The weight debate

[Laurelin]

So when I went to drop off the dogs I mentioned that Beau weighed in at 8 lbs now and Summer 7.6 lbs. Okay fast forward to when I picked them up, the breeder told me both those needed to lose weight.

Well, at first I was like... no way would they need to lose weight. Then I thought about it trying to be level-headed and I still can't see that they should lose any weight. Both of them are bigger than the other dogs we have. Summer is 11 inches tall and 7.6 lbs. Beau is slightly shorter but he's stockier built. Beau has NO fat on him that I can feel. His ribs are easily felt and there is no fat there at all.

Summer is lighter than she has been. I can agree she needs a touch of conditioning but her weight imo feels good. she is very solid too, but has a little teeny bit of fat over the ribs. You can still feel them very easy though. When I got her she was about 6.6 lbs, so has gained 1 lb between age 3 and 6. But I think she was underweight when I got her to be honest.

Honestly if I were to say any of my dogs needed to lose weight or be conditioned it would be Rose and Mia.

So I'm not sure the point except that I'm disagreeing with the breeder. Anyone have any thoughts?

Here's Summer nowadays:

Running pics are the only ones without hair in the way.

Right after getting her:

Imo, she has muscle tone now that she lacked back then. I dunno... thoughts?

 

[HayleyMarie]

Flip. I think she looks beautiful. Really if she is physically fit and can do everything physically I see no problem with her weight. Now if she got tired really easily and was huffing and puffing like mad after a little romp then I would be worried. But I think her weight is fine and she looks like a sexy fox!

 

[AllieMackie]

I think she looks good. She has a nice tummy tuck, and I'm sure you know to feel them and to know what feels healthy and what doesn't. Plus, some dogs are just denser than others. Finn's 40lbs and in prime condition according to his vet (and me), and there are other dogs his height and trimness who I've met who weigh more, simply because their muscles are more dense or whathaveyou.

I think she looks fab.

 

[Xandra]

Do you have any pics from above?

If you can feel her ribs, and she's got a nice tuck, and both you and her are comfortable at that weight... it's fine IMO.

 

[Laurelin]

Thanks! That's kind of what I've come up with. Mia is over 6 lbs and Summer is a good inch or two taller than Mia and quite a bit longer too. She and Beau are also just more dense and muscled whereas Mia and nard and Rose are more lankily built.

I do want to get Mia a touch more conditioned. I think it's funny my concern is with the dog that wasn't mentioned LOL. I think some of it may have to do with maturity though with Mia.

 

[Beanie]

I had somebody tell me my dog is fat and needs to lose weight, and he was actually at a weight where his hip bones were starting to stick out more than I felt comfortable with. He weighed in under at the vet and I didn't think too much of it - his ribs felt fine but I gave him a bath and was sort of startled by how his hip bones looked. But they insisted he needed to basically be starved. No thank you... I have no desire to starve my dog so he's a skeleton.

She does look more toned to me so maybe they're going by looks more than how she feels? Some people mistake a dog having muscle and being toned for one being overweight.

 

[Laurelin]

Summer has this fear of people standing over her. I don't know why. So it's hard to get a good above shot because she hunches her back.

This was the best I could find and it's not helpful!

From the side but that coat makes it hard to tell lol

 

[Catsi]

If you can feel her ribs, and she's got a nice tuck, and both you and her are comfortable at that weight... it's fine IMO.

I would say the same thing. Perhaps it is the extra muscle tone that is giving the impression of more weight??

 

[milos_mommy]

From the pictures, she looks fine to me (and looks like she may be...not UNDERweight in the before you got her pic, but like she could gain a little.)

I think she's fine, I'd just watch it and make sure she doesn't gain more.

 

[Laurelin]

Here's some better pic comparisons:

She looked pretty ridiculous back then

Now:

[/QUOTE]

Then:

Now:

Then:

Now(ish, she's still about this weight.):

 

[Saeleofu]

Can you get a picture of her in that pose and that wet now? Don't tell Summer I told you to :rofl1:

Honestly she looks fine to me.

 

[LabLove]

Even though she has filled out a bit, normal weight does have a range. I think she looks great.