My Gypsy is 15 months old and is on the small size, she a pure breed lab with AKC papers and weighs only 60 pds, I know the AKC stadards for a working female (55-70pds) however I was wondering if at 15 months she is done growing?
I get tired of people saying OH she is so small, she is a excellent hunting dog and is bye far the smartest lab I have ever had the pleasure of owning.
Her size does not impede her ability to retrieve Ducks or Geese.
Will she have a growth spurt before she reaches the age of two.
She has been feed Iams for large breed puppy and now she eats there Adult for large breed ( 3-3 1/2 cups) per day and always eats the food in record time looking for more, the Vet said she is in great health.

Our female, 2.5 years old, is also 60 pounds, and we too get the "she's so small" comments all the time, even though she's right in there for the breed standard.

She put on 2-3 pounds from the time she was 15 months, but otherwise was basically done growing at that age.

Personally, I think 60 pounds is a perfect size for a female lab. Our pup's much more agile and can run a lot faster and longer than any of the 80-90+ pounders we encounter at the dog park.

Our female, 2.5 years old, is also 60 pounds, and we too get the "she's so small" comments all the time, even though she's right in there for the breed standard.

She put on 2-3 pounds from the time she was 15 months, but otherwise was basically done growing at that age.

Personally, I think 60 pounds is a perfect size for a female lab. Our pup's much more agile and can run a lot faster and longer than any of the 80-90+ pounders we encounter at the dog park.


I agree with the agility the smaller dogs have over there large counterpart, I just dont understand if the standard is 55-70 why is it that a large percentage of the female labs I see are over the 70 pound mark.

I just dont understand if the standard is 55-70 why is it that a large percentage of the female labs I see are over the 70 pound mark.
I'm guessing that, over the years, labs have been intentionally bred to be large because, for some reason, it's thought of as a desirable characteristic. (That, and many labs are just plain overweight).

I'm guessing that, over the years, labs have been intentionally bred to be large because, for some reason, it's thought of as a desirable characteristic. (That, and many labs are just plain overweight).

Thanks for your time, I will update my profile on Monday with some photos of Gypsy, I just came across this board today.
Gypsys Hunting partner owned by a friend will retire this year at the young age of 8, Chief is also a female and tips the scale around 80-85 pds, you have to wonder if all that weight adds stress to them.

you have to wonder if all that weight adds stress to them.
It would certainly add stress to their joints.

Look forward to pictures of Gypsy.

I personally like the "smaller" labs. Confirmation breeders tend to discount the smaller pups and keep the larger ones for potential breeding. If you could weigh the labs that you see at an AKC dog show, you would find the majority of them are over the limit for the breed standard. Let's get back to the standard. Field lines have gone crazy and many breeders of these lines boast about the huge size of their dogs. Why? What is the advantage? I can think of many benifits to a smaller dog. I think it's a shame and through years of this practice many orthopedic problems that used to be unusual have become almost common. When I'm out and about with my 6 mo. old puppy (about 50 lbs) I get numerous comments from people that say she is the perfect size for a perfect dog if only she would stay that size. Her dam was not huge and I hope my puppy doesn't spurt up to be huge.

Simba is on the short end of the breed standard height range and weighs in at 65 lb. One day I had someone ask me if he was a miniature lab. Got a chuckle out of that one.

Nala on the other hand, is on the tall end of the breed standard height range but weighs in at 80 lb. Despite my best efforts to get her back to 75, she refuses to lose the extra 5 pounds.

One year we brought the dogs to our club's lab specialty show, and I commented to one of my friends that my two looked so scrawny compared to the dogs in the show ring. I wondered if I should be feeding my dogs more. She said "No, most of them are just fat".

I have been there. I own a english chocolate lab. They tend to be shorter, stockier with a shorter tail and block head. At 12mos, he was thin and lanky, we were very concerned. My vet was too happy with his weight, my breeder on the other hand was NOT. The genetic standards for my male english lab at 1yr was at LEAST 78-85LBS. I think Kingston was just around 70. Anyhow, he put on the weight gradually on his own, I think we did increase his food. He too eat eukanuba large breed 3.5-4cups a day(depending on his excercise that day). He slowed down on his eating, and guess what? I thought ok he is done growing at 1.5 years. He turned 2 this past June, I swear he grew those last few weeks. They go through a wierd adolecent-teen stage. Sounds like your on target. Dont let all the opinions confuse you. Let your dog tell you if he is happy and healthy. Only suggestion I may have; if your dog is eating his meals very fast and possibly looking for more?...give him a tad more, see how it works. Good luck!

How do I add pictures to my profile?
I would like to thank everyone who replied to my quetion.
I Have increased gypys food to 4 cups, 2 in the Am and 2 at supper.
I will monitor her ribs and adjust the amount of food I give her.

Generally a Lab grows in height till one year and then fills out and matures for the next year. But this can vary.

My girls weigh in at 70 and 75 lbs and are at their perfect weight and holding.

I have a question...our girl is half English (dad) and half American (mom).
She looks just a bit blocky but has the longer limbs of her mom. My vet is always telling me to get her weight down. She's 1 1/2 yrs and 83lbs. We feed her only a total of 3 1/2 cups a day (science diet large breed) with the occasional stuffed kong when we will be gone more that a couple of hours. She is active and we keep her going but still it doesn't come off. Personally, I think she looks just fine and if she did loose 13 lbs (yep...that much is what was suggested) I think she would look too skinny. Especially since she has the longer legs already. Any feedback? Thanks!



Heather

PS
Not the greatest pic of her to show her build. When she is standing, there is some definition of her waist.