Find out your dog's Body Condition Score (BCS)

Body Condition Scoring was first discussed in a 1997 study. It was developed to create a practical method to assess and discuss obesity in dogs. BCS helps you to know if your dog is at their optimum weight through sight and touch, and can be helpful to use alongside their actual weight. Your dog should have a defined waist when you look from the side and above, and you should be able to feel their ribs as you run your hands along their chest. If you can’t feel your dog’s ribs, they are carrying a few extra pounds, while if you can easily see your dog’s individual ribs, they may be underweight.

With your hand, open your palm and trace your fingers across your knuckles on the back of your hand. If your dog’s ribs feel like this then they are most likely an ideal weight which would be a body condition score of 3 using the chart above.

Turn your hand over and trace your finger over the knuckle area on your palm. If your dog’s ribs feel like this then your dog is most likely to be overweight. This would be a body condition score of 4 or 5 using the chart above.

If your dog is overweight, you must take steps to help them shed the pounds to maximise their overall health.

Make your hand into a fist and trace your finger over the knuckle area. If your dog’s ribs feel bony like this then they’re most likely to be underweight. This is a body condition score of 1 to 2 using the chart above.

Link to guide: https://www.bellaandduke.com/dogs/expert-advice/dog-health/how-much-should-my-dog-weigh/