Chow Chows are large dogs, but what about their weight? Are they as heavyset as they are lengthy?
On average, a male adult Chow Chow will weigh between 55-71 pounds (25-32kg), and an adult female Chow Chow will weigh between 44-60 pounds (20-27 kg).
These are average weights, of course. The actual number on the scale may differ due to your Chow’s genetics, their daily diet (including treats), and their general health. Your breeder and vet will be able to help you determine a healthy weight for your specific dog.
How much do male Chow Chows weigh?
Male Chow Chows are often larger and a little heavier than females, which tends to be standard in most animals!
This extra height and muscle mass put them anywhere from 55-71 pounds (25-32kg) on average. Chows who have larger or smaller parents will lie outside of those norms, though.
You’ll find that your male Chow continues to gain weight after his first birthday, but this is normal because he is still filling out. Most reach their final weight by the time they are about 1.5 years old.
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How much do female Chow Chows weigh?
The leaner of the two most healthy adult female Chow Chows will be between 44-60 pounds (20-27 kg).
Like her male counterpart, she’ll reach her full weight about 1.5 years old. As long as she is healthy and well cared for, her weight should be more or less steady throughout her adult life.
Of course, if she does get pregnant, it will increase! However, after delivery, she should settle back down to her healthy weight fairly quickly.
Chow Chow average weight: a month by month approach
The first year of your Chow’s life is going to be full of development, especially weight.
If you are excited about the different milestones, here’s what you’ll want to know about each main sector:
- 2 weeks
- 12 weeks (4 months)
- 9 months
- 18 months (1.5 years)
2 weeks
These sweet fluffy puppies are typically less than 1 pound (0.45 kg when they are born).
Factors impacting size include the health of the puppies, how big the litter size is, and the health/age of the mama.
By the time they pass 2 weeks in age, they’ll weigh around 2 pounds (0.9 kg). Males may weigh a few grams more, depending.
12 weeks (4 months)
The following weeks and months are loaded with growth! Starting at 2 pounds (0.9 kg), most will end between 18-26 pounds (8.1-11.7 kg). That’s quite a growth spurt!
During this time, puppies will also be sold and rehomed. This means switching from milk to kibble, which is loaded with fat and other much-needed nutrients to help them get a healthy start to life!
9 months
Fast forward about another 3 months, and your pup will weigh anywhere between 40-63 pounds (18.1-28.5 kg).
If you think that this is quite a difference, you are correct! This is where the difference between males and females starts to kick in. Females tend to be at the lower end of this range, whereas males are higher.
18 months (1.5 years)
This is where your male and female puppies will finish their growth and get those last 20 pounds (9 kg). It’ll mostly be muscle mass as they grow into their final forms and fill out.
This is where most will switch to adult food, which is a bit more calorie restrictive and meant for long-term health for adults.
The Chow Chow weight chart (in lbs and kg)
Curious as to how all of those numbers stack up in the form of a handy chart?
Below you’ll find it waiting for you in organized segments with both pounds and kg written out for you for males and females.
| Age | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Weeks | 21 – 26 lbs (10 – 12 kg) | 18 – 23 lbs (8 – 10.5 kg) |
| 4 Months | 28 – 40 lbs (13 – 18 kg) | 23 – 30 lbs (10.5 – 13.5 kg) |
| 5 Months | 39 – 42.5 lbs (17.5 – 19 kg) | 27 – 37 lbs (12 – 16.5 kg) |
| 6 Months | 40 – 49 lbs (18 – 22.5 kg) | 32.5 – 42.5 (14.5 – 19.5 kg) |
| 7 Months | 44 – 54 lbs (20 – 24.5 kg) | 36 – 47.5 (16.5 – 21.5 kg) |
| 8 Months | 47 – 59 lbs (21 – 26.5 kg) | 38 – 51 lbs (17.5 – 23 kg) |
| 9 Months | 49.5 – 62.5 lbs (22.5 – 28.5 kg) | 40 – 54 lbs (18 – 24.5 kg) |
| 10 Months | 51.5 – 63 lbs (23 – 28.5 kg) | 41 – 56 lbs (18.5 – 25.5 kg) |
| 11 Months | 52.5 – 66 lbs (24 – 30 kg) | 42.5 – 55.5 lbs (19 – 25 kg) |
| 12 Months | 53.5 – 68 lbs (24 – 31 kg) | 43 – 58 lbs (19.5 – 26 kg) |
| 13 Months | 54 – 69 lbs (24.5 – 31 kg) | 44 – 58 lbs (20 – 26 kg) |
| 14 – 18 Months | 55 – 70.5 lbs (25 – 32 kg) | 44 – 59.5 lbs (20 – 27 kg) |
If you are one of those proud Chow parents that will measure their pup regularly to see just where they fit in the milestones, you’ll want to consider putting this somewhere that gives you regular access to it so that you can make a direct comparison.
