The boys, The vet, a note for puppy people

[WhoopsaDaisy]

Great news!! I have been told by multiple people that my bench bred girl is "thick" but I think she just tends to look heavier because of her build.

[BaconsMom]

Bacon is from field lines so he is more slender. But hes at about 73 pounds right now and I think he needs to gain a few!

[barry581]

Sophie weight 79 pounds at nine months, and did not look fat. Other than switching her to adult food at 15 months, she is now a solid, muscular 66 pounds. So I'd say charliebbarken is correct.

[SnapV]

Koopa was weighed at 77lbs last time he saw the vet for his neuter 2 months ago (at about 15 months old) and she said he was in perfect weight. So we must be doing something good He's really tall so he looks a little skinny actually but the vet said he was perfect that way, it's just the way he is.

[charliebbarkin]

I was not going to re-register for this place after the crash, but I did just now for the sheer reason of wanting to "thank" your post. It is so nice to read the above. YOU. GET. IT. So freaking refreshing to read.

Also, the thing about Charlie weighing in at 110 lbs. coupled with recent pictures of him, just goes to show that judging a Lab's condition "by the pound" is misleading. I have not had hands on Charlie, but I cannot imagine anyone saying that Charlie is fat, despite what the reported weight of 110 lbs. might lead people to believe. The corollary goes for Burton too (again with the same caveat that I've not had hands on him) -- I bet some people might look at his picture in comparison to Charlie, and say he's one of those short-legged, fat show dogs, but his vet says he's healthy at his weight, so "those people" can shut their yaps (with all due respect, of course). :-)

Thank you for coming back! I do appreciate your posts, among several others who have also decided to come back. I do hope that the 'other' parts of the board are more active now, hoping that members share more about competing with their dogs, breeding, rescuing, etc. That was one really big draw for me and to sign up here, and also why I stayed. I was always so inspired by the members here working with their dogs.

Anyway, yes! We met with Shelley a while back and she said it was okay to start working Burton more (I was very paranoid about his hips/joints) so we started to do longer and harder hikes with him. Both boys lost some weight. Charlie about 10 pounds and Burton about 5. I think they look to be in excellent shape right now. I am sure they will bulk up some more muscle this summer spending more time in the water.

I think a lot of times people see a number (weight) and freak out. Charlie at 110, lots of people I am sure are thinking labs are not large breed dogs, but some labs are bred large. Obviously I will keep an eye on them both and make sure that if they are less active and that fab turns to flab I will adjust accordingly. I just feel so sad for the puppies that are way underfed because someone else is telling their owners to lean them up. Listen to your breeders, people! It will all work out.

[charliebbarkin]

Bacon is from field lines so he is more slender. But hes at about 73 pounds right now and I think he needs to gain a few!

Yup, he will. Charlie hovered around 95 for a while and then filled out more (he was fairly lanky). He is pretty tall though, and he is actually a blend of both bench and field lines so he has a bigger chest than a lot of the field labs you see, making him heavier.

I am sure that Bacon has plenty of growing left, he is only 9 months old! Plus you aren't neutering (right?) him which I think will make him heavier (more muscular).

[Georgia]

Thanks for your post. Very interesting. I never thought Sam was fat but at his last checkup the vet told me he needed to lose 8-10 pounds. He was 99 pounds. We got him down to 94 pounds and then he mysteriously gained two pounds. The vet wanted me to cut his food even further which didn't sit right with me. I posted pictures here and nobody thought he was fat. I think I'll listened to all you wonderful lab people on that! I just didn't think 1.5 cups of kibble for an 18 month old lab was enough food but that's what my vet wanted me to feed him. Many would listen...