Is my gundog overweight?

How can you tell if your dog is the correct weight? Is there a standard weight for a healthy male spaniel? Gundog vet Vicky Payne offers expert advice

Q: What is a healthy weight for a male springer spaniel?

VICKY PAYNE replies: What a tough question! Working springers are very variable in shape, size, and bone, so their ideal weights vary too. I have seen springers from 12kg right up to 25kg who were all the right weight! I prefer to look at a body condition chart. On a 1-9 scale, dogs should be a 4 or 5 – their ribs should be easy to palpate or have a thin covering of fat, with a waist visible behind the rib cage and a tuck to the abdomen.