German Shorthaired Pointer...is this normal?

    • Gold Top Dog

    German Shorthaired Pointer...is this normal?

    Found Beau's first baby tooth on the floor last night...he is 4 mos! Also, he is growing by leaps and bounds, but you can see his ribs if he sits or lays a certain way...basically he seems very lean. He doesnt appear to be TOO skinny or anything, but I was just curious if as a breed they are somewhat lean and this is normal? Anyway, he's a happy sweet little guy, love him to pieces! Smart too!
     
    Thanks in advance!
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     If you are really concerned about it, ask your vet! but a lot of rangy birddog breeds just don't have the subcutaneous fat that other dog breeds (I'm thinking about goldens here [:D]) struggle with. 

    I have both an english setter and an english pointer.  I've had my setter since she was a pup and she was very slender and gangly until she was about 2 years old.  At 2,  her ribs sprung and she filled out - I actually had to watch her weight a bit because she is an agility dog.  As long as you don't constantly see the ribs, spine and hip bones and his coat is good, his muscle development is good and he has lots of energy, he's fine.  I don't know if I've ever actually seen a chubby GSP, though,  it just might not be in their physical makeup.

    I adopted my pointer at 2 y.o.  She was very skinny.  Her ribs were evident and my agility trainer felt that she was too thin.  Local pointer people said that she was par for the breed.  She also "sprung" at about 2 1/2 and filled out.  She is very smooth and fit.  Not much fat there, but you can see ribs when she is bent a certain way. 
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    Hi
    I have a Nine month old Pointer and he very lean,he eats quite a bit but still on three meals a day due to his wheat allergy(cant overload his tummy too much).
    He just keeps on growing,very gangly and very long legged.
    In different positions and when hes running out stretched on the beach you can see his ribs,but i believe thats a Pointers make up!!
    As Diane said as long as he is bright,full of life and a good coat then I wouldnt worry to much.
    Mine is always on the go and always ready for Anything,never a Minutes peace,im sure yours is the same,gotta love um!!!
    Hope this helps.
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    Claire,  What a handsome fella your dog is!  Gracie eats twice as much as Trudy (my setter) but she is so intense when she is our in the field that burns up that food fast! 

    I just think that it would be very difficult for a pointer to get really fat. Must be the greyhound in there.  One kennel that I keep in touch with down in Central Indiana breeds and trains field pointers.  Their stock is very lean and muscular.  They have a 3 mile range and can run all day.    
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    Hawk has always been on the lean side. He eats more food than my sister's Rottie mix but has never weighed more than 58lbs. His most stable wieght is about 54lbs.   You can see his ribs, and somtimes his spine and hips.  But he is ripped and extremely active.  I would rather him have more meat on his bones but he just burns through calories.  So I wouldn't worry too much unless he is not eating or is sick.   As stated before they tend to fill out at about 2yrs and are normaly lean dogs.   Post some pics please I love pics of any of the pointing dog breeds but especially GSPs.
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    I think it's normal for his breed.
     
    I have an English Pointer/ German shorthaired ;pointer mix, and she too is very lean. Only 45 lbs and she is about 22 or 23 inches at the withers. People comment about how thin she is a lot, but I think it's because they're used to seeing fat dogs. One person told me she looked like an "Ethopian dog" [&:]  But I know she's not too thin because you can't see any of her ribs.
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    determinedX2,  That is exactly the same weight and height as my pointer, Grace.  She's so sleek and pretty, I just can't imagine her fatter. 

    BTW, I love your dog's markings.  
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    I know that I sound a little crazy complimenting everybody's dog here, but I just love seeing so many pointer types on the board.  They are great dogs!
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    Oh no it  is not crazy pointing dogs are the best.  They have style and drive but love to snuggle at night.   I alwasy say there is nothing more beautiful than a dog on point.[:D]
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    It is possible for a pointer to get fat.  When my dog was with her last owner she was 72 pounds, her last owner was very elsrerly and is now in a nursing home.
    My friend fostered her for awhile and was able to get her weight down to a healthy level.  She is now 50 piunds and at her last vet visit I was told that she looked perfect and yes I can see her ribs, especially if she is streching or in certain positions.
    People are so used to seeing fat dogs that a thinner dog looks unhealthy to them. ;People comment on my dog's weight all the time and ask me if I feed my dog, of course I do, when they find out how much my dog eats I usually get looks of shock. 
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    [:D] It always amazed me how people can look past the happy face, bright eyes, boundless energy, gleaming slick coat and see a glimps of her ribs and think that she's too skinny! 

    I'm also amazed when I meet a person with a fat lab with hip dysplasia who can't bear to cut back  the food and goodies because the dog seems hungry!
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    Arr Thank You Diane, yes I think he a Handsome Boy too [:D]
    At the moment jazzie measures 25 inches high and about 54lbs,dont think he has much growing to do.His Dad was a very big Boy and his Mum wasnt much smaller.
    Yes its great to read about posts from other Pointer Owners, they are a fantastic breed with a outstanding Temprement and not any ounce of Aggression,I dont work Jazzie but he certainly can out run anything on the beach and runs and plays for hours so burns all his energy and I get cuddles on the sofa usually at about 10pm(you can time your watch by him)I am seriously thinking about getting a three seater as my two seater is no where near big enough for me my husband and jazzie!!!Love him to bits and Im sure you all do!!

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    Since pointers have a lot of hound in them I feel like I can add my observations here.

    Marlowe seems to go from very lean to kinda chunky with very little in between. We had been giving him the same amount of food as Conrad because originally when he came to us he was legitimately underweight. So then he got, like, chunky. Like overnight. He went from quite lean to having fat rolls. We adjusted his food a little and he shrunk right back down to very lean. There's like no middle place with him, he's either very lean or overweight.

    Everyone is always trying to convince me that my dogs are too thin (everyone but my vet that is, who certifies that they are at their proper weights). With Marlowe, it's just how he is, he's either too fat or he's thin. With Conrad it is really important to keep him on the thinner side because he is so big. Any extra weight will really tax his joints and I am really hoping that he remains able to walk and climb stairs as he ages. So, I just say "pfft" to those people because I know my dogs are healthy and happy.
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    Better to be thin than  fat. [;)]  I think most people just don't know that some breeds are thin by nature and automatically think that they are starving.  It is the overall picture that needs to be looked at.

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    Val, Hawk has a Fine Figure!!!
     
    What a Beautiful Boy he is xx