How to Weigh a Dog at Home (Small to Giant)

Quick answer Weigh a small dog on a baby or kitchen scale, a medium dog by weighing yourself with and without it, and a large dog on a vet or pet-shop scale. Use the same method each time: a 0.5 kg error is 10% of a 5 kg dog but only 1.25% of a 40 kg dog.

A dog’s weight is the first number your vet asks for and the best early warning for most problems: a dog that gains a little each month is heading for obesity, and a dog that loses weight without a reason needs a check. Yet many owners have no idea what their dog weighs, because the last number came from a vet visit months ago. Weighing at home is easy once you choose the right method for the dog’s size. This guide covers the methods from toy breeds to giants, how accurate each one is and how to turn a few readings into a trend. The size of the error matters more than you might think, and the table below shows why.

Why the method depends on the dog’s size

The accuracy you need depends on how big the dog is. A scale that reads to the nearest 0.5 kg is fine for a Great Dane and useless for a Chihuahua.

Dog weight	A 0.1 kg error is	A 0.5 kg error is	A 1 kg error is
3 kg	3.3%	16.7%	33.3%
5 kg	2.0%	10.0%	20.0%
10 kg	1.0%	5.0%	10.0%
20 kg	0.5%	2.5%	5.0%
40 kg	0.25%	1.25%	2.5%

The healthy pace of weight loss is 1 to 2% of body weight a week (AAHA 2014), so a method with an error of 5% cannot show weekly progress for a 10 kg dog. For small dogs you need a scale that reads to 10 to 20 g. For big dogs, a larger scale with a resolution of 0.5 kg is good enough.

Method 1: baby or kitchen scale (toy and small dogs)

For dogs up to about 5 to 10 kg, depending on the scale’s capacity:

Place a towel or a shallow box on the scale and zero it (“tare”).
Lift the dog on and keep a hand close without pressing on it.
Wait for the reading to settle, and note it.
Repeat twice and average.

Baby scales read to 5 or 10 g, and some pet scales do too. Kitchen scales have a capacity of 5 to 10 kg and read to 1 or 2 g, but the platform may be small; use a flat tray if the dog does not fit. Reading to 10 g is 0.2% of a 5 kg dog, comfortably small.

Method 2: hold and subtract (medium dogs)

For dogs you can lift safely, up to about 15 to 25 kg depending on you:

Weigh yourself and write it down: 78.4 kg.
Weigh yourself holding the dog: 98.9 kg.
Subtract: 98.9 − 78.4 = 20.5 kg.

Use a scale with a resolution of 0.1 kg if you can, and weigh yourself in the same clothes and shoes each time. The two readings each carry rounding error, so the result may be off by about 0.1 to 0.2 kg on a good scale and more on a poor one. Wriggling dogs make it harder, so use a treat and take the reading when the dog is still. Do not lift a dog you cannot hold securely; a fall can injure both of you, and a nervous dog may bite. Lift with your knees, and ask for help if needed.

Method 3: vet, pet-shop or livestock scales (large and giant dogs)

Many vets let owners pop in for a free weigh-in, with a nurse or the front desk recording the weight. Some pet shops have a walk-on scale, and garden centres and farm suppliers may have livestock scales. Call first, and ask whether you need to book. A walk-on scale usually reads to 0.1 to 0.5 kg, and it is the most accurate option for a dog that is too heavy to lift. Use the same scale each time if you can, since scales differ by a few hundred grams.

Method 4: a pet bathroom-scale platform

You can also coax a dog onto a large floor scale on its own. Place the scale on a non-slip floor, teach the dog to stand on it with treats and take the reading when it stands still. Some dogs find it easy and some find it frightening. A scale with a large platform and a lock-hold function is best. Check the accuracy by weighing a known weight, such as a bag of flour or a dumbbell, and compare.

Which method for which dog

Dog	Suggested method	Typical reading
Under 5 kg	Baby or kitchen scale with a tray	5 to 10 g
5 to 15 kg	Baby scale if it fits, or hold and subtract	10 g to 0.1 kg
15 to 25 kg	Hold and subtract (if you can lift safely), or a floor scale	0.1 to 0.2 kg
25 to 40 kg	Floor scale or vet, pet-shop or livestock scale	0.1 to 0.5 kg
Over 40 kg	Vet, pet-shop or livestock scale	0.1 to 0.5 kg

Making readings comparable

A weight is only useful if you can compare it with the last. Control what you can:

Same scale, on the same flat surface.
Same time of day, ideally in the morning before breakfast and after a toilet trip.
Same method, each time.
Same clothes when you hold the dog.
Several readings, averaged.

