Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    2,366
    Thanked: 1096

    Too lean? Too fat?

    2 questions:

    1) Is there any BMI-type of metric for canines and any associated recommendations from the experts?

    2) With regards to labs... what are your objective indicators of a good weight?

    I have ben told that you want to be able to feel the two last ribs when you run your hand lightly along the dog's sides. My understanding is that you really don't expect to see a "tuck-up" in a lab.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,947
    Thanked: 2421
    Depends on the dog in question.

    From the top, you don't want them to look like a sausage. You shouldn't have to feel too hard for ribs.

    Field Labs can have a severe to moderate tuck-up. Conformation types might have a mild tuck-up or none at all, but in some of the photos I've seen lately from field events, they might have a mild tuck-up while running even if they don't have one at all while standing.

  3. #3
    Moderator
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Greenwood, Delaware
    Posts
    7,348
    Thanked: 7148
    If you can find a copy of of Mary Roslin-Williams book, "The Dual Purpose Labrador" go to chapter 9. In the second paragraph she states "type is what make a Labrador a Labrador, and not just another dog. Conformation is what enables a dog to do the particular job for which he is bred, i.e. his "make and shape". The rest of the chapter goes on to explain how a Lab should be built and why. Various line drawings show what is correct, and what is incorrect.

    For me this is the diffinative book on Labradors. If you can find a copy, and it's not easy, get one.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog ZoeysMommy's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    1,342
    Thanked: 729
    From just aaverage pet owners point a view with no interest in competiton, etc, i want to feel ribs with light pressure, see a waist line but not to extreme and I dont want to see to much of a tucked up tummy on my lab but i dont want to see a tummy either if that makes sense.

    If my interests expanded and i sought after a well bred lab, id want the same as i described and like labradorks said, it depends on the dog in question

  5. #5
    House Broken
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Souther than the deep south
    Posts
    170
    Thanked: 87
    I want to feel ribs but not see them. I personally don't feel that BMI is valid for any species, including humans.

  6. #6
    Senior Dog Jeff's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Posts
    1,816
    Thanked: 2198
    One of the best guides with visual I have seen. They have these in print form as well. You see a lot of labs at 7 but that's honestly a little too big. Hemi tends to get about 6 coming off winter, he is a 5 right now.
    Field labs I find generally in the 3-5 range where bench labs in the 5-7 range.


  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jeff For This Useful Post:

    MikeLynn (10-10-2015), WhoopsaDaisy (10-09-2015)

  8. #7
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    C. WA
    Posts
    1,624
    Thanked: 1235
    I prefer mine in working condition to be ~5 on the scale above. I am often surprised when my chocs start to shed how lean they actually are as it's hard to feel the ribs thru the coat the same way you can feel a more field type labs' ribs, so it's not always easy w/o really tracking the weights well. I try to do weigh-ins every 3-4 mos just so I don't get too surprised. I would not go by tuck up as that is more of a structurally mediated thing (shape of the rib cage). Anne
    Hidden Content
    The WindyCanyon Girls (taken Summer 2018)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Northern Spy CDX RA JH OA OAJ CC (14.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Ruby Pink BN CD RA CC (4.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Kanzi BN CDX RE JH (5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon ItsOnlyMoneyHoneycrisp BN RN CC (16mos)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Pippin BN RI CC (2.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Envy CDX RE JH CC (10.5 yrs)
    IntCH HIT WindyCanyon's Kiku A Fuji Too CDX RE JH CC (10 yrs)







  9. The Following User Says Thank You to windycanyon For This Useful Post:

    Annette47 (10-10-2015)

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •