How Much Should Your Dog Weigh If They’re Mixed Breed?
As responsible pet parents, it’s important to monitor your dog’s weight in order to accurately monitor their health. Typically, purebred dogs should have a certain weight goal based on the needs of the breed, which can serve as a helpful guideline for dog owners.
However, if you have a marvelous mutt on your hands, accurately predicting your dog’s target weight can be a challenge. Below, we’ll dive into how much your dog should weigh if they’re a mixed breed along with the best ways to monitor your dog’s health.
Why Should I Weigh My Dog?
Before determining your dog’s ideal weight, it’s important to understand why this figure is important. Generally speaking, weight is a great indicator of our dog’s overall health.
Checking your dog’s weight throughout puppyhood can help ensure that your furry best friend is meeting important growth milestones. In addition, regular weight check-ins can help combat obesity and other health issues.
In addition, some breeds are genetically predisposed to be more susceptible to obesity and weight-related issues, so it’s important to have a firm understanding of where Fido falls on the scale.
Frequent fluctuations in weight can be tell-tale signs that your pooch may be dealing with:
- Diabetes
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kidney Issues
- Parasites
- Cancer
- Arthritis or joint pain
How Often Should You Weigh Your Pet?
How often you weigh your pet depends largely on your dog’s individual needs. For example, puppies should be weighed more often, since their increase in weight can help you measure their growth milestones.
Adult dogs (dogs over 1-2 years of age) can generally get by with weight checks every 6 months or so, unless they have a particular condition that requires more monitoring. You’ll want to go off of your veterinarian’s recommendation to figure out the best plan for your pooch.
While weighing your dog at home isn’t impossible, it can sometimes be tricky, especially with larger breeds. Luckily, any animal hospital or veterinarian clinic should have a scale that you’re free to use when dropping by.
In addition, your veterinarian will weigh your dog at every appointment, which is another reason why it’s a good idea to stay up to date on your dog’s wellness visits.
How Much Should Mixed Breeds Weigh?
In short, the goal weight of a mixed breed should be determined with the help of your trusted veterinarian. Mixed breeds should be evaluated on an individual basis to determine their proper weight based on their lifestyle, background, and overall health.
Predicting your mixed breed’s target weight on your own is a whole other ballgame. Mixed breeds are complex creatures which, unfortunately, leads to a complex answer: Since mutts have more than one breed in their bloodline, it is nearly impossible to predict a mixed breed dog’s weight with absolute precision.
That being said, there are some canine clues that you can look out for to determine your Buddy’s ballpark weight.
History
If you have knowledge of your dog’s parents, that might be the best predictor of your dog’s target weight. If both of the pup’s parents were around the same weight, it’s reasonable to assume that your dog will be around the same size.
However, it is possible your dog might have picked up recessive genes and turn out to be a completely different weight. Knowing your dog’s history can be a powerful tool, but it’s certainly not the end-all, be-all.
Use A Dog Weight Calculator
Trusted sources like PetMD offer a healthy weight calculator where you can input your dog’s age, weight, and breed mix (if you know it). This tool can help you see where your dog falls in comparison to other similar mixed breeds. However, you’ll still need to see a veterinarian for an in-person consultation.
While weight is an important consideration in canine health, it’s not the only thing you should pay attention to. Don’t forget to make sure your dog is on a healthy diet for his needs and is receiving plenty of exercise and play. All in all, the best thing you can do is set up an appointment with a veterinarian you trust to make sure your pooch is covered on all weight and other health-related concerns.
