110 pounds and Up FAT?

[VON KIRCHER]

I have heard time and time again, members say that dogs that way X amount, say 130-150 are fat. I agree that a Rott this big is out of standard, but to say is "fat" is inaccurate. Just like in the nutrition and bodybuilding world, heavy weight does not equal fat.
I just saw a well, well muscle rott, that had little to no fat, weigh in at 138 pounds. This male was not too tall, but was rippling with muscle. Aside from a lot of play, and bite work, this dogs build must be genetic. It did have good size bone structure, and it carried the weight well.
Just thought I'd get opinions.

[Bruce Lanthier]

My dog weighs 125 lbs and he is not fat. If I was some simple ass Southern MD redneck I would let him put on another 20lbs so I could brag that he was 145 lbs but then he would be fat.

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by Bruce Lanthier
My dog weighs 125 lbs and he is not fat. If I was some simple ass Southern MD redneck I would let him put on another 20lbs so I could brag that he was 145 lbs but then he would be fat.

ROFLMAO! :D :D

[VON KIRCHER]

Understandable, but to say a dog that weighs 145-150 is automatically fat in incorrect.

Now I do believe that most Rotts that are up in weight are fat and out of shape but to assume it is wrong.

[spidey]

to say a dog that weighs 145-150 is automatically fat in incorrect

Of course. "Fat" and "weight" aren't necessarily related to each other (this relates directly to the "Body Mass Index" idiocy in humans, according to which many fit, very muscular athletes are considered "obese", because it's based solely on height and weight) the only indicator of whether an animal is overweight or not is by looking at it and feeling it, if you can't feel the ribs, the dog is overweight, regardless of how much it weighs.

[VON KIRCHER]

Exactly...well put.

[los1]

As far as the weight issues go about dogs well isn't it also the bone structure of the dog?I mean if the dog has big bones can't it weigh 145 or more and still be fit and healthy?True it will be out the breed standard but how many humans fit the standard we have???????Yup over weight might not get you in the cheerleaders and same for the dog shows(lol)Jokes aside I've come across some huge rottie's and simple put they look great.Keep in mind everyone is not looking for a show dog some people go looking for huge rottie's and although they have breeding issue's if they exsit they need love too.

[Judi W]

In my experience, those Rottweilers who are described as weighing 145-150 pounds have usually not been weighed individually on a proper digital scale. And of course, they are all also described as not fat.

[TrishB]

Well, Parker, at 14 months of age weighed in at 111 lbs. He's in perfect shape for his age. He's 26" at the shoulder.

I think the knee jerk reaction to "Yeah - my buddy has a dog that's 160 lbs. blah blah blah blah"

We just can't help to react. We hear it way too often.

Things to keep in mind are:

1) The average person is NOT a good judge of weight in a dog. I can't tell you how many people have asked me "How much does he weigh? 130lbs?" :p

2) The average person will 'up guess' weight, because they feel that heavy = good.

3) Badly bred, puppy mill dogs are often out of standard (sadly, they probably out number our well bred dogs).

4) Badly bred, puppy mill dogs are typically owned by people who don't know how big their dogs SHOULD be or how to care for the fitness levels of their dogs. (If they were more knowledgable, they wouldn't have gotten their dogs from a pet store, puppy mill, newspaper ad, etc.)

It's not to say that a badly bred dog can't be fit - but you have to understand the variables that come into play when you hear 'weight' comments.

[Bruce Lanthier]

To assume anything is not a good practice but to assume based on experience is not all that bad. I think as you meet more 150lb rottweilers that you'll find fat is the rule and well muscled is the exception.

[VON KIRCHER]

Exactly. It seems that everyone adds 20-30 pounds when they see a Rotty. The dog I was speaking of was on a UPS digital scale. I was acutally surprised he weighed that much.

A co worker brought a pic of here BYB Rotty male, and the people that looked at the pics were saying, "He has to weigh at least 120 lbs."

Like its been said, bigger does not mean better, and associate bigger with good.

[VON KIRCHER]

Bruce I agree. Just as with people in our current society, if a male is 5-8 and weighs 205, 9 out of 10 times that guy is fat. Not all the time, but most of the time.

[frontierrots]

Sitting on a scale and feeling the dog is the only way to the true weight and being declared not fat:)

But seriously guys. Have you noticed that not a single solitary person you meet can judge weight accurately? I mean I can look at a Rott- in person- and be within a few pounds of it's weight. The average person is almost always 20 or more lbs off.

As an example I had my 23" 83lb bitch in to be spayed 3 weeks ago. As the tech and I are standing in the parking lot 2 guys asked "She's a pure Rottie isn't she?" I let the tech talk thank you! And she confirmed that Xena was indeed "pure" to which they said "she's a big one huh? What's she go? a hundred lbs?" The tech said no, more like 80 and the guys were in stunned disbelief LOL:D

I had my male Bill 25" and 115lbs (and going to lose 5 lbs for fall hiking) at the vets last week to weigh him to make sure my estimate was correct (it was) and I had 3 different people ask me if he was over 140lbs!!! God Lord! Bill over 140? I can't even picture that blob vision

And the best one of the month. Someone today asked me if 6 month old 22 1/2" Bea "has to weigh at least 80lbs huh?" LOL LOL I said not hardly, try 58lbs:p

[los1]

I believe people always use the comaparision method too. so if 1 dog weighs like 115 and is tall a shorter 1 that weighs the same will be larger but they will assume it weighs more.Some owners do boost up weight but honestly after 100 lbs most guess anyways(lol)the most accurate weight I ever got was when I could lift and hold my puppy and substract the difference after that it's guess work anyway.The vet office ,it's a guessing game too they always go with the first peak reading but the dog is always moving(lol) all in all try to kept the dog fit no matter what .Most people thinking is if they own a large breed dog than the bigger they say their's is the better(lol)

[frontierrots]

My dogs do a sit stay or a down stay on the scale , which at my vets, is calibrated by the state for accuracy. So I know my dog's weights are true :)

But spaz o hyper dogs who never leave their yards except for yearly vet visit? Sure they're weights are likly off a tad due to the lack of scale manners