I've had a few people recently telling me that my two are too skinny for Labradors. My vet is happy with their weight, and I think that's very important, but I also know vets here who have been very happy with overweight Labs, too, so it's not necessarily the best indication. Since there are so many very experienced Lab owners on here, I'd be really happy to hear your views, too. I have a little album on FB of photos I've taken recently - they're not all ideal shots to show their physiques, but you should get an idea. At rest, you don't see any ribs on them. When breathing heavily, eating etc, they do show through. Shadow (the yellow for those of you who don't know) is a lot broader than his sister in the face, chest etc, but I think that's quite normal, since he's a boy. According to everything I've read, they look just about perfect to me. But the few shocked strangers that have made it their business to tell me they're too thin recently has made me question myself. It's probably just because they're used to seeing overweight Labs, and generally of the larger show variety, whereas mine are small, even by field Lab standards. Let me know what you think. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10156018403130370.1073741883.673990369&type=1&l=198bf7c194
I too like slim dogs and yours look pretty perfect. If I had to be very picky I would say they could put a wee bit of weight on if you are concerned. You should be able to see the shadow of their ribs and a nice waist which I think yours have. If they appear happy and are not constantly asking for food, I wouldn't worry what others think.
I think your two are beautiful. Sweet, sweet faces. They look well proportioned to me. Some of the photos Willow looked a little gangly, but others I didn't see it. Not too thin in my opinion. Perfect.
My understanding from the Labrador Site is that our dogs should have a waist but you should not see their ribs but you should ne able to feel them if you press hard down their side. So for me if their ribs show when breathing heavy or eating they may ne a little too slim.
I don't think they are thin, Fiona. They have that gangly, teenage look (especially Shadow), but they will grow into their long legs! They are both gorgeous.
Your dogs are lovely and look fit, healthy and active. My boy is quite slim too. I get told ALL the time that me MUST be a cross bread and can't possibly be a lab. My answers vary depending on my mood. Mostly I say in a haughty manner that he is a working dog, as if you didn't know. My vet says he's perfect and wished more dogs were like him.
Thanks for sharing your album, what a great set of pics. Your dogs are just gorgeous and Shadow could be my Megs twin in looks and behaviour. Meg has a pure working background next to my sisters choccy show lab they are chalk and cheese and I think folk are more familiar with the show line...sometimes. My vet who also is also owned by a black lab told me to keep her just as she is. They clearly have oodles of energy so ignore the passing comments, they are perfect
They look "petite" to me, well they're young. And with lovely long legs - which may accentuate their svelteness. You know how they feel, so you will know if they're too thin/fat. Little stunners in the photos.
We quite often get comments about Harv along the lines of "wow, your dog looks really fit and well-muscled". I do sometimes wonder whether this is a polite version of "your dog is too thin". I think it's all down to people's perception that all labs look like show labs (and tbh this was my perception before we got Harv).
I'm used to the chunkies but your two look absolutely fine to me. I can't see any rib or hip bones or anything like that. I'd keep them as they are. Great pics by the way
They are gorgeous Fiona....Shadows build looks very like Dexter...Dexter could probably carry a bit more weight if I'm honest as I can see his ribs when he is tootling about ( not when I look at him asleep next to me now) but I like him at this weight,he gets plenty to eat,his weight maintenance is more about the excercise he gets than the amount of food he eats.Im told he's too thin often , the vet says he's perfect though x
Perfect. They are also still only young you might find they fill out a bit naturally as they get older but no they are not too skinny at all.
Willow looks (and behaves?!) very like Tuppence. Both of mine look rather lean, but the vet says they're ideal as they are. If I think they're looking a bit skinny, I just increase their food for a few days - and they don't mind at all!
snowbunny they look absolutely gorgeous to me. Your comment about strangers making it their business to tell you about your dogs made me smile. Story of my life last week. Ignore them and carry on enjoying your beautiful Labradors.
They look perfect to me. They both look slightly better covered than Tarka did at that age - I absolutely could not get any weight on her at all at around 8-18 months, didn't matter what I fed her she was still quite ribby but perfectly healthy and fit. At the grand old age of nearly 5 now, she is tall and long for a working bitch and weighs in at a steady 26kg but looks perfect in my eyes. Lochan says she would like to be fed as much as Tarka - she gets exactly half of Tarka's allowance despite going on the same walks etc or she would look like a balloon.
