dee lee Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) Thanks for the support. It just gets tiresome. I always feel like I have to justify myself and be clear that she is a very fit dog. In the past couple of months I have upped her food because of her high activity, so I feel she is just in great condition. The vet is happy with her weight. Golden Rules- I did have to be very careful of how to phrase this post so as not to offend any GR people!! - I am very aware not all goldies run as much as Honey. Macka, she is wet, but she does have a shorter coat on the GR spectrum. Oh actually- that picture was a month ago so all the tummy hair may not have grown back from her desexing. I get that too with my dogs... As i say to them.. Its cos u are used to looking at ya own Fat dogs... I will have to use that!! ETA: Tapua- she is 3. I cant feel individual ribs/hips and she weighs 25kgs, but she is on the small side. Edited February 10, 2010 by ✽deelee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 ETA: Tapua- she is 3. I cant feel individual ribs/hips and she weighs 25kgs, but she is on the small side. 25kg sounds perfect for a smaller Goldie! My boofa is BIG (some guy at the river commented one day "he's a big unit isn't he?" ) and the vet wants to see him at 27kg! I can't seem to get him below 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 A Labrador or Goldie who is actually in condition is a sight to behold and many people will think they are overweight. If you're talking about the show ring Sas, I think some of them are. Fat is not a substitute for muscle and a Lab shown in "hard working condition" does not lack a tuck or a waist. A Lab should be fit and lean enough to do this: Show ring? I'm talking about a dog not where it goes. In Condition = In the right condition - lean and not overweight like most Labs and Goldies are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenWei Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 My two males are about average for a golden, height-wise, Indy, the old man is 29kg, and he's a bit thin (not overly) however as he is slightly arthritic I would prefer him that way. He has so much hair as well so sometimes its a bit hard to tell just how thin he is. Phoenix is around 31-32kg, has a definate waist, he's probably at his perfect weight. From the pics I can't really tell very well, but she looks quite healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Wait until you have a fit lean Whippet! You get used to the skinny dog comments. They should have a waist a tuck up and you should be able to feel their ribs without to much pressure. They should also have good muscle definition and not have spines etc sticking out. If she has all of those things, then she is the correct weight. If you here the comment again, just answer she is perfect it's just that most Labs and Goldens are fat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I've had loads of people say that Lili my Aussie is too skinny. I tell them that she is 22kg, perfect weight for a female Aussie. A lot of people don't realise that most dogs are a bit overweight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 My Lab is lean - I think she has a booty - but she's lean compared to most pet Labs. My vet thinks she's just perfect, and so do I... Idiots in the street/park saying she's skinny just get the reply that she's crossed with a Dingo... lol! (not entirely impossible seeing as she was BYB from Moree) I think Honey looks just right! T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Daisy Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 My GR was a smallish goldie for a boy and he stayed around 26-27kgs his whole life!! I can't tell you how many people commented on him being skinny, I just always replied back "this is what a healthy Golden looks like". He never had any issues with his joints. As long as you and your vet are happy with her weight try not to let others bother you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Last weekend we were at a relatives house and their poor young golden was so obese. She just lay around, or walked very slowly, and took a very long time to get up or lie down. Her head looked way out of proportion and her body was just a huge slab of lard. I estimate she was over 50kgs, and should have weighed around 30kg or possibly less. The owner expressed concern that the dog was being fed too many leftovers by the visitors (she was going around begging). But then explained that she was concerned only for the fact that if the dog had a late dinner it would 'get the runs' during the night, and she didn't want to have to hose out the back room. An hour later I saw her giving the dog a huge plate of leftover meat and bread, enough nutrition for several days. Not sure how I am supposed to tell them that their dog is in a bad way, and its joints will be destroyed by the time it reaches middle age. I think they would take offence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) Nothing wrong with feeling some ribs. The ones who've told you she's too thin probably have fat dogs. I am not a big fan of labs and goldens simply because 90% of the ones I see are fat. When I see a lean fit and healthy one I am reminded of what magnificent working dogs they really are. Edited February 10, 2010 by Kirislin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 deelee if you're unsure, I'd take her to the vet to be weighed and get their opinion. That can depend on the Vet as well. I have seen some dogs that I would describe as fat verging obese, yet informed by the owners the Vet has told them the dog looks fine, weight wise. If the Vets go by scale and then by the average only, or if the Vet is going by what they are used to seeing, this can give misleading information to the dog owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I have seen some of the worst cases of obesity justified to me because the person actually believes that a vet said their dog was at the right weight. Everything you say is countered by "I will trust my vet's advice thanks." You just can't win sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) Close