I thought he looked a little chunky in the first 2 photos. How do you feel about this Sarah? I would feel a bit criticised and under pressure
A little bit but she was very nice about it in her emails. Loki does have a big rib cage so I know he is supposed to be a big dog. But not a fat dog. I think I will see how he goes as he grows. I might increase his food a small bit as I was quite surprised on the food guide that his allowance would stay the same now (unless he was to grow to be 40kg) which maybe that is what he should grow to with his bone structure
You got to do what you think right. Lots of people will have opinions. Some good some bad advice. Need to use your common sense filter.
Willow has a much rounder rib cage than Shadow. She weighs 26.5kg at around 21 inches height. Adult dogs need a lot less food than puppies, because they're not growing. So I wouldn't be concerned that his food won't increase. I think most Labs that are well over 30kg are also well overweight ( with a few notable exceptions ). Would you be increasing his food if you hadn't had that contact from your breeder?
Even if the breeder is lovely, she just may have very different ideas about what she likes her dogs to look like. Sometimes you just have to listen, say "OK, that's a good point" and do whatever you think is best regardless. My breeder wanted me to glue a quarter coin and moleskin into my puppy's ears for the first six months of his life so that he didn't have flyaway ears. I tried it for one day, thought it was ridiculous and liberated his poor little ears from bondage. I thought his ears were just fine anyway. The breeder gave me grief over it later, but in a good-natured way. Ultimately it was my choice and she respected that. The weight thing is different as it could affect his health, not just his conformation, but with larger breed puppies, it does seem leaner is better for slower growth and better joint and bone health.
Well i had wondered why it has stopped increasing now, after all he is only 6 months and he is still growing so wouldn't he require more?
So long as your puppy is well nourished, he'll grow just as big as his genes dictate. All you have to worry about is keeping him slim. Not thin, and not overweight. So long as you do that, the rest will take care of itself. Do be careful in feeding more because you expect your dog to grow to be a big dog. I've noticed over the years that the people who claim that their puppies are destined to be huge dogs once grown are more likely to have over weight puppies. It's not always the case, of course, but I've definitely noticed it as a theme.
I find the packets really over-estimate also. Using Stanley's as a guide he would get 440g of food a day which just seems so much food to me. We stopped weighing and just go by his bowl now but he gets about 100g breakfast 100g for his tea. Then around 100g through the day as treats or we use chicken/sausages/cheese instead, and a kong if we go out with tuna or peanut butter in. If he started to look underweight I'd give him more but I think he'd be right tubby on 440g
Okay thank you, I think we will carry on as we are then. We went to the vet this morning for his worming and flea treatment and they said he's just a perfect size so that's reassuring
That's the strangest thing I ever heard! I have friends who are an older couple and pretty fat themselves. Their Spaniel is eight years old and the fattest, squarest dog I ever saw. He has arthritis and walks as if he's 15. It's so so cruel but I only see them once a year now as they live so far away and really don't know what I can do about it. He'd be picture 8 on that scale above if there was one! I'm taking Libby next week and she's skinnier than Loki through no lack of feeding so maybe that'll be the icebreaker to talk about it. I'll take a picture.
Actually ear taping is a pretty common practice for Rottweilers. Just so you don't think the breeder was totally off her rocker.
I do something similar now. 110 grams in the morning and at night. Everyone else gives him treats during the day and he doesn't need to put on unnecessary fat. My trainer said that his ribs cannot easily be palpated. So he's a little more towards Figure 4 in that diagram, but not as fat looking.
I want a laminate copy small enough to fit in my pocket so I can flash it at people who say Rorys too thin and show them their dogs are too fat. I get so fed up of the park feeders.
We were sitting in the car yesterday (um....outside the chip shop ) when this xxl obese labrador hobbled past. It was heartbreaking
But what can we do, Ive wanted to kidnap some oh so fat labs bring them home and sort them out, but I can't do that. You can talk to the owners but they are usually so far in denial that the can they can see pyramids. It's just as you say heart breaking. I just at a loss as to what to do or say
