A percentile compares your pet with others of the same age. If your puppy is on the 56th percentile, they weigh more than 56 out of 100 similar puppies and less than the other 44. Neither high nor low is automatically better.
Where our curves come from
The dog study (Salt et al., 2017) analysed body weight records from more than 6 million young dogs seen at US veterinary hospitals, keeping only dogs that stayed healthy and in ideal body condition through their first 3 years. Its charts run from 12 weeks to 2 years of age and use five size groups that cover breeds up to 40 kg. The authors found that neutering shifted growth only slightly compared with normal differences between dogs.
- Dogs: weights from US vet visits of dogs under three years old (Salt et al. 2017), grouped by adult size from toy to giant.
- Kittens: a veterinary dataset of kitten weights, all breeds together.
- Breed-specific curves are estimates. They use the size group of the breed, so treat them as a guide.
The "typical range"
The shaded band on our chart runs from the 2nd to the 98th percentile. Most healthy pets sit inside it. Being outside it is a reason to ask your vet, not a diagnosis.
Why the trend matters most
Growth is not a straight line. A pet can move up or down a little between weigh-ins. A steady track along one band is reassuring. Crossing two bands up or down over a few weeks is worth mentioning to your vet.
Setting a growth goal
On your pet's growth chart, tap where you would like them to be, or pick a time frame from 1 week to 3 months and a target weight. We show the daily calories and the weekly change needed, and say whether that pace is safe. For a growing pet, the best goal is usually to keep following their own percentile line. These are estimates, not a vet diagnosis, so ask your vet before aiming to slow or reverse growth.
How often to weigh
Every two to four weeks while growing is plenty. Use the same scale and weigh at a similar time of day. For small pets, weigh yourself holding them, then subtract your own weight.
