Excellent Articles on Dog weight

[hcelsa]

I see more than 40 novice herding dogs for training in a weeks time...plus other dogs in other activities, and most dogs are carrying more than their optimum weight at any given time. Its very hard to explain to people in a nice way that their dog would be happier long term if he/she was lighter. And in my experience...us Rottweiler folks are some of the worst for allowing our dogs to carry around that extra 5-15 pounds...

I have often had people (especially other Rottweiler owners) comment that they can feel my dogs ribs/spine/hip bones...and its hard to explain that this is a good thing when others seem to be convinced that the dog needs "padding" in those areas!

Here's a couple articles that are worth reading on the subject:
Corpulent Canines
Conditioning your Canine Athlete
Lean Dogs LIVE Longer

And a couple quotes from the life-long study done on lean dogs and life span...
"Study Results … Living Longer
Study findings revealed that the median life span of the lean-fed dogs was extended by 15 percent or nearly two years. Median life span (the age at which 50 percent of dogs in the group died) was 11.2 years for the control group versus 13 years for the lean-fed dogs.
By age 10, only three lean-fed dogs had died, compared to seven control group dogs. At the end of the twelfth year, 11 lean-fed dogs were alive with only one control dog surviving. Twenty-five percent of the lean-fed group survived to 13.5 years, while none of the control group dogs lived to 13.5 years.
The study showed that the lean-fed dogs maintained a significantly leaner body condition from 6 to 12 years of age than the control group dogs, with mean body condition scores between 4 – 5 (ideal) and 6 - 7 (overfed), respectively. On average, the lean-fed group weighed less, had lower body fat, and after a certain age, experienced a two-year delay in the loss of lean body mass as they aged, compared to the control group dogs."

"Ideal Body Condition: Can feel and see outline of ribs. Dog has a waist when viewed from above. Belly is tucked up when viewed from the side."

Just some "food for thought" (yes..pun IS intended )

[Laura]

Good articles, my Vet loves to see my dog because she is thin. He is always telling me to keep her thin they live longer. I feed Chance 4 cups a day and she stays thing I think her metabolism is fast. I wish my metabolism was fast.

[rottsnroses]

Great articles. I also keep Max and Luna nice and lean, and always get positive feedback from our vet about it. He always comments that they are the only rottweilers he sees around here that are not overweight. For some reason, people seem to equate their rottweiler's heftier weight with status.

[hcelsa]

Originally Posted by rottsnroses

Great articles. I also keep Max and Luna nice and lean, and always get positive feedback from our vet about it. He always comments that they are the only rottweilers he sees around here that are not overweight. For some reason, people seem to equate their rottweiler's heftier weight with status.

I think that the majority are just not informed...when we pull out a dog that's in nice lean working condition for comparison sake people always say things like "I thought it was bad if I could feel his/her ribs", or "I don't want people to think I'm abusing my dog by keeping him/her skinny like that". What they don't realize is that its more abusive in the long run to allow them to carry around all that extra weight!

We hear similar comments from our vets as well...one of them is also a herding buddy, and it drives her nuts when she sees people week after week out herding with chubby dogs.

I also think a lot of us Rottweiler folks are in denial about our dogs extra weight (hey...I'm the first to admit that in December when we aren't herding and if I'm not careful my dogs start looking "thicker"...from a distance it IS aesthetically pleasing to my eyes).

[jasper's_mommy]

Funny, I came to this forum because I am a bit concerned about Heidi's weight. She is very thin. She looks good, her coat is shiny, she has tons of energy, but she is thin. I thought that once she got a little older she would fill out, but nope. She's never been a big eater, but aside from that, I think she also has a fast metabolism. Guess I'll just try not to worry about it.