your hand to a tight fist and with the flat of your fingers from the other hand, run them across the knuckles of the fisted hand. You will feel every knuckle, along with the divots in between. That's too thin. Now, open the fisted hand so that it is flat, and run the flat of your fingers of your other hand over your knuckles. You will feel them without needing to push down heavily. That's a good weight indication. Now, turn the once fisted but now opened hand so that it is palm up and run the flat of your fingers over the palm pads that are directly under the knuckles. You won't feel the knuckles without pressing. That's too fat. The dog should have a light covering over its hip bones and looking down at the dog from above you should be able to see a waist. If you can tick the boxes to each of the above, then I would suggest your dog is right weight. This is a generalisation of course (and it does rely on people not having hands that are too pudgy), but it is pretty spot on IMO. I only use weight scales to assess how much a dog is gaining or losing (when I need to moderate weight gain/loss) per week or so, or when I might need to work out medication dosage. Other than that I don't bother with it and I use visual assessment as my guide. Edited February 10, 2010 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamSnag Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) deelee if you're unsure, I'd take her to the vet to be weighed and get their opinion. That can depend on the Vet as well. I have seen some dogs that I would describe as fat verging obese, yet informed by the owners the Vet has told them the dog looks fine, weight wise. If the Vets go by scale and then by the average only, or if the Vet is going by what they are used to seeing, this can give misleading information to the dog owner. I agree.. My nanna has my boys litter sister and she is wayyyy over weight.. The vet she goes and see's seems to think this is correct? WTF Does he have rocks in his head.. Edit.. Cos it sounded like i was sayin Erny had rocks in her head Edited February 10, 2010 by TeamSnag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 Close your hand to a tight fist and with the flat of your fingers from the other hand, run them across the knuckles of the fisted hand. You will feel every knuckle, along with the divots in between. That's too thin.Now, open the fisted hand so that it is flat, and run the flat of your fingers of your other hand over your knuckles. You will feel them without needing to push down heavily. That's a good weight indication. Now, turn the once fisted but now opened hand so that it is palm up and run the flat of your fingers over the palm pads that are directly under the knuckles. You won't feel the knuckles without pressing. That's too fat. The dog should have a light covering over its hip bones and looking down at the dog from above you should be able to see a waist. If you can tick the boxes to each of the above, then I would suggest your dog is right weight. This is a generalisation of course (and it does rely on people not having hands that are too pudgy), but it is pretty spot on IMO. I only use weight scales to assess how much a dog is gaining or losing (when I need to moderate weight gain/loss) per week or so, or when I might need to work out medication dosage. Other than that I don't bother with it and I use visual assessment as my guide. Thanks Erny! Using that method- she is just right! She has a lovely waist, I think part of the problem is that you hardly ever see any dogs with waists let alone GRs. She has relatively no fur atm (its all on my floor... ) so that really accentuates it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerraNik Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I always make a comment when I see a GR or lab that isn't fat! One of admiration of how healthy the dog looks! Forget about people that want to make comments - I agree with the others on here - people are used to seeing fat dogs! If my two dogs didn't have so much fur, I'm sure I would get comments on how skinny they are!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) A few years ago I failed a person's Golden Retriever for an agility intake due to its weight. To say the person was offended was an understatement. I got the standard line I usually hear in that situation: "My vet says my dog's weight is fine". I gave the standard response I give when told that: "And no doubt it is, for lying around a back yard. However, we're training athletes for agility" Anyway, to his credit he took the advice on, increased his dog's exercise and cut back its food. 2 months later he returned and I passed him. He told me his vet had complimented him on his dog's leaner condition. Its tough for vets. Tell your client their dog is too fat and you may never see them again. I've no doubt many try to drop the hint but it falls on deaf ears. Edited February 10, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMolly Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) There is no hard and fast rule and not every dog fits into the standard of what weight a dog should be.. My Miss Molly is just over 9 kilos and for a cavalier most would say she should lose some weight, I did get her down to under 9 kilos but i could see her hip bones so that was too skinny for her. I am happy with how she looks now... She still has a waist but no more hip bones sticking out.. You know by looking at them if they are too skinny.. Just ignore them and yes I agree to many people have fat dogs so they think it is normal... There is nothing worse then seeing an overweight dog trying to get around.. Edited February 10, 2010 by MissMolly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamSnag Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) Wow, TeamSnag- those images are disturbing!! "Ideal" fits with Honey, especially from the top view- bit harder to tell side on with her long fur. That obese pic from the top looks like a flea!! Edited February 10, 2010 by ✽deelee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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