- Location
- Cornwall , UK
I despair of my monster, who now weighs just shy of 18 kilos , so tall too , he doesn't look like a puppy any more , just like a small big dog 
Stanley’s diet
- Thread starter Jen
- Start date
Quinn was perfect (to me) at 65lbs, her standing adult weight...but her harness felt a bit tight last winter so I cut her food slightly and she dropped 4 lbs over a few months and I thought she looked a little too lean. But after her last surgery when she lost a few more pounds the vet said she was on the lean side of perfect and to keep her that way (57lbs). I thought she looked skinny but I couldn’t feel her ribs too easily and she did seem to be faster with more energy! Slightly too lean is better than slightly too heavy in the long run health wise apparently!
I think I have a monster too Kate, Buddy is just over 14kg at 14 weeks, but I can feel his ribs and see a waist, thinking he is just a big boy!I despair of my monster, who now weighs just shy of 18 kilos , so tall too , he doesn't look like a puppy any more , just like a small big dog
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Same here , nice slim waist , no fat , just big boys then !!
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
I'm getting quite worried about Maxx's size. He was 43.4 at the vets about 8 weeks ago so we reduced his food but I think he has actually gotten bigger. I've asked OH to try and take him to the off-lead beach more as he gets a big long run but it's a bit hard as it makes for at least a 1.5 hour round trip and he is busy (like all of us)
- Location
- Wellington, NZ
Maxx is a big boy, no question about it, he's got that classic Pongo look about him. But is he a Big Boy who could also stand to lose some chunk? What does his waist look like from above? He doesn't appear to have much of a tuck on him in that second photo, but that could be the shadow.
Xena gets more exercise over the cooler months, so over the summer I'm regularly having to lower her food ration as she's getting exercised less.
Xena gets more exercise over the cooler months, so over the summer I'm regularly having to lower her food ration as she's getting exercised less.
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
If I walk behind he and OH there's a definite side to side wobble going so yes I really think he needs to lose some weight.
- Location
- Wellington, NZ
Lol it looks like he has a collar "muffin top". Poor Maxx, you're going to have to eat a lot more Christmas cards to make up for the reduced rations!
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
@Jen Stanley is exactly the same as Ella! Looks perfect at about 25-25.5kgs but is currently sitting at 27kgs! I honestly blame all of the extra bits and pieces we have her over Christmas.
Honestly, he doesn't look like barrel but I don't think it would harm him to trim up a little
Are we still talking about Maxx
Honestly, he doesn't look like barrel but I don't think it would harm him to trim up a little 
Leanne
Sniffer Dog
- Location
- Shropshire, UK
I think sometimes it depends on the food you feed them as well. Leo was always just on a bog standard food, nothing amazing but nothing terrible either - but the AMOUNT of it I had to feed him was so much more than the amount I have to feed Mas (like a 3:1 ratio) just because of all the fillers in it etc
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
Do you weigh his food @Lab_adore? I weigh all Sky and Red’s food and they get no extras. I used to use a beaker to scoop Sky’s kibble but realised (after we had to get extra weight off) that beaker holds more than you realise. We have to watch Sky’s weight carefully cos she doesn’t walk much these days. By weighing, the amount is always the same. What does your vet say about Maxx’s weight? I took Sky to our vet’s weight clinic - the vet nurses were brilliant at advising and monitoring her weight.
Completely agree. Stanley only gets 165g of kibble a day. Cheaper food is a false economy because Stanley’s bag is a lot more expensive than other brands but we only go through 6kg a month so it balances out
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Agree 100%.
Reading this thread got me thinking it's coming up to 12 months since Cassie was spayed, I've been pleased that she seems to be keeping the weight off, although I do need to be very attentive as I can see it going on her lumbar spine. I too am very lucky with my local vets, I can drop in to see nurses and get her weighed and discuss any concerns free of charge. I do observe her body shape myself, but value that extra pair of eyes.
- Location
- The Hague, The Netherlands
I have to weigh Hunter's food as his weight is key to help reduce joint aches! Our pet shop also has a set of scales, which is great (but not for my wallet..too much temptation!). The feeling of ribs is key with Hunter and his shape of his waistline. Like @Selina27 the extra pair of eyes at the pet shop are good as mine can be a little on the rosy side at times. The snacks for rewards are low fat and are only tiny. I really have to be careful with snacks as his puberty behavior means high interest treats and that means bigger treats. Since the chemical castration I have noticed that he seems hungrier but I refuse to give in to those adorable brown eyes...and the river oozing from his mush! If he has lots of snacks and training then I reduce his main meal weights as well. Difficult at times.
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
The PAH near my parents has a set of scales, too. Not that it's all about the weight, but you can see if you're heading in the right direction, anyway. It's very difficult to build substantial muscle AND lose body fat at the same time (at least in humans, and I don't see why it should be different in dogs), so weighing occasionally while you work on decreasing the BF isn't a terrible idea, if it's convenient. Or a tape measure around his tum would give you a similar metric to track.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Have you really Emily?
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
I think that's a good point to - just after her first season and during and after the dreadful phantom pregnancy Cass was a whopping 32kg, it was about that time I changed to top quality food and by the time she was spayed 8 months later she was a very skinny 25kg.
Must be tricky for you @Loraseal to manage Hunters weight,development and training all at once.
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
