[Gwyllgi]

I am a bit concerned that my 8 month old GSD bitch could be over weight.

She weighs 64.2lb and measures approx 24.5 inches.

Will provide photos top and side view if requested.

Any feedback appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[tim_s_adams]

Photos please! Seeing makes it much easier to judge...

 

[Gwyllgi]

Photos please! Seeing makes it much easier to judge...

OK, I'm off out now, so I'll take some pictures when I'm back in a couple of hours.

 

[Gwyllgi]

OK, not the best angles but all I could manage before she went in to hyper play drive

 

[tim_s_adams]

From the photos I'd say that your dog is probably a little overweight. I prefer to see a little more taper in the waist, and when my dog was that age you could easily make out her ribs standing sideways. Here's a picture of my pup at about that same age.

 

[Gwyllgi]

Thanks, I'll reduce her food down a bit.

 

[McGloomy]

Agreed. She looks sssslightly overweight. If you look at her from above, there should be a clear definition of the hip. Try and reduce the intake by 1/2 a cup. Or up her exercise.

 

[MineAreWorkingline]

Some dogs are more narrow in the hip than others so the waist will not be so clearly defined. You have to take individual dog builds into consideration. Same can be said about the coats with some dogs having longer, thicker or more off standing coats.

If you aren't using your dog for any venue that places a pounding on the joints, I would not be concerned about keeping a dog too lean which has been associated with bloat and with doing not as well in sickness or injury.

Most people who point out to keep dogs lean for joint health usually either work their dogs or they still cling to the Lab study which had too many variables applied to pinpoint any one cause of HD up into and including permitting the "lean" control group to become obese and then restricting food to return to a state of being lean.

With that said, my 24.5" bitch is 72# and has a waistline that a wasp would envy. Your dog is fine. Feed her.

 

[GypsyGhost]

I don’t think she’s fat. I do think she’d be fine if she weighed a pound or two less. She has a little “extra” when she is sitting, and the waist isn’t as defined as could be. That said, 8 months can be a weird age. If you can feel ribs, and see the last one or two, she’s probably fine where she’s at. She sounds like she is just on the larger end for females.

 

[tc68]

Mine is close to 8 months and is 80lbs...but he's a male. His sister is a little over 60lbs. You're fine. I don't see her being overweight. Btw, she looks a lot like mine.

 

[Gwyllgi]

Thanks for all of the critique, much appreciated; I have reduced her food by 8oz and upped her exercise. If she goes too skinny, I can always increase the food again.

 

[Gwyllgi]

Mine is close to 8 months and is 80lbs...but he's a male. His sister is a little over 60lbs. You're fine. I don't see her being overweight. Btw, she looks a lot like mine.

Could have the same sire