Confused and a bit insulted

[SusiQ]

I went to watch a show put on by our local Ohio German Shepherd Club - it was held 5 minutes from my home and I was simply interested in watching. I was appalled at what I saw - dogs with EVERY and I mean EVERY rib sticking out - like the starving dogs I've seen on Petfinder. I admit I do not show my dogs - they are family pets only - but it was pitiful. I had my Raven with me to watch - she is definitely not overweight - and I had some lady tell me that she was "too big" because her ribs were not sticking out.

Raven's father was a champion, but I never had any desire to have her be anything but a pet. This same lady told me that if she can't see all her dog's ribs - she simply withholds the food - poor dog! It might have been "the standard," but it made me sick. I guess that scene would definitely not be for me. I'm still shocked at what I saw.

[Branca's Mom]

I <u>want</u> to see the last couple ribs on my dogs and I want to see a nice tuck up. I think that if all the ribs are prominently sticking out that is not good. However, seeing the ribs slightly while the dog is in motion is not a bad thing. Most people keep their dogs WAY overweight.

[Keegan62]

thats disgusting I like to see a little meat on mine and mine is a pet also... I would report them

[allieg]

I like them to be rib free.I think that can be accomplished without the dog being over weight.

[Jax08]

it's happening all over. You should have seen some of the horses yesterday at the show. I would have been embarrassed to even think about taking a horse with bones showing in public but not these ppl.

[ArmyGSD]

A few lower/end ribs are ok on movement like Branca's Mom said, but to see them all is just malnutrition. I feel for those poor dogs.

[crackem]

i'm sorry, if I can't see the ribs of my dogs when they're moving around I withold some food too. I expect to be able to see my ribs as well and can withhold food from myself as well. you should be able to see some ribs even if the dog is standing still.

I'm no fan of Purina, but there dog food study does show some impt things. If a group of dogs fed amounts to maintain an "ideal" standard lived on average almost 2 years LESS than another large group of dogs fed 25% less, I'd say less is more and most owners are killing their dogs prematurely. Other changes noted were

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11991...Pubmed_RVDocSum

"Compared with control dogs, food-restricted dogs weighed less and had lower body fat content and lower serum triglycerides, triiodothyronine, insulin, and glucose concentrations. Median life span was significantly longer for dogs in which food was restricted. The onset of clinical signs of chronic disease generally was delayed for food-restricted dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that 25% restriction in food intake increased median life span and delayed the onset of signs of chronic disease in these dogs."

[Sashmom]

eee gads, now we have anorexic dog look, too

a lean dog is nice but not every rib showing no no and NO

[crackem]

a lean shepherd when moving around will show a lot of ribs and the type coat makes a big difference too.

[SusiQ]

Believe me, this dog had PROTRUDING ribs - it reminded me of patients we dealt with at the hospital (I am a dietitian) that had anorexia or bulemia. That poor dog's head looked too large for its body because the body fat % was so low. Look on Petfinder for the dogs that have been starved - that is exactly what I saw.