What’s an ideal weight for Chow Chows?
You’ve already read about the numbers, of course, but more goes into the weight and health of your Chow Chow.
The main factors that impact weight include genetics, diets, and health. Then there’s the factor of height to think about.
Genetics
Professional breeders work hard to make sure that each puppy is the strongest and healthiest version it can be, genetically speaking.
If both parent dogs are of average weight, there’s a good chance that your puppy will be, too.
If you’re curious about what that weight will be compared to other litters or puppies, you can ask the breeder what the weight of the parent dogs is to help you see “into the future.”
A Chow could be under or over the weight milestones at various months, or even at 18 months, and still be considered perfectly healthy. That’s why they’re intended more as averages rather than actual targets!
Diet
Diet plays a crucial role in your puppy’s weight gain and maintenance. When they are puppies, they start on nutritious milk from their mama.
They are eventually weaned and transition to calorie-rich and nutrient-rich puppy food. This is carefully portioned out to help give their bodies lots of nutritional benefits.
As they get older and transition into adult food, your vet will be able to help you determine where your dog needs to focus for its diet and what brands are going to offer the high-quality ingredients that you’re looking for with your dog’s best interests.
Don’t forget to ask your vet about treats, too, since these are often particularly loaded with “bad ingredients.” Since we all like to give our dogs treats, it’s essential to make sure that you give them nutritious ones that won’t cause them to gain too much weight.
Health
Speaking of weight, Chow Chows typically do have excellent health — except for weight! They can be known for obesity.
They aren’t the most active dogs out there, and they do have a strong preference for treats and food scraps.
To keep his weight managed, you’ll need to keep a close eye on portion sizes and ensure that they get the vet-recommended amount of exercise each day.
You can minimize the risk for health issues if your Chow Chow has a proper weight. A healthy diet and vet visits (in combination with vaccinations and exercise, of course) will be a great defense!
How does height impact my Chow Chow’s weight?
There is a connection between height and weight with your Chow Chow. A Chow Chow has specific averages of where they should be for the height to be in good health, just like weight.
If your Chow Chow is shorter than the average Chow, then you’d expect their weight to be a little lower as well. If they were shorter and very high in their weight, they would be unhealthy.
The same is said for a tall Chow Chow on the lower end of the weight scale. They might be technically within the healthy zones, but they would be considered underweight because of their height.
When you are doing your homework on weight, you’ll want to factor in height. Vice versa, too. Both will work together and give you a much stronger understanding of what is healthy and unhealthy for your particular Chow Chow.
After all, the more data you have, the better your calculations can be, right?
How do I know if my Chow Chow is healthy?
The average numbers that you’ve read about are intended as a sliding scale. You’ll want to see them only as part of the equation that you’ve learned about in the other health factors that we’ve talked about.
As far as understanding whether or not your Chow Chow is healthy, the best thing to do is ask your vet. Your vet will know your dog’s genetics from the paperwork that you got from the breeder, and they’ll also have watched them grow up to their adulthood.
This personal information helps them know when your dog is reaching their milestones properly and when something changes that could signify a health concern.
On that same note, you’ll always want to follow the advice and suggestions that your vet makes. A vet is your dog’s doctor, after all. If they suggest changing to a higher quality kibble, downsizing their portion sizes a bit more, etc., follow the advice! Your dog’s health is going to be best managed by the professionals, after all.
In summary
Male Chow Chows weigh 55-71 pounds (25-32kg), and female Chow Chows weigh 44-60 pounds (20-27 kg).
However, the actual number on the scale has other criteria, including genetics, daily diet and quality, and their general health. You’ll also need to understand how these all interplay. It will help you get a good idea of where your dog should be for its final adult weight.
If you have someone who is wondering whether their Chow Chow is overweight or developing properly, consider sharing this with them!
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