Guest Labradork Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 (edited) I would like to build up my Lab puppy so that she will look more a stocky, English Labrador. I'm guessing she needs more protein, but I'm afraid of overdoing it - and my vet warned me against feeding her a diet that is too high in protein. My vet was concerned that my Lab would grow too fast and put a strain on her joints. So far, she looks more like a gangly, American type of Labrador... She has a long narrow body, long legs, narrow chest and shoulders, small delicate head, narrow muzzle, thin tail and hardly any muscle tone. I would like her to look stockier and heavier, but well-toned and not fat. She has a gorgeous personality and lovely soft, dark eyes, and she is well-boned with giant, compact feet... So maybe there's a stocky, English Labrador in there somewhere? I don't really mind the way she is, but I'm worried that I might be somehow preventing her from reaching her full, genetic potential. And I would be really upset if I was doing something wrong. Does that make sense? She will be 5 months old next week and she weighs 20 kilos. Edited October 31, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I would like to build up my Lab puppy so that she will look more a stocky, English Labrador. I'm guessing she needs more protein, but I'm afraid of overdoing it - and my vet warned me against feeding her a high protein diet. My vet is concerned that "Poppy" will grow too fast and put a strain on her joints. So far, Poppy is looking more like a gangly, American type of Labrador... She has a long narrow body, long legs, narrow chest and shoulders, small delicate head, narrow muzzle, thin tail and hardly any muscle tone. I would like her to look stockier and heavier, but well-toned and not fat. She has a gorgeous personality and lovely soft, dark eyes, and she is well-boned with giant, compact feet... So I'm hoping there's a stocky, English Labrador in there somewhere? I really don't mind the way she is, but I'm worried that I might be somehow preventing her from reaching her full, genetic potential. Does that make sense? Poppy is 5 months old next week. Any advice/feedback would be appreciated :) Substance is genetically determined and there is no way to predict it in a puppy of any breed or to change the genetic outcome. Her parents are the best guide to what she should end up as. It is perfectly normal for a 5 month old puppy to by gangly. Do not try to push her growth, stick to what the breeder recommends. Many bitches do not fully mature until they have a litter, so if she to be desexed she will probably never be as stocky as a brood bitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Thanks, dancinbcs... I have been very careful with her diet and I have been trying to grow her steadily and slowly. She seems to be growing differently to every other Lab I have owned. All my Labs have been stocky from puppyhood. This is her mother... I don't have a photo of her father, but he is tall, dark and handsome :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 (edited) I forgot to say... She won't be desexed until she is 18 - 24 months old and I am feeding her what the breeder recommended. Edited October 31, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 As mentioned she will be what she will be. Definitely don't try to 'build her up' as you could do irreparable damage to her that way. Keep her lean and growing slowly. That is the healthiest for her growing bones and joints. What her substance and build will be is not something that you can change. Give her time to grow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 As mentioned she will be what she will be. Definitely don't try to 'build her up' as you could do irreparable damage to her that way. Keep her lean and growing slowly. That is the healthiest for her growing bones and joints. What her substance and build will be is not something that you can change. Give her time to grow. I don't have a photo of her father, but he is tall, dark and handsome What lines are in her pedigree? perhaps go back over a few generations , and see what her forbears looked like ..are there any which have the appearance you want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenWei Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Babies are mean't to be gangly. Henry was VERY gangly - he's a golden but it would be similar for labs. Henry at 5 months approx.. (sorry the photo is so small) Henry @ 15 months and still has maturing to do (and could probably do with slightly more weight) I expect that Henry won't finish maturing for another year or so. This is Henry's father: http://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=277914 His mother is also fairly stocky. I also agree to look at dogs behind his mum and dad from the pedigrees, especially the 4 grand-parents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Is she from Lukilab? At five months she will look long and lanky, we often call it the uglies. :laugh: Don't worry, keep going as you are. Maturity and hormones will help, but you don't need to add to her food unless you and the breeder feel she is too skinny- then you should increase it in a balanced way- but thin whilst growing is the way to go for young labs. If the breeding is there, it will come out. But don't expect to see her true form until 15-24 months. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara8430 Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I wouldnt be worried at 5 months, my girl who is 13 months, had 1 season is just starting to thicken out and look more stocky english labrador. Honestly just keep feeding what your breeder recommended and im sure once she is 12 months + and had a season she will fill out nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) Yep. It's just the 'uglies' at 5 months old I would think. I don't know much about Lab's but most BC's certainly have been hit the ugly stick at around that age too. All legs & just plan out of proportion. My girl was really gorky at that age. She looked awful, really leggy with a little head & this whopping big tail. She is simply gorgeous now & yes I am very bias :p I wouldn't be trying to speed anything up Just follow what the breeder has said to feed her. Too many things can go very badly wrong if you start to mess around with her too much IMHO :) Edited November 1, 2012 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) Thanks so much for the replies... I sought out Poppy especially because she has the bloodlines I like - all stocky, English types. And I researched her grandparents and great-grandparents, who are also stocky English types, and I met Poppy's grandmother who is a ginormous stocky, English type. So that's why I was so surprised that she is so lanky. But my vet said 'lean and lanky' is a good thing for a Labrador and not to worry. Also, I made a mistake about her weight: she weighs 17 kilos, not 20. ETA Sorry, I should have said: Thanks for your advice - I won't change her diet and I will just keep going v e r y s l o w l y :) Edited November 1, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Thanks so much for the replies... I sought out Poppy especially because she has the bloodlines I like - all stocky, English types. And I researched her grandparents and great-grandparents, who are also stocky English types, and I met Poppy's grandmother who is a ginormous stocky, English type. So that's why I was so surprised that she is so lanky. But my vet said 'lean and lanky' is a good thing for a Labrador and not to worry. Also, I made a mistake about her weight: she weighs 17 kilos, not 20. ETA Sorry, I should have said: Thanks for your advice - I won't change her diet and I will just keep going v e r y s l o w l y :) Have you seen any photos of youngsters from those bloodlines at the same age as yours? They may well all go through the lanky stage before getting it together. Some lines of dogs are chunky monkeys from babyhood others go through different growth stages before they get to their finished form. You cannot make her what she isn't so just let her grow and develop at her own pace, being lean and lanky will no doubt be better for her joints :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Thanks so much for the replies... I sought out Poppy especially because she has the bloodlines I like - all stocky, English types. And I researched her grandparents and great-grandparents, who are also stocky English types, and I met Poppy's grandmother who is a ginormous stocky, English type. So that's why I was so surprised that she is so lanky. But my vet said 'lean and lanky' is a good thing for a Labrador and not to worry. Also, I made a mistake about her weight: she weighs 17 kilos, not 20. ETA Sorry, I should have said: Thanks for your advice - I won't change her diet and I will just keep going v e r y s l o w l y :) Have you seen any photos of youngsters from those bloodlines at the same age as yours? They may well all go through the lanky stage before getting it together. Some lines of dogs are chunky monkeys from babyhood others go through different growth stages before they get to their finished form. You cannot make her what she isn't so just let her grow and develop at her own pace, being lean and lanky will no doubt be better for her joints :) Thanks, Crisovar... That's a good idea - I will do some research :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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