Is his weight alright?

[TahlzK]

This is bothering me.

First question, if you saw this dog in person, what would you think of his weight?

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I always thought he looked rather well. Honestly, I wish he could be slimmer but I refuse to do that because he gets way to boney.

Is he too skinny? That's my concern. When I pet him, I can ever so slightly feel his spine bones, probably the 4-5 end ones. I can feel his hip bones slightly and I can ever so slightly feel his ribs (they aren't poking out or anything) I can just feel them slightly.

When it comes to Serenity, I can't feel any bone. I can't feel the spine, hips of ribs.

I don't think he's in bad shape because if he was, I'd see bones poking out but I don't. I can just slightly feel them. Is that a bad thing? Should I put more weight on him?

I think I know he's fine or I'd be seeing bone stick out but is it normal to feel what I can? Should I put more weight on him? Thought it couldn't ask to check and make sure he's where he should be weight wise.

Thanks

 

[TahlzK]

Sunny is a Lab x.

I do believe its his build but I do know there was a stage where he had a lot more weight on him and I couldn't feel bone but he looked so fat and he got tired so much quicker.

 

[Shai]

It's always hard to tell in pictures especially since it's hard to see how much coat they really have but he looks fine to me. I wouldn't be trying to put more weight on him. You're supposed to be able to tell they have bones under there

 

[TahlzK]

Thanks! I don't want to put more weight on him honestly. I don't want to make him loose any ether because I have always struggled with his weight and at this weight, I'm pretty comfortable. He looks way to skinny if he's skinnier then this.

 

[FG167]

I think he looks very fit and athletic.

 

[TahlzK]

Thank you! That's nice to hear since some one just told me he looks fat. I really don't know what his weight here is really considered.

 

[Dekka]

Without putting hands on him..

He might be a little fat. Does he feel squishy? Your dog's sides should feel like the back of your hand (under the fur). If he feels squishy then I would say he's too fat.

In the pics he looks good. But its hard with lab coats to tell either side of ideal.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

You also have to take into consideration the fact that he's older. I can see he has some extra skin there that doesn't really count as weight/fat (in my estimation). Chloe has flaps of extra skin on her sides and her breasts sag (we assume she was bred before we had her, probably more than once) so its hard to really tell with her. She is a bit over weight right now, but not fat. She has a tuck up and when you look at her from above her sides dip in (for lack of a better term).

 

[Emily]

Is he too skinny? That's my concern. When I pet him, I can ever so slightly feel his spine bones, probably the 4-5 end ones. I can feel his hip bones slightly and I can ever so slightly feel his ribs (they aren't poking out or anything) I can just feel them slightly.

When it comes to Serenity, I can't feel any bone. I can't feel the spine, hips of ribs.

No, he actually sounds healthy but thicker than I prefer to keep my dogs, tbh. I wouldn't be worried about putting weight on him, he definitely doesn't sound too skinny to me.

Serenity sounds quite overweight.

 

[Doberluv]

I think he looks just fine.

 

[Maxy24]

I think he looks wonderful.

Your description of feeling him makes it sound like he could stand to lose a few, bones should be easy to feel while the dog is standing.

But honestly I don't think he's going to have any problems by staying at his current weight, he certainly doesn't seem fat or underweight. Looks perfect to me.

 

[Saeleofu]

He looks to be in good condition to me, without actually feeling him. He certainly doesn't need to gain anything from those pictures.

When it comes to Serenity, I can't feel any bone. I can't feel the spine, hips of ribs.

Then Serenity is much too fat, and needs to lose weight.


Gavroche has a build that has part of his spine sticking out when he's at a good weight. Everything else looks and feels normal, but those few vertebrae sticking out make him looking super skinny to some people. He's nearly 60 pounds before that goes away, and by then he's WAY too fat. He's usually 53 pounds. He's 54 right now because I want him to have just a bit extra in the cold since our heater's not on yet (it can be in the mid to lower 50s in my bedroom at night).

 

[TahlzK]

Dekka; His sides feel quite firm to me. I do think he may have a bit of weight to loose, I just don't want his bones sticking out! People already ask me if he was a abused rescue dog ..

DM; I didn't think about his age but that's a good point. He defiantly has some loose skin! Thanks for explaining about Chloe, gave me a bit to think about. Do you have a side shot of her by any chance?

Emily; Thanks! I do prefer him to be slimmer but he really starts to show more bone and everyone complains about how thin he is. I may give him a chance to loose a bit of weight and see how he looks. I defiantly won't let him gain weight! I'll post pics up of Serenity, maybe you can tell me how overweight you think she is. She looks pretty good to me. I try to keep her at a good weight since we do a lot of exercise.

Thanks Doberluv!

Maxy; Thanks! I'll give him the chance to loose a bit of weight and I'll post him up later to check he still looks good. I worry he'll look to thin his he has a funny build.

Sael; Alright, he defiantly won't gain anymore weight then! Thanks for explaining about Gav, I find that quite interesting and it makes me feel better!

I have two questions.

If I make him loose some weight, how much bone is unhealthy to see? When he's in action? He was skinnier then this months and months ago and I could see some spine/ribs in these photos. I'll try and find them after work. A lot of people didn't like how he looked.

What would you class Serenity? I don't mind trying to make her loose weight, I just thought she was at a decent weight. I've never felt her bones. These are the best shots I have;

 

[Fran27]

They both look good to me.

 

[thehoundgirl]

They look fine to me.

 

[Saeleofu]

Those pictures of Serenity show her at a very good weight, especially the 4th and 5th ones. I'm not sure how you aren't able to feel her bones...is she very muscular?

 

[TahlzK]

Thanks Fran and THG!

Thank you! I'm happy to hear you say that. I don't know ether but I can't. After I petted Sunny and felt his bones, I started petting her and I can't feel bones at all. I honestly can't answer the muscle question, I don't know how to tell of a Kelpie has muscles, lol. I haven't worked her enough to allow her to get muscles.

 

[xpaeanx]

To me, they both look to be a good weight.

 

[AllieMackie]

Looks fine to me. A bit heavier than I keep my dog but I certainly wouldn't put him in the overweight category.

Opinions always vary. I thought Finn was gaining a little more chub than I'd like and the stand-in vet told me he was too skinny. Meh.

 

[TahlzK]

^ You make a good point. Everyone has different opinions on what a dog should weigh/look like.

Sunny is 39Ibs so he I'm going to get him around 35Ibs and see how he looks. Maybe 33Ibs. Guess I'll wait and see what he looks like at 35Ibs but I think that should be a good weight.

Serenity is 28lbs. I think she's at a good weight. I really don't think I should change her.