2017) in PLOS ONE — a study covering over 8 million vet-measured weight observations from Banfield Pet Hospitals. These aren't estimates or anecdotal ranges; they're modeled from real measurements across millions of dogs.

Why size category determines everything

Before looking at any chart, you need to know which size category your puppy falls into. The growth curves are so different across size categories that lumping them together produces useless numbers.

Size Category	Adult Weight Range	Done Growing By	Example Breeds
Toy	Under 14 lbs	~8–9 months	Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian
Small	14–25 lbs	~10–11 months	French Bulldog, Dachshund
Medium	25–50 lbs	~12–14 months	Beagle, Border Collie, Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Large	50–90 lbs	~14–18 months	Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd
Giant	Over 90 lbs	~18–24 months	Great Dane, Rottweiler

If you have a mixed breed puppy and aren't sure of the expected adult size, our mixed breed size guide explains the most reliable estimation methods.

Average puppy weight at 8 weeks

Eight weeks is when most puppies come home, and it's also one of the most searched milestones. Here's what the veterinary data shows for weight at 8 weeks as a percentage of adult weight — and the typical range you'd expect for each size category:

Size Category	% of Adult Weight at 8 Weeks	Typical Weight Range at 8 Weeks
Toy (adult under 14 lbs)	31.0% (males) / 33.8% (females)	1–4 lbs
Small (adult 14–25 lbs)	26.2% (males) / 27.8% (females)	3–7 lbs
Medium (adult 25–50 lbs)	22.0% (males) / 23.5% (females)	5–12 lbs
Large (adult 50–90 lbs)	16.2% (males) / 17.5% (females)	10–20 lbs
Giant (adult over 90 lbs)	12.4% (males) / 13.5% (females)	15–35 lbs

Notice that toy breed puppies are already nearly a third of their adult weight at 8 weeks, while giant breed puppies are barely above 12%. This explains why a Chihuahua (3–6 lbs adult) might weigh under 1 lb at 8 weeks, while a Great Dane puppy (140–175 lbs adult) might already weigh 20–25 lbs at the same age. One puppy, radically different trajectories.

For most large and giant breed owners, 8 weeks is also when rapid weight gain begins and tracking weekly gains becomes useful for catching problems early.

Average puppy weight by age: month-by-month chart

The table below shows what percentage of adult weight a puppy typically reaches at each key milestone age, based on our analysis of 8 million vet-measured weight records. All figures shown are for males; females run 1–2 percentage points higher at the same age and finish at a slightly lower adult weight.

Age	Toy	Small	Medium	Large	Giant
8 weeks	31.0%	26.2%	22.0%	16.2%	12.4%
12 weeks (3 months)	44.2%	39.4%	35.1%	27.9%	22.9%
16 weeks (4 months)	58.5%	54.1%	49.4%	41.4%	35.2%
20 weeks (5 months)	70.8%	66.4%	62.2%	54.0%	47.5%
24 weeks (6 months)	80.5%	77.2%	73.6%	65.7%	59.0%
36 weeks (9 months)	100%	95.1%	92.3%	87.8%	82.2%
52 weeks (12 months)	100%	100%	99.4%	96.0%	93.7%
18 months	100%	100%	100%	99%+	~97%
24 months	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%

A few things stand out in this data. First, the 6-month checkpoint is not the finish line for any size category. Even toy breeds are still at 80.5% at 24 weeks. Second, the gap between sizes grows dramatically with age — at 9 months, toy breeds are fully grown while giant breeds are barely past 80%. Third, the popular idea that "a dog is done growing at one year" only holds for small and medium breeds. Large breeds keep growing past 12 months, and giant breeds won't reach adult weight until nearly two years.

Weight milestones for popular breeds

Percentages are informative, but you probably want actual pounds. Here's how common breeds compare at key ages, using their adult weight ranges from our breed dataset. For full curves on your specific dog, run the calculator with your puppy's current age and weight.

Toy breeds: Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier

A Chihuahua reaches an adult weight of 3–6 lbs and finishes growing by about 36 weeks (8–9 months). At 8 weeks, they typically weigh under 1 lb. At 12 weeks, around 1.5–2.5 lbs. By 6 months, they're close to 2–5 lbs and nearly done. A Yorkshire Terrier follows a similar curve — adult weight of 4–7 lbs, with growth completing by about 40 weeks.

