Small breed puppy weight chart
This chart shows how puppies of small breeds, dogs that weigh 14–20 lb (6.5–9 kg) as adults, typically gain weight from 12 weeks to 2 years. It gives the median and the range where most healthy male and female puppies sit, from our fit of the open Waltham growth data.
Updated
Weight chart
The line is the median; the bands hold the middle half and the middle 82% of healthy puppies of the group at each age. Males and females have separate panels.
- Median
- Middle half (25th–75th centile)
- Typical range (9th–91st centile)
Our fit of the open Waltham data, not the official WALTHAM chart. See the official WALTHAM puppy growth charts (opens in a new tab).
Puppy weight by age
The same lines as numbers: weekly at 12 weeks, then monthly to 2 years. Pounds with kilograms below.
| Age | 9th | 25th | Median | 75th | 91st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 weeks | 3.51.61 | 4.31.95 | 5.22.34 | 6.22.81 | 7.43.37 |
| 3 months (13 wk) | 3.91.78 | 4.72.15 | 5.72.58 | 6.83.09 | 8.13.69 |
| 4 months (17 wk) | 5.32.42 | 6.42.90 | 7.63.44 | 9.04.07 | 10.64.82 |
| 5 months (22 wk) | 6.83.08 | 8.13.66 | 9.54.31 | 11.15.06 | 13.15.95 |
| 6 months (26 wk) | 7.73.49 | 9.14.13 | 10.74.84 | 12.55.65 | 14.66.62 |
| 7 months (30 wk) | 8.43.80 | 9.94.49 | 11.65.24 | 13.46.09 | 15.77.11 |
| 8 months (35 wk) | 9.04.08 | 10.64.81 | 12.35.59 | 14.36.48 | 16.67.54 |
| 9 months (39 wk) | 9.44.24 | 11.04.99 | 12.85.79 | 14.86.70 | 17.17.78 |
| 10 months (43 wk) | 9.64.37 | 11.35.13 | 13.15.94 | 15.16.86 | 17.57.95 |
| 11 months (48 wk) | 9.94.49 | 11.65.26 | 13.46.08 | 15.47.00 | 17.98.10 |
| 12 months (52 wk) | 10.14.56 | 11.85.34 | 13.66.17 | 15.67.09 | 18.18.19 |
| 14 months (61 wk) | 10.34.69 | 12.15.48 | 13.96.31 | 15.97.23 | 18.48.33 |
| 16 months (70 wk) | 10.64.79 | 12.35.59 | 14.16.42 | 16.27.33 | 18.68.43 |
| 18 months (78 wk) | 10.74.87 | 12.55.68 | 14.36.50 | 16.47.42 | 18.88.51 |
| 20 months (87 wk) | 10.94.97 | 12.75.77 | 14.66.60 | 16.67.51 | 19.08.61 |
| 22 months (96 wk) | 11.15.06 | 12.95.87 | 14.86.70 | 16.87.61 | 19.28.70 |
| 24 months (104 wk) | 11.35.13 | 13.15.95 | 14.96.78 | 16.97.69 | 19.48.78 |
| Age | 9th | 25th | Median | 75th | 91st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 weeks | 3.21.44 | 3.81.74 | 4.62.08 | 5.52.48 | 6.62.97 |
| 3 months (13 wk) | 3.51.58 | 4.21.91 | 5.02.28 | 6.02.71 | 7.13.24 |
| 4 months (17 wk) | 4.62.11 | 5.62.53 | 6.62.99 | 7.83.54 | 9.24.18 |
| 5 months (22 wk) | 5.82.64 | 6.93.14 | 8.23.71 | 9.64.35 | 11.35.11 |
| 6 months (26 wk) | 6.52.95 | 7.73.52 | 9.14.14 | 10.74.85 | 12.55.67 |
| 7 months (30 wk) | 7.03.20 | 8.43.80 | 9.94.47 | 11.55.23 | 13.56.11 |
| 8 months (35 wk) | 7.53.41 | 9.04.06 | 10.54.78 | 12.35.58 | 14.36.51 |
| 9 months (39 wk) | 7.83.54 | 9.34.21 | 10.94.95 | 12.75.78 | 14.96.74 |
| 10 months (43 wk) | 8.03.64 | 9.54.33 | 11.25.09 | 13.15.94 | 15.26.91 |
| 11 months (48 wk) | 8.23.73 | 9.84.44 | 11.55.21 | 13.46.08 | 15.67.07 |
| 12 months (52 wk) | 8.33.79 | 9.94.51 | 11.75.29 | 13.66.17 | 15.87.17 |
| 14 months (61 wk) | 8.63.89 | 10.24.64 | 12.05.44 | 13.96.32 | 16.27.34 |
| 16 months (70 wk) | 8.83.99 | 10.54.74 | 12.25.55 | 14.26.45 | 16.57.46 |
| 18 months (78 wk) | 9.04.06 | 10.64.83 | 12.45.64 | 14.46.54 | 16.77.56 |
| 20 months (87 wk) | 9.14.15 | 10.94.92 | 12.75.74 | 14.66.64 | 16.97.66 |
