Advise on getting weight off of a Rottweiler

[German Vanegas]

First of all, most dogs love to eat...but the handler is the one that has control over the feeding...so if your Rott is overweight you have to take control, because he won't! It is up to you.

The dog has to be proportionated and well-balanced according to its height. Why you think 8 to 10 lbs will be the right amount to loose? You said his current weight is 120 lb. but you like to see it at 115, that's only 5 lb less.

Anyway, I don't recommend a low fat diet on a 4 years old Rott, because it will loose a lot of much needed protein intake. What I would do is cut-off completely (all together!) with snacks and treats... if you can't help it just give him half of what normally you give him, but none at all would work best. NO TABLE SCRAPS!

Plenty of vigourous exercise is required. If your Rott is in healthy conditions it should be able to walk 45 to 60 minutesTWICE a day, which in turn will help you to stay in shape too. Running, swimming, jumping, and all similar activities, will help him to burn the extra fat. If you are "couch potato" it won't help your dog either.

Humm..if I were the sensitive type, I might take your tone as insulting. However, I feel the need to 'defend' myself and my Rottweiler. We run 4 miles a day, and Rosco is quite capable of keeping up with me. In spite of the rigerous exercise, he still needs to loose a few pounds. I am not the only one who feeds him so I am not totally in control of his food consumption. That is why I was asking for tips and advise. When I said he was on a low fat diet, he is on "Sensible Choice - lamb and rice Reduced Calorie", which I researched before put him on this food. I appreciate what you are saying but don't appreciate the 'judgemental tone'. I just want the best for my dog and none of us can be faulted for that.

[Orville Story]

Any rottie running 4 miles a day can not be to heavy. You may be putting muscle on this boy which is OK, 120lbs at 4 years old is a good weight.

[German Vanegas]

Jodi,
There are all kinds of people in this board, some are the "gentle and diplomatic" type, some are like me "to the point and sometimes blunt". No harm is meant at all, it's just different ways to express personal opinions. Having said that, I hope you bear with me.

Anyway, maybe your dog is not over weight at all, maybe it's well-proportionated to its height for an adult Rottie. Be careful not to fall into the "thin-skinny" fad of today. I do not advocate big heavy dogs, but I believe Rotts are muscled set bordering with stocky, which it's far-off from being fat or obese, the latter being totally unacceptable. In any case, over snacking is no good for any Rott, try to control that.

By the way, "low calorie reduced" diets, even from premium dog food such as "Sensible Choice", uses grains as their first ingredient, thus lowering the protein intake. Check the food label and you'll see. Your 4 years old male Rott needs high quality protein to maintain muscle, specially when it exercises the way you described it. Peace on Earth!

[Lady B]

Jodi: What does Roscoe look like? Can you feel his ribs and spine with gentle pressure? Is his muscle well toned? Does his coat shine? I never worry about the poundage on my Rotties but rather on how they look. If they look well toned, shiny coat and I can feel those ribs and spine then I don't worry about it. 'Sides which, muscle mass weighs more than fat any ole day!!

If you two are running 4 miles a day I'll bet Roscoe looks great! My two ALWAYS lick their bowls and would eat until their tummies burst but Mom won't let 'em!!

HELP! Rosco is a Rottweiler and he LOVES to eat. However, he needs to loose about 8-10 lbs. I have him on a low fat diet, "Sensible Choice" dog food. His treats are very limited. I exercise him all the time. Can you tell me what snacks or foods will help fill him up? I hate it when he licks his supper dish... but I want him to be at his best. Any advise you can offer will be appreciated. Bigger is not better in this case either. Rosco is 4 years old and weighs 120 lbs. I'd like to see him at 115. Thanks fellow Rottweiler lovers/owners.

[DogTeam]

Jodi, what is Rosco's size? Is he 25, 26, or 27 inches tall?? What's his head like [large or small]?? Does he have a waistline? If you run 4 miles a day Orville said it... he is in shape... if you want him to look cut and he is not you need to try salmon! Yes caned salmon to cut his muscles. Muscle mass is heavier than fat mass. If his size is correct then you're waisting your time trying to take the pounds off. With all the running he is doing he should be able to pass an "AD"... fat dogs don't pass the "AD"... http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

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Gene Ellison
Home of DogTeam
Rising Starr, BH, HCT, TT, CGC
Black Diamond XVI, BH, CGC
E.T. Vom Woodland, BH, ZtP

[Lady B]

A pound is a pound is a pound. A pound of muscle is smaller than a pound of fat.

It would be the same for any animal body. More muscle = more weight = smaller size. Fat just takes up more.

[This message has been edited by Lady B (edited December 29, 1998).]


[Note: This message has been edited by Cosmo]

[German Vanegas]

A pound of fat tissue is the same as a pound of muscle tissue as far as weight is concerned.

However, muscle mass is tighter and dense, while fat mass is the oppossite. So a muscled set Rott looks athletic conditioned compared to a fat one, obviously, visibly out of shape.



[Note: This message has been edited by Cosmo]