Small breeds: Dachshund and French Bulldog

A standard Dachshund reaches 16–32 lbs as an adult and finishes growing by about 48 weeks (11 months). At 8 weeks, they're typically 3–6 lbs. A French Bulldog (adult weight 16–28 lbs) follows the small breed curve closely, finishing growth at roughly the same 48-week mark. Note: French Bulldogs can look compact and mature early, but they keep putting on body mass through about 10 months.

Medium breeds: Beagle and Border Collie

A Beagle tops out at 20–30 lbs and follows the medium breed curve — about 22.0% of adult weight at 8 weeks (roughly 4–7 lbs), reaching 73.6% by 6 months (15–22 lbs), and finishing by about 56 weeks (13 months). Border Collies are similar: adult 30–55 lbs, finishing around the same 56-week window.

Large breeds: Labrador and Golden Retriever

A male Labrador Retriever weighs 65–80 lbs as an adult. At 8 weeks, expect roughly 10–13 lbs; at 12 weeks, 18–22 lbs; at 6 months, 43–52 lbs. Labs reach about 96% of their adult weight at 12 months and finish growing by around 65 weeks. Golden Retrievers follow nearly the same curve — adult 65–75 lbs (males), finishing growth at about 65 weeks.

Giant breeds: Great Dane and Rottweiler

A male Great Dane reaches 140–175 lbs as an adult — and our data shows they finish growing at about 104 weeks (2 years). At 8 weeks, they typically weigh 17–22 lbs, already heavier than some adult small breeds. At 6 months, they're approaching 82–103 lbs, but still only 59% grown. Rottweilers are classified as large but lean toward the heavy end of that range (95–135 lbs males), with a growth window of about 78 weeks.

When do puppies hit 50% of their adult weight?

The midpoint of growth — when a puppy is at exactly half their adult weight — tells you a lot about where they are in the developmental timeline. This is also the approximate "inflection point" in the growth curve, after which growth rate starts to slow down.

Based on the size-category growth parameters from our veterinary dataset:

• Toy breeds hit 50% of adult weight at about 10 weeks
• Small breeds hit 50% at about 14 weeks
• Medium breeds hit 50% at about 18 weeks (4.5 months)
• Large breeds hit 50% at about 23 weeks (just under 6 months)
• Giant breeds hit 50% at about 30 weeks (7 months)

This is why the 6-month mark is so misleading for large breed owners. Your 6-month-old Lab isn't "almost done" — they're just barely past the halfway point. The growth that remains after 6 months is slower but still meaningful, especially for joint and bone development. See how our growth predictions work for the full mathematical model behind these curves.

How fast should a puppy gain weight?

Growth rate varies enormously by size and age. The fastest growth for every breed happens in the first 12–16 weeks of life. After that, growth continues but the weekly gains taper off significantly. Here are approximate weekly gain rates during the rapid-growth phase:

• Toy breeds: 2–4 oz per week in early months
• Small breeds: 4–8 oz per week
• Medium breeds: 0.5–1.5 lbs per week
• Large breeds: 1.5–2.5 lbs per week
• Giant breeds: 2.5–5 lbs per week during peak growth

These rates slow considerably after the 4–5 month mark. If your large breed puppy was gaining 2 lbs a week at 3 months but is only gaining 0.5 lbs a week at 7 months, that's completely normal — not a sign of a problem. For a detailed breakdown of expected weekly gains by age, see our puppy weight gain guide.

What's not normal: weight loss in any direction (except brief illness recovery), a plateau in growth at a very young age, or significantly exceeding the expected range for your breed. If your puppy's weight seems to diverge from expected norms, it's worth a vet visit — but most variation within a breed's range is just genetics.

Do male and female puppies grow differently?

Yes — but the differences are smaller than most owners expect during puppyhood, and bigger than expected in the final adult weight. Based on the veterinary growth data from Salt et al. (2017):

At every age milestone, female puppies are typically 1–3 percentage points ahead of males in terms of proportion of adult weight completed. In other words, female puppies mature slightly faster relative to their final size. But their final size is lower — so a female puppy who looks "further along" may actually weigh less than her male littermate.

The practical upshot: don't panic if your female puppy looks smaller than a male from the same litter. She's likely just finishing sooner at a lower target weight. Our guide to male vs. female dog size differences covers this in more detail, including breed-by-breed data.

Is my puppy's weight normal for their age?

