Is my dog overweight?
Answer two questions the way a vet would check, by feeling the ribs and looking at the shape from above, and get an instant read on where your dog sits. No sign-up, no email.
1 to 3, thin: ribs, spine and hip bones are easy to see, an obvious waist and tummy tuck. 4 to 5, ideal: ribs easy to feel with a thin layer of fat, a visible waist, a slight tuck. 6 to 7, overweight: ribs harder to feel under padding, waist barely visible. 8 to 9, obese: ribs very hard or impossible to feel, no waist, fat deposits over the spine and base of the tail.
This check gives a quick read. For your dog's actual healthy weight range, a calorie target, and a plan to get there, take the free 60-second check, it factors in breed, age and activity too.
Take the free check →What is a healthy body condition score for a dog?
On the 9-point scale vets use, 4 to 5 is ideal: ribs easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, a visible waist from above, and a slight tummy tuck from the side.
Can I tell if my dog is overweight just by looking?
Looking helps, but feeling is more reliable, thick or dark coats hide extra weight from the eye. Run your hands along the ribs: if you have to press firmly to find them, or can't feel them at all, your dog is likely carrying extra weight.
What if my dog is a lean breed like a greyhound?
Sighthounds (greyhounds, whippets, salukis and similar) are healthy with visible ribs and a deep waist tuck, a body shape that would be underweight on most other breeds. For these breeds, "very tucked" is often the normal, healthy shape.
See also: dog calorie calculator · healthy weight by breed
This is an estimate, not a diagnosis. If you're unsure, your vet can check body condition in under a minute at any routine visit. How we work this out