Food=Muscle Tone.

[nikkiluvsu15]

At least that is what people think.

Everyone always comments on Harleigh's muscle tone (which is very kind of them!), but they always ask what food I feed to get her in such good shape because they want their dog to build muscle too.

Because her muscle tone is 100% the food, of course. Has absolutely nothing to do with her exercise that I provide for her?! GAH. I'm sure food does play somewhat of a role, but I like to think I play a role in how my dog looks too haha

It probably shouldn't bother me, but lately it seems I'm getting that ALL.THE.TIME. Bad analogy I'm sure, but it is kind of like asking a photographer what camera they have because their pictures are SO awesome! Yeah, because the person actually controlling the camera has nothing to do with that

I'm not the only one that gets this, am I?

 

[sassafras]

"I feed her exercise."

 

[Saeleofu]

Of course food as SOME impact (I've yet to see a nicely muscled dog being feed Kibbles n Bits), but all too many people don't realize it takes exercise too! Ugh.

For the record, Harleigh looks amazing!

 

[JacksonsMom]

Harleigh DOES look amazing! And people are just dumb if they think they can feed a certain food and magically have a muscular in-shape dog. I can eat as healthy as possible, but if I'm not working out, there's not going to be muscle or tone to my body.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

She looks fabulous!


(food totally effects how my dogs look from raw to kibble)

 

[MericoX]

Harleigh looks amazing! I wish my guys had half that kind of muscle!

That's like how people don't believe it when you say you ate better and exercised to lose weight.. everyone's out there for that easy/quick fix to everything.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

It probably shouldn't bother me, but lately it seems I'm getting that ALL.THE.TIME. Bad analogy I'm sure, but it is kind of like asking a photographer what camera they have because their pictures are SO awesome! Yeah, because the person actually controlling the camera has nothing to do with that

Funny you should say that. That happens to me ALL THE TIME. All the people in our store that come in to print and see my print say I must have a great camera. All the volunteer events I've never gotten a single compliment on myself and all were about my equipment :rofl1:

 

[Southpaw]

"I feed her exercise."

Hahahah I like that.

People want the easy fix, I bet if you rambled off the things you ACTUALLY do to keep her in shape, they'd go "oh... I don't wanna do that..."

It's like when I get "she's well behaved for a boxer." Well I had to train her. Trust me, she didn't just come that way. Doesn't really make a difference what breed she is or isn't. I don't know why it's hard for people to grasp that for most things, yes you have to actually put in some effort to get the results you want.

 

[Grab]

She looks fabulous!


(food totally effects how my dogs look from raw to kibble)

This. Nog's on raw and he's developed a lot more muscle tone without any real change in activity

 

[kady05]

Food definitely can effect how they look.. all of my dogs have MUCH better muscle tone being raw fed.

Of course, we also go to the park 4 (sometimes more) times a week and they trot/RUN for easily 3 miles.

That's kind of like the people who see my pictures and say "OMG, what camera do you use?! I want it!" as if my camera is what does all of the work

 

[ACooper]

He looks super buff! Very handsome!

Food does play a role, and so do genetics (just like people IMO) but I agree with you on it being the exercise that helps the most! Silly people!

That's like how people don't believe it when you say you ate better and exercised to lose weight.. everyone's out there for that easy/quick fix to everything.

EXACTLY! About 15 years ago I went total health kick for my sisters wedding. I trimmed and toned down quite a bit and you would not BELIEVE the questions. Like you said, when you say "Eating better and plenty of exercise" the light goes out in their eyes.......you've lost them 'cause they don't want to put that much effort in, they just want the prize

 

[Gypsydals]

She looks fabulous!


(food totally effects how my dogs look from raw to kibble)

I know my boys especially Ivan look way different on raw then they did kibble. He holds his muscle tone much better now and we can get more effect out of less exercise. So to a certain extent I do think food plays a part in how they look. You still need to exercise to get toning.

 

[nikkiluvsu15]

With Harleigh food does play somewhat of a role, but her muscle tone didn't change at all when we switched off of RAW.

People want the easy fix, I bet if you rambled off the things you ACTUALLY do to keep her in shape, they'd go "oh... I don't wanna do that..."

Yeah, that is so true! And when I do tell them what food I feed they automatically turn their nose up at it because they are NOT spending that much money on a dog's food.

 

[Toller_08]

Food definitely does play a role of sorts, but exercise plays a much bigger role! Harleigh looks awesome. I need to get my guys in better condition now that it's spring. They're all slightly squishy (not fat at all, but they are a bit out of shape) since I was lazy this winter.

 

[ravennr]

I agree with raw being the diet that promotes muscle, as long as you're feeding it in a fashion that would force the animal to actually use those muscles in the first place. Of course you'll see a bigger improvement, as far as muscles go, when you feed meaty bones and such than ground raw. Even Rockefeller had a lot of muscle tone improvement very quickly, in his neck mostly, from the actions of tearing and ripping the meat from the bone and crushing the bones themselves. It's his back half that didn't change much, hehe.


But yes, people want a quick fix. I'm sure they mean well, but obviously that type of question makes me think they bought the dog just to have it. Just something that needs food and water and a trip outside once in a while to relieve itself, rather than an animal that needs actual enrichment and work put into it.

 

[katzand]

I agree that people ask about the food because the exercise is obvious.
It is one of the things people can control easily.
I always ask what people are doing to keep their dogs looking so good and lively when it is really noticeable.

Congrats on having such a great looking dog. He looks like alot of fun.