If you change method (for example from hold-and-subtract to a vet scale), note it, since the numbers may differ by a few hundred grams.

Keeping a log

Date	Method	Weight (kg)	Change since last	Body condition (1 to 9)	Notes

The Pet Weight Change Calculator takes two weights and the number of weeks and tells you the percentage change and the weekly pace, and whether it falls within the 1 to 2% a week range. The Pet Weight Converter switches between kilograms and pounds. Add the body condition score, using the Dog Body Condition Score tool, because weight and condition together tell you more than either alone.

How often to weigh

Situation	Frequency
Healthy adult	Monthly
Growing puppy	Weekly
Dog on a weight-loss plan	Every one to two weeks
Senior dog	Monthly, or as your vet advises
Dog recovering from illness	As your vet advises

Weighing every day is not useful: normal fluctuations of 1 to 2% from food, water and toilet habits swamp the signal. Weekly or monthly, with the same method, shows the trend.

Reading the trend

Look at several readings, not one. A gain of 0.3 kg in a month in a 20 kg dog is 1.5%, which may be noise; a steady rise of 0.3 kg a month over six months is 9% in total, which is not. If the weight moves by more than about 5% in a month, or keeps rising or falling over several readings, tell your vet. Use the trend with body condition: ribs that were easy to feel and are becoming hard to find, or a waist that fades, point the same way as the numbers. Our guide on whether a dog is overweight shows how to check, and the body condition score chart explains the scale.

Teaching a dog to enjoy the scale

Most dogs accept weighing if it is made pleasant. Put the scale on the floor in a quiet place, with a non-slip mat on top if needed. Reward the dog for sniffing it, then for putting one paw on, then for standing on it. Keep each session short and finish on a success. Use treats from the day’s allowance, counted within the 10% limit. After a few sessions, the weigh-in becomes routine.

Common mistakes

Using a scale that is too coarse for a small dog.
Weighing at different times of day.
Wearing different clothes when holding the dog.
Lifting a dog that is too heavy.
Reading a single weight as a trend.
Forgetting to log it.
Changing the method without noting it.

Weighing special cases

A dog that will not stay still. Weigh after exercise, when the dog is calm, or use treats on a mat. Take three readings and average, discarding any that look off.

A dog afraid of the scale. Go slowly, as described above, with the scale on the floor and treats. If it remains frightened, use the hold-and-subtract method or the vet’s scale instead.

A puppy. Use a kitchen or baby scale with a box. Weigh weekly, and keep the log, since the numbers drive the feeding amount; see the puppy feeding chart.

A very large dog. Ask your vet or a pet shop. Some practices let you walk in without an appointment. Write down the weight and date at once.

A dog with a medical condition. Follow your vet’s schedule, and tell them about unplanned changes.

Quick summary

Choose the method by dog size: baby or kitchen scale, hold and subtract, or a vet or pet-shop scale.
A 0.5 kg error is 10% of a 5 kg dog but 1.25% of a 40 kg dog.
Use the same scale, time of day and method every time.
Weigh monthly (adults), weekly (puppies) or every one to two weeks on a diet.
Log weights and body condition, and act on a trend, not a single reading.
Use the Pet Weight Change Calculator to check the pace.

Frequently asked questions

How do I weigh a dog at home?

Small dogs on a baby or kitchen scale, medium dogs by weighing yourself with and without the dog, and large dogs on a vet or pet-shop scale.

How accurate is the hold-and-subtract method?

It adds the rounding error of two readings. On a scale that reads to 0.1 kg, each reading can be off by 0.05 kg, but dog movement and balance usually matter more.

How often should I weigh my dog?

Monthly for most adults, weekly for puppies, and every one to two weeks on a weight-loss plan.

What time of day is best?

The same time each time, ideally before a meal, so that readings are comparable.

Can I use a bathroom scale for a small dog?

It may be too coarse: if it reads to 0.1 or 0.2 kg, that is 2 to 4% of a 5 kg dog. A baby or kitchen scale is better.

How do I make a trend visible?

Write each weight and date in a log and look at several readings. A change of 2% or more across several weeks is worth acting on.

Sources

Reviewed by the CalcuPaw Veterinary Review Team

Last reviewed 19 Oct 2026 · Meet the review team · This guide is general information, not veterinary advice.