How Skinny Is Too Skinny?

[mjk05]

I think your boy is just fine, jaybeece. Its nice to see a dog with a waist, actually. Especially for a large breed youngster- its better for them to be on the light side than heavy. As long as they are active and fit, shiny coats etc, there's nothing to worry about, I reckon.

Some of our youngsters seem to go through a real scrawny phase at about 10 months- 2 years, and we have a couple who are always skinny, but that's their natural weight, they do best at a lighter weight and if they get much heavier they lose fitness and stamina.

We do get occasional comments at the park, especially in summer or when the dogs have been working hard and are very fit, but then the majority of city pet dogs tend to be on the overweight side, so people aren't used to seeing the other end of the spectrum.

Mud, a naturally skinny dog:

Jake, a youngster at the scrawny period:

Lethal, an older dog, about as heavy as I'd want to have him:

Jack, 10 years old: