Dog Community

Posted : 6/19/2007 10:46:57 AM

Dogs that work in water...it's likely beneficial to have some fat quite honestly. Think about the aforementioned walrus, polar bear, any water faring critter. Blubber...it serves a valuable insulatory purpose in those critters. A Lab being sent into frigid water in early morning hours likely would benefit from a bit of fat in addition to their coat. So in one respect it's quite possible that the fat and easy keep of the breed HAD a bona fide genetic purpose at one time, didn't they originate in rather more cold temp areas?...but now...perhaps not.

Newfs are actually supposed to roll across the top when they move...and much of the roll of many dogs across the top can be traced not to fat or lack of condition...but not being "dry" in general...proper shoulder and length of back, other issues. Newfs are behind the Lab as I recall...so again...perhaps historical things are at work here. Just some thoughts.

As to the original topic...Beagles are notoriously fat as well..it irks me to no end. I write a bit about obesity and it's detriments to health, into the contract when I place pups in pet homes.

jjsmom06

Posted : 6/19/2007 10:50:13 AM

I write a bit about obesity and it's detriments to health, into the contract when I place pups in pet homes.

good for you.

Benedict

Posted : 6/19/2007 10:54:57 AM

I just measured Ben....I'd never done that before.

Ben is 23 inches at the withers, 23 inches from shoulder to rump. Elbow to the ground is 11.5 inches. So he falls bang within breed standard for height and length.

He weighs just over 62 pounds, so according to breed standard is slightly underweight...BUT....if breed standard is a dog in working gun dog condition, they are likely even more muscled than Ben is. Were Ben doing some kind of performance sport or FT, he very probably would put on 3-5 lbs of muscle, which weighs more than fat anyway.

g33

Posted : 6/19/2007 10:57:42 AM

Seriously, if they weighed some of the dogs in the show rings and actually adhered to their disqualification rules, I'm sure that would weed out a lot of dogs!!!

My boy is also within standard for height. However he has a "gay tail" and doesn't have proper coat. His ears are a bit too long, and he is high in the rear (throws off his topline). He'd never make it in the show ring, but I think he is beautiful.

It's a good thing they don't judge us for our looks eh!

Benedict

Posted : 6/19/2007 10:59:48 AM

Gina yes...Labs were originally not hunting dogs, but FISHING dogs. Being sent into the frigid maritime waters to haul in fishing nets would necessitate a layer of fat in order to keep the dog alive. It has become much less necessary since labs long ago made the transition to field work, although that does require retrieves in water. I am not talking about a healthy layer of fat here....my vent was referring to those "walruses" as others have put it, who are obese to the point where they are unable to move.

A healthy physique, not just weight, is what is necessary. Bench labs, though stockier, will still look fit and have a smooth movement. Field labs do, and should, look very lean and be very agile.

I'm glad you write about the dangers of obesity into your contract. That's great.

jjsmom06

Posted : 6/19/2007 11:00:00 AM

He'd never make it in the show ring, but I think he is beautiful.

I think this goes for 90% of our dogs on this forum..lol!

I actually prefer the look of the racing greys to the show ones.. I find them far more beautiful actually.

Benedict

Posted : 6/19/2007 11:05:34 AM

Oh, Ben wouldn't make it in the show ring either. His tail is a little too long, for one thing, plus other flaws I don't even have the "show eye" to see I'm sure. I think he's stunning and he's my boy, and I didn't want to show him anyway, so his "flaws" don't bug me in the slightest. The height and length I was curious about simply because those factors will affect how weight is distributed on him.

Rachael

Posted : 6/19/2007 12:20:32 PM

thank you for your comprehensive post g33, it was very informative. I agree with the discussion that ensued between you and Bendict, its all about moderation. I honestly claim ignorance to what the lab was originally bred for, but it all makes more sense now. I personally don't like that thick look of show dogs, but if they do have "both titles" then I can appreciate them for what they are. However, I do see a lot of pet labs that are severely overweight.

And Gina, I've honestly and truly never seen a beagle that wasn't fat (with the exception of maybe a dog show, but its been years since I've been to one) until I saw your beagles! They're gorgeous and they really show how a beagle can look. I'm sure if I googled some nice beagle breeders I'd find some other nice looking beagles, I've just never done it. [

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houndlove

Posted : 6/19/2007 12:27:14 PM

Beagles, like most other hounds and retrievers do not know when to quit eating. They always act like they are famished and have never seen food before in their lives! I think people seriously don't consider that just because a dog bolts his food and has never turned down a treat doesn't mean he is starving. Marlowe would stand on his head and sing the national anthem for a treat. Once or twice (ahem) he's actually gotten into the food bag and I've seen what happens when he is able to eat as much as he wants. He keeps eating until it's literally coming back out of both ends.

So it takes an owner who's really committed to keeping their pet lean to regulate a lab or hound's food because they don't (or very rarely) self-regulate. A free-fed beagle is pretty much guarenteed to be a fat beagle.

Laura De Vries

Posted : 6/19/2007 1:57:05 PM

The only time I feed any table scraps is in the dead of winter (it snows here) when I expect my dogs to do some strenous exercize (cross country skiing or skijoring). They need a bit more fat in their diet to sustain the energy and keep warm (and will put on a pound or two) and hairup a bit. Table scraps should be things you might eat yourself (no great globs of fat or grissel) and mixrd with their kibble. Kibble should be protein and rice based with protein as the top ingredient. Maybe just a little behavior modification for your stepdtr could help. Fortunately, the dogs don't KNOW they are being absued by overfeeding- but it's tough to see the physical problems that come along with canine obesity. It really is not that much more expensive to feed the dogs good kibble-might even save some dough on vet bills.

sharismom

Posted : 6/19/2007 2:21:20 PM

Marlowe would stand on his head and sing the national anthem for a treat.

[sm=rotfl.gif][sm=rotfl.gif] OMG - I just about choked on my water at this!

Seriously, I was so used to Shari being a light eater that I was a really amazed at how much Bear wants to eat. I never free feed - not even my cats. Bear is Lab mixed with who-knows-what and you'd think every time I feed him that he hasn't eaten in a week. Shari ate very slowly, chewed each piece, seldom cleaned her dish. Bear can suck down a meal in about 3 seconds flat. I could see him becoming overweight if I let him go crazy.

Rachael

Posted : 6/19/2007 2:27:57 PM

ORIGINAL: sharismom

Marlowe would stand on his head and sing the national anthem for a treat.

[sm=rotfl.gif][sm=rotfl.gif] OMG - I just about choked on my water at this!

ditto! bahahah! [

]

Seriously, I was so used to Shari being a light eater that I was a really amazed at how much Bear wants to eat. I never free feed - not even my cats. Bear is Lab mixed with who-knows-what and you'd think every time I feed him that he hasn't eaten in a week. Shari ate very slowly, chewed each piece, seldom cleaned her dish. Bear can suck down a meal in about 3 seconds flat. I could see him becoming overweight if I let him go crazy.

ditto to that as well! Lance will eat All. Day. Long if I let him (lab/hound mix) and like Marlowe he will do anything in the whole world for one itty bitty tiny peice of food. But Gwen, my herding type dog is like "eh, who needs food? I survive on intelligence alone." [8|]

MJ

Posted : 6/19/2007 8:57:24 PM

People are always asking me how I keep Pogo in such great shape. I'm always amazed at that question. Gee, lots of exercise, feed a good quality food in the proper amount, and minimal treats. Pretty complicated stuff there. Now if I could only apply the same "simple" steps to myself.

agilebasenji

Posted : 6/19/2007 9:52:51 PM

Seriously, if they weighed some of the dogs in the show rings and actually adhered to their disqualification rules, I'm sure that would weed out a lot of dogs!!!

I've often wondered why this isn't done at AKC conformation shows. Interestingly enough, the whippet wickets are pulled out and used on every whippet at a coursing trial. Any breed DQ (except for spay/neuter thing) is adhered to for coursing and those dogs aren't allowed to course.

mrv

Posted : 6/20/2007 5:42:15 AM

In response to the show lab pictures/

I believe that a lab or golden in show weight has little chance of doing what the breed is intended to do.... Work all day. Labs and goldens weigh what they weigh because that is what is winning, it has little to do with function. There are plenty of herding dogs that cant single track (and the matters in work) that are winning as well. The conformation ring choices should always be taken with a grain of salt,,, what matters in my opinion is the dog correct for the standard (well as that is up for interpretation as well

Sad statistic at vets office/vent