Here's a useful chart which you can refer to for checking your dog's body condition. Some vets prefer that dogs, especially larger breed dogs like Labradors who are prone to joint problems, should be even slimmer than what is shown here as a 3 - probably more like a 2.5 on this scale.
Yup, I uploaded it directly at first but the forum software shrunk the size of it. Now I've linked it from my Imgur account, so it shows (almost) full size. If you click on it, it expands slightly. I've not checked on any of my devices but on my computer it looks fine. Let me know if it's still illegible on smaller screens and I'll see what I can do
@snowbunny Just tried it on my phone and it expanded without any problems and text looked pretty good to me.
It looks as if Amber is about a 2.5. I might try to get her weight up a tiny bit. She is all muscle though. A very, very active girl.
I saw this image some time ago but then couldn't find it again until it appeared on Facebook just now, so I stole it It shows a comparison between body shapes of dogs and humans. The two middle pictures are healthy, lean dogs (and people), albeit one is far more heavily muscled than the other; the musculature of an individual will be determined by amount and type of exercise, sex, whether they are entire or neutered, and other individual characteristics. For my own dogs, Willow is a 2, Shadow is a 3 and Luna is somewhere in between.
I'd say Ella is in between a 2 and a 3, a little closer to the 2 - she could afford to put on a little more muscle. I dread to think where I am! Not a 2, not a 4 but definitely not a 3!
Really useful visuals. A big factor I have found is age and entire/neuter status. Having an older show-line neutered dog (Casper) although fit and well muscled he certainly doesn't look like a 3, more like 3.5. Poor lad only has to sniff a kibble and it goes on his hips. On the other end of the spectrum, I have 2 year (entire) Bramble who is a 2 on the scale, with a thin, sleek coat and long legs, she eats like a horse and doesn't put on an ounce. She probably eats double the amount of calories as does Casper, admittedly she works harder, but the additional calories needed to compensate the higher activity levels is much lower than you would think. (there is a ref. I must dig out later.. ) I have also been able to compare neuter vs entire vs neuter with Benson (4-year-old male show-line chocolate labrador) through using the Suprelorin hormonal implant. Being entire has had a significant effect on his body condition and weight. Even with reducing his food initially by approx 25%, he gained around 1.5kg in a very short space of time. Thereafter we had to fine tune his nutritional needs to get a better balance. Weight is arguably "the" key factor in avoiding joint problems later on in life, so something we have had to consider. We also have an entire foster,( showline chocolate labrador, 4 years old) who arrived with us 2 months ago, overweight with very poor muscle tone. It has been a relatively easy job for him to lose weight and improve his fitness. Using the scale he was a 4 but now is a sleek and fit 2.5. With his genes against him, but placid nature I would argue to keep his entire status.
I'd say Stanners is a 2. Could definitely do with getting a bit more muscle on him. I'm with @Emily not really sure which one I am - definitely not a 2 or a 3 but I don't think I've quite reached a 4 yet OH is probably a 3 -selfish really because I have to sit next to him on the beach
I think Quinn is a 3. A lot of people commenting on how "thick" she is getting and it's hard to tell if she's filling out due to maturity or simply putting on weight due to less running/swimming over the winter months. She's got quite a bit of muscle, especially in her hind legs/rump. I've cut back on her food the past few weeks. Speaking to the vet at her yearly appt to get the answer!
Thanks for posting. I have had my dog Bailey for now 12 weeks and happy to report he is a 3 on the chart. When I got him he was probably closer to a 4 a bit of a tubby pup at 10 months old and I was at concerned that he lost the weight too quickly. But he appears healthy, eating the right amount of good food and getting plenty of walks.
Shamas was about 1.5 when I got him...you couldn't see his hips, but just about everything else was evident and he didn't have enough muscle to support his joints, so he limped if I walked him more than 1/2 hour-45 minutes. He's closer to 3 than 2 now. Slim, but very solid in muscle. He walks about 1-2 hours comfortably.
Trump would be around a 2.5-3. What are you guys feeding? We started with a pro plan but he was ravenous .Switched him to Diamond puppy and he’s done well on it however he’s a little “loose” from time to time.
