Update: Fat Labs at Westminster

[Labradorks]

Thought everyone would be interested in this update:

Update: Fat Labs at Westminster | SlimDoggy

And here is the letter from the LRC to licensed judges:

https://www.thelabradorclub.com/uploa...C%20Judges.pdf

I know this can be controversial, but I feel like if the LRC is making this very strong statement publicly, there is definitely some substance to the claims that are being made about dogs in the conformation rings.

[dxboon]

You might want to check out this thread from a few days ago: Interesting read about condition of bench labs

I think if people were heavily involved with their local Lab clubs and participated in showing their Labs they would have a more well-rounded view of all the issues and motivations behind the judges letters (there were multiple letters on this topic). There are fat Labs in the ring, but it's not an epidemic. I have zero respect for the people behind the slim doggy website. If people want to make positive changes in the breed, they should involve themselves in the hobby instead of sniping and shaming people via the Internet.

[xracer4844]

MY LIGHT "WEEDY" LABRADOR IS APPARENTLY INCORRECT - oh well - guess I'll sell him and buy a new dog

[shellbell]

I do think that appearances seen on TV or in photographs can be misleading. I am always surprised at how chunky Cabo looks when I take pictures of him, to me in a photograph he often looks overweight. But he weighs 55 lbs, and “in real life”, if anything he is sometimes on the verge of looking too skinny and I end up having to up his food. It really is quite a striking difference of his body condition, to see it in a photograph vs the real thing. The pictures of the labs in the link, yeah I would say that to me they look chunky. But then I think of Cabo, and how chunky he looks in a picture when he is actually far from it. So that gives me some perspective if I see a pic of a lab who looks heavy. But yeah, there are definitely a lot of fat labs out there that I see in real life, and from hearing their owners talk they think they are supposed to be fat. Not muscled but FAT.

[POPTOP]

Will watch this at the IKC and take pictures. Be interesting to see what dogs place.

[xracer4844]

I do think that appearances seen on TV or in photographs can be misleading. I am always surprised at how chunky Cabo looks when I take pictures of him, to me in a photograph he often looks overweight. But he weighs 55 lbs, and “in real life”, if anything he is sometimes on the verge of looking too skinny and I end up having to up his food. It really is quite a striking difference of his body condition, to see it in a photograph vs the real thing. The pictures of the labs in the link, yeah I would say that to me they look chunky. But then I think of Cabo, and how chunky he looks in a picture when he is actually far from it. So that gives me some perspective if I see a pic of a lab who looks heavy. But yeah, there are definitely a lot of fat labs out there that I see in real life, and from hearing their owners talk they think they are supposed to be fat. Not muscled but FAT.

Labs don't self regulate their food...they will just eat and eat and eat and then trow up and then eat it all again. I've had multiple people tell me OMG look how bad he wants this food - you don't feed him enough.....NO HE IS JUST A LAB. They are really easy dogs to overfeed.

[shellbell]

Labs don't self regulate their food...they will just eat and eat and eat and then trow up and then eat it all again. I've had multiple people tell me OMG look how bad he wants this food - you don't feed him enough.....NO HE IS JUST A LAB. They are really easy dogs to overfeed.

Yeah, but lots of people that I have talked to, just at Petsmart and such who I see in passing, truly do think there is nothing wrong with their labs who are obviously fat, and that they are supposed to be that way. These are the same people that see my dogs, and ask if they are puppies still. I am constantly asked this, b/c people are surprised at how “small” they are. Granted Tux is a lab mix so not really a good standard to go by, and Cabo is from a backyard breeder and was obviously not bred to any type of standard. So that could very well have something to do with it. But it always cracks me up especially when people ask if Tux is a puppy. He is six years old and has quite the white beard going on.

[xracer4844]

HAHA I get this too - my boy is almost 26inches tall and he weighs 70 pounds. He's really lean. People say he's too skinny or I've never seen a lab that looks like that before

[voodoo]

It would be nice if an explanation or write up was done for all winners at these prestigious dog shows. I understand the camera can add 10 pounds or more. I also understand its up to judges/human interpretation. To me, if a judge explained to the contestants why a dog won in either verbal/written form at the time of award, would do wonders. are the dogs measurements recorded? are they done for all to witness? I am sure this is an easy fix if it is indeed broken...but like mentioned above, its the breeders/members of the organizations/clubs that need to fix/oversee/take responsibility. dont see this as a pet owner issue, as we dont play the game, we just watch if that.

[JenC]

I know this can be controversial, but I feel like if the LRC is making this very strong statement publicly, there is definitely some substance to the claims that are being made about dogs in the conformation rings.

The funny thing is that the heavy hitters in the breed aren't in the LRC and couldn't give a shit. They don't show to all breed judges and their fellow breeder judge counter-parts are still going to put up their dogs.

There are plenty of beautiful, in shape dogs winning. I have two friends with beautiful, in shape bitches going to Westminster. I'll be interested in seeing how they do. Last year, a friend got a JAM with her in shape Bronze GCH JH bitch.

And I know from Jagger that when you have a dog that carries a lot of coat, you do think they are 10-15# heavier than they really are. Most of us have not put our hands on any of the Westminster winners...so whether they really are heavy or in shape eludes most of us.