| 22 months (96 wk) | 9.34.24 | 11.15.02 | 12.95.84 | 14.96.74 | 17.17.75 |
| 24 months (104 wk) | 9.54.31 | 11.25.10 | 13.15.92 | 15.06.82 | 17.37.83 |
How big will my puppy get?
Enter your puppy’s sex, age in weeks and weight. You see which band of this chart the weight falls in and where that band sits at 12 and 24 months.
Result
Male, 17 weeks, 8.3 lb
Middle half, above the median
Between the median and the 75th centile.
- Typical range at this age
- 5.3–10.6 lb (2.42–4.82 kg)Median 7.6 lb (3.44 kg)
- If your puppy stays in this band
- At 12 months: 13.6–15.6 lb (6.17–7.09 kg)
- At 2 years: 14.9–16.9 lb (6.78–7.69 kg)
A weight outside the typical range is not a diagnosis. Weigh again on the same scale in a few days, and if it stays there or you are unsure, show the weights to your vet. Body condition matters as much as the number: WSAVA body condition chart for dogs (opens in a new tab).
Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
When do small breeds stop growing?
Small-breed puppies do most of their gaining in the first half year. The median male reaches three quarters of his two-year weight at about 7 months and 90% at about 11 months; the median female at 7 months and 12 months.
From then to 2 years the line keeps creeping up. Some of that late gain is filling out rather than growing; the number on the scale cannot tell them apart, but a look at body condition can.
Small dogs, small changes
Between 6 months and 2 years, a median small-breed male goes from 10.7 lb (4.84 kg) to 14.9 lb (6.78 kg). Spread over a year and a half, that is a gain you will hardly see from one week to the next, which is why the line on a chart helps more than any single weigh-in.
Males and females differ more than many owners expect: at 2 years the female median is 13.1 lb (5.92 kg) against 14.9 lb (6.78 kg) for males. Use the panel for your puppy’s sex.
Breeds in this group
The Waltham study placed the breeds marked “Waltham study” in this size group; we placed the others here from their AKC adult weight. The adult weight is the American Kennel Club’s.
| Breed | Adult weight (AKC) | Group set by |
|---|---|---|
| Bichon Frise | 12–18 lb (5.4–8.2 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Waltham study |
| Cairn Terrier | Males 14 lb (6.4 kg); females 13 lb (5.9 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Pettify, from AKC weight |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 13–18 lb (5.9–8.2 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Pettify, from AKC weight |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 9–15 lb (4.1–6.8 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Waltham study |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 11–20 lb (5–9.1 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Waltham study |
| Pekingese | up to 14 lb (6.4 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Waltham study |
| Shih Tzu | 9–16 lb (4.1–7.3 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Waltham study |
| West Highland White Terrier | 15–20 lb (6.8–9.1 kg) (opens in a new tab) | Pettify, from AKC weight |
A breed can be in a group whose range does not cover its AKC weight: the study placed breeds by what they weighed in clinic records, which is often more than the breed standard.
Mixed-breed puppies
Choose the chart by the weight you expect your dog to reach as an adult, not by how the puppy looks. This page fits dogs of 14–20 lb (6.5–9 kg) as adults. The parents’ weights, if you know them, are the best hint; your vet can give an estimate too.
The study did not include mixed breeds. Its authors suggest that the size-group charts may also work for them, but this has not been tested, so treat the bands as a guide.
How to track your puppy’s weight
Weigh on the same scale, at about the same time of day, every week or two while your puppy grows. Veterinarian Caitlin Grant recommends at least every two weeks and ideally every week. Write each weight down with the date and age.
Then compare the line, not one point, with the bands. A puppy that holds its line is growing steadily for its group. If the weight leaves the bands or crosses lines, weigh again in a few days and talk to your vet.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a Shih Tzu puppy weigh at 6 months?
Shih Tzus are in the small group. At 6 months (26 weeks) the middle 82% of healthy males weigh 7.7–14.6 lb (3.49–6.62 kg) and females 6.5–12.5 lb (2.95–5.67 kg); the medians are 10.7 lb (4.84 kg) and 9.1 lb (4.14 kg). The AKC gives an adult Shih Tzu 9–16 lb (4.1–7.3 kg).
How much should a Miniature Schnauzer puppy weigh at 4 months?
At 4 months (17 weeks) small-breed males weigh 5.3–10.6 lb (2.42–4.82 kg) and females 4.6–9.2 lb (2.11–4.18 kg) in the middle 82% of the data. The Miniature Schnauzer is in this group, with an AKC adult weight of 11–20 lb (5–9.1 kg).
When is a small breed dog full grown?
By weight, most of it happens in the first year: the median male reaches 90% of his two-year weight at about 11 months. The chart continues to 2 years because the weight keeps rising a little until then.
Sources and method
Data: Salt and colleagues, WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute (PLOS ONE, 2017). Their open data hold weighings of healthy purebred dogs from Banfield clinics in the USA, 1994 to 2013. The fit for this group used 23,299 weighings of 7,320 males and 17,444 weighings of 5,578 females.
Method: the article shows its centiles only as figures, so we fitted the open data again the way the article describes (GAMLSS, males and females apart) and checked the result against its figures; the medians agree within 3%. This is our fit of the open Waltham data, not the official WALTHAM chart.
What this chart does not cover
- Puppies younger than 12 weeks and dogs older than 2 years: the data stop there.
- Purebred dogs from clinics in the USA; mixed breeds were not in the study.
- Dogs weighed before neutering; neutering shifted growth only slightly in the study.
- Giant breeds over 88 lb (40 kg) as adults.
- Body condition: a chart compares weight only. Ask your vet or use the WSAVA chart.
Download the data
The weekly values behind this chart and table, in kilograms, as a CSV file. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab) with a link to this page and to the original article.
How to cite
Pettify. Small breed puppy weight chart: our fit of the open Waltham growth data (Salt C et al., PLOS ONE 2017, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0182064). https://pettifyapp.com/breeds/dogs/weight-chart/small-breeds
Sources
- Salt C, Morris PJ, German AJ, Wilson D, Lund EM, Cole TJ, Butterwick RF. PLOS ONE. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. 2017. doi.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
- University of Liverpool Research Data Catalogue. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes: supporting data. 2017. doi.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
- WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute. WALTHAM Puppy Growth Charts. waltham.com (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
- American Kennel Club. Dog breeds: breed standards and weights. akc.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
- Veterinary Focus (Royal Canin Academy). Puppy growth charts, by Caitlin Grant, DVM, DVSc. academy.royalcanin.com (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Body Condition Score: dog. wsava.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )