A number you measured is better than a guess from last year's vet visit, especially for a puppy or a dog on a diet. Here is a way to get it at home.
The carry-and-subtract method
For dogs you can lift, weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding your dog, and subtract. Use the same scale and the same spot on the floor, and weigh at the same time of day. For a small dog, a kitchen scale works. For a large dog, ask your vet, a pet store or a feed store with a floor scale whether you can step in for a quick weigh. Many veterinary clinics will weigh a dog without an appointment, and the answer is the same number the clinic will use.
Why weight alone is not enough
The American Animal Hospital Association says that a body condition score is more useful than weight alone, because a 65-pound dog can be lean or heavy depending on frame and breed. The AAHA chart uses a nine-point scale where 4 or 5 is ideal. Cornell describes the ideal dog as one whose ribs you can feel but not see, with a tucked abdomen from the side and a waist from above. Cornell advises weighing at least every two weeks while a dog is on a weight-loss plan. Ask your vet to confirm a target.
What Happy Paws does with the number
Weight is a field on the pet information form, along with age, breed, activity level, feeding amount in cups, allergies and health conditions. Kennel class is chosen by your dog's size and temperament: Economy suits several small and medium dogs or one large dog, Business Class suits a pair of large dogs or a dog who prefers not to share, and First Class suits extra-large dogs or two or three large dogs. Use the kennel class finder and the kennel class guide.
Weight also drives the bath. The 2024 bath chart, effective January 1, 2024, sorts dogs into bands: 15 pounds or less, 16 to 25, 26 to 50, 51 to 75, 76 to 100 and over 100, crossed with coat length. Please ask the kennel to confirm a price before you add a bath. See the baths page or use the bath price finder.
Write it down
Record the date with the weight. Update the form if your dog has gained or lost noticeably since the last stay, and tell the staff how many cups a meal is.