The most common reason owners look up "average puppy weight by age" is to check whether their puppy is on track. Here's how to assess this without just Googling a generic chart:

Use a breed-specific growth curve

A generic "puppy weight chart" averages across all breeds in a size category — which means it's accurate for the median dog but potentially off by 20–30% for any specific breed. Our puppy weight calculator generates a curve based on your puppy's breed, current age, and current weight, giving you a personalized view of where they sit on the growth curve.

Assess body condition, not just weight

Weight needs context. A puppy who weighs "within range" but is visibly skinny has a different problem than one who weighs within range but has a rounder belly. The body condition score (BCS) is how vets assess this. At a healthy weight, you should be able to feel your puppy's ribs with gentle pressure but not see them. A prominent spine or hip bones visible at a distance suggests underweight; a rounded abdomen with difficult-to-feel ribs suggests overweight. For a full visual guide, see our puppy body condition score chart.

Track the trend, not the snapshot

A single weight measurement tells you less than a series of them. Weigh your puppy monthly and plot the results. Consistent growth along the expected curve — even if the absolute number seems low — is reassuring. A sudden plateau or drop is more concerning than a weight that's been consistently below average. If you're worried your puppy is overweight or underweight, those guides cover what to do next.

What affects how a puppy grows

Genetics and breed

Breed is the biggest predictor of adult size, which determines the growth curve. For purebred puppies, the parents' weights give you a reliable range. For mixed breeds, it's more complicated — see our mixed breed size guide.

Nutrition

Diet affects growth rate, but not the final adult size — genetics sets the endpoint. What nutrition can do is push growth too fast (leading to orthopedic problems in large breeds) or too slow (causing deficiencies). Feed a food formulated for your puppy's size category. Large and giant breed puppies especially need controlled calorie density to prevent rapid growth, which stresses developing joints.

Spay and neuter timing

Early spay or neuter before 6–12 months can delay growth plate closure, particularly in medium, large, and giant breeds. This means the bones grow for slightly longer, often resulting in a taller-than-expected dog with altered body proportions. For details on how this affects growth, see our guide on spaying and puppy growth.

Parasites and illness

Intestinal parasites are extremely common in young puppies and can meaningfully slow weight gain by competing for nutrients. If a puppy seems to be falling persistently behind expected weight for their breed, a parasite check is worth doing before assuming the puppy just runs small.

Average puppy weight by age: FAQ

How much should a puppy weigh at 8 weeks?

At 8 weeks, toy breeds are at 31.0% of their adult weight (typically 1–4 lbs), small breeds at 26.2% (3–7 lbs), medium breeds at 22.0% (5–12 lbs), large breeds at 16.2% (10–20 lbs), and giant breeds at 12.4% (15–35 lbs). These figures come from veterinary growth data from Salt et al. (2017).

How much should a puppy weigh at 3 months?

At 12 weeks, toy breeds have reached 44.2% of adult weight, small breeds 39.4%, medium breeds 35.1%, large breeds 27.9%, and giant breeds 22.9%. A 3-month-old Lab, for instance, typically weighs around 22–26 lbs out of an eventual 65–80 lbs (for males).

How much should a puppy weigh at 6 months?

At 6 months, toy breeds are at 80.5% of adult weight, small breeds at 77.2%, medium breeds at 73.6%, large breeds at 65.7%, and giant breeds at 59.0%. Growth is far from over for any size category at 6 months, even though puppies often look nearly adult-sized by this age.

When do puppies reach their adult weight?

Toy breeds reach 99% of adult weight by about 36 weeks (8 months). Small breeds reach it by 46 weeks (10.5 months). Medium breeds by 56 weeks (13 months). Large breeds by 70 weeks (16 months). Giant breeds don't reach 99% of adult weight until roughly 100 weeks (23 months).

Is my puppy underweight or overweight for their age?

The most accurate check is a breed-specific growth curve combined with a body condition assessment. Use our free puppy weight calculator to get a personalized curve, then do the rib check: you should feel ribs with gentle pressure but not see them. If in doubt, your vet can score body condition in about 30 seconds at any checkup.

How much weight should a puppy gain per week?

During the fastest growth phase (weeks 8–16), expect roughly 2–4 oz/week for toy breeds, 4–8 oz for small breeds, 0.5–1.5 lbs for medium breeds, 1.5–2.5 lbs for large breeds, and 2.5–5 lbs for giant breeds. All puppies grow fastest in the first 12–16 weeks, then taper. For full details, see our weekly puppy weight gain guide.