Fiesty Young Girl - Page 3

I agree with what the others have said.  I too feel she is a bit overweight, particularly for her age of development.  Here are some pics of my guy around 7-8 months.  I'm not trying to compare conformation, since my boy has bad elbows and is easty-westy, but I want to show a good leanness.  I have no idea what his actualy weight was at the time, since he's now almost 12, but it gives you an idea.  He matured to a fit weight of 83 lbs as an adult.  Keep in mind, most vets tell people a dog's weight is fine as long as the dog isn't obese.  I've had many vets tell friends that their dogs were in good weight when the dogs have no waistline at all.  

Hexe , Jenni, Jyl et al

Here is my girl's full litter mate Ammo. I dont know what he diet is like but he is the same build ( deep, thick chest with thick bones, and large head ). I understand that he may have already reach  in the 80-85 pound weight, and he is 8 months as well. Not fat but muscular. Maybe it runs in the family.

Mithuna~ she is a sweet looking female and I too like her mask! 

but I do agree with the rest judging from the picture you posted. 

Don't  sweat it though ~ my first female was plain F A T lol ~ I didn't  know it until I became more knowledgeable. Most all of us have erred at some point keeping our GSDs too pudgy. 

Enjoy her :) 

Minutha ~ could just be your picture! Post another. The dog above looks a little leaner in the chest  and underbelly than your female does. At least to me. But what do I know ;) 

OK here she is again...this is about 2 weeks ago. Same build like her brother.

Yes, that is a better pic ~ she looks a little more lean in my opinion. She is cute! 

I still dont understand why it is alarming  that  a large boned dog standing 24.5 inches at the withers weighs 75 lbs.The body style seem to run in  the family as a full brother ( same litter ) has already hit the 80-85 lb range. But anyway thanks for all the various view points.

Mithuna,

Because there is supposed to be a difference in females versus males when it comes to the German shepherd dog. The written standard specifies the height and weight range for males versus females, and that makes look masculine and females look feminine.  Yes, of course, there are larger females and larger males than the standard that are fit and trim and lean.  I had one...he was oversized but a lean 100lbs.  But there is a difference between large and lean and large and a bit pudgy.  Your female's brother, being a male, should end up larger than his sister anyway.

Also, these dogs already go through quite a growth spurt as it is in their first year of life.  I think most of us on this forum prefer to see our dogs on a steady pace of growth to reduce the possible wear on their joints.

I'm curious as to the size of the parents?

I dont get some people's obsessive urge to have a big GSD.  Every week I have to deal with some pet person approaching me and bragging about their 100+ lb pet GSD.

Your dog is a little fat, either cut back her diet or dont but stop denying it.

Jenny that is a nice looking female, you can tell by her proportions that she will be substantial dog even if kept very lean.

Of course the most important question is how do these girls work?  The prettiest dog with ugly work is still ugly in my books ;).

It's not alarming, Mithuna. It's common. Very typical, actually, in that "big head DDR" circle.  It's just not good for the dogs! And that's why we're on your case. No other reason! It's common for people- men, especially, to need a huge dog, and they will make any dog huge. Do you know how many 90lb dogs I see that are really 65lb dogs in a fat suit?

 Do you know how many times I have raised littermates of dogs I sold and there was 20lbs between them at 6-8 months because the ones I kept were kept lean, since I have no psychological need to have my year old dog weigh 100lbs? Bone is the same. Substance and weight do not go hand in hand, no matter how good those high numbers on the scale make you feel. 

Take my D litter. Dylan, my pup, was 52lbs at 6mos. His brother was 69. Guess what they each weigh now, since I own both? THE SAME!  What race did Dylan lose by being kept lean and never injuring himself? His brother had several injuries growing up. He's ok now, probably not much worse for the wear, but less food, more exercise, less weight and more free exercise as opposed to bursts makes a much stronger dog in the long run. 

Yes, the 2nd pic you posted is a better ANGLE, but it doesn't change what I see. She's not obese, as I stated, but she's "pet soft." There is no benefit to being overweight even one lb. I said before, if you've raised enough, as many here have, you can see it at any angle. I admit I am the last person to be impressed by a slightly heavy dog under the guise of "big head and bone." 

I have not yet seen one to top the male in my avatar, and he weighed under 100lbs nearly all his life- I saw to it. Ribs showing in certain light (showing, not protruding!). He was 26" tall. Now, he had sons who were over 100 at 9mos and I FLIPPED OUT on their owners. They gave me the same song and dance you're doing right now, insisting their boys are bigger than their dad, heavier boned, wider necks, they're not fat they're substantial, it's all solid muscle, blah blah blah. I was furious. The littermate I was raising was 78lbs. You know what I did? I measured their father- legs, bone thickness, neck, everywhere you could put a tape measure, I did. And you know what? They were only "bigger" than their sire in their WAIST! He had them all in head and neck and bone (age). 

Soooo...my point is FAT IS NOT SUBSTANTIAL. Fat is fat. Bone is substance. Overall build can convey substance. Fat is not subtance. Fat is weight. And unhealthy. If you're listening to a vet about weight, you've got an awful lot to learn, which is what we're trying to help you do, despite your resistance. It may seem like we're ganging up on you, but your attitude is the frustrating part; you ask things and then when people tell you, you get snipey. We are dog people. We care very much about dogs and for that reason, we continue to preach this stuff. We're all on the same side. ;)