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by NigerDeltaMann on 05 December 2009 - 16:12
Elinih, if dewormed, with shinny/good-coat texture but still appear lean, then ur dog's in perfect/healthy. In about 24 months, ur dog'll start to add weight. By d way, are u seeing blood veins,heart or d intestines getting all these worries? If tired, have him shipped to yenagoa, bayelsa state, nigeria n get a sea-lion ok!
by NigerDeltaMann on 05 December 2009 - 16:12
Elinih, if dewormed, with shinny/good-coat texture but still appear lean, then ur dog's in perfect/healthy. In about 24 months, ur dog'll start to add weight. By d way, are u seeing blood veins,heart or d intestines getting all these worries? If tired, have him shipped to yenagoa, bayelsa state, nigeria n get a sea-lion ok!
by Jackal73 on 05 December 2009 - 16:12
Hey! How did you get my dog? :D
Seriously, he looks very much like my guy, who was equally thin when he was less than two. As long as he's full of energy and his coat is shiny he's not "too thin" and will put on some bulk once he matures. Mine gradually added about 3 kg through the chest and on his thighs, but he still has a nice waist and a good tuck, and I'm guessing your dog will as well.
Seriously, he looks very much like my guy, who was equally thin when he was less than two. As long as he's full of energy and his coat is shiny he's not "too thin" and will put on some bulk once he matures. Mine gradually added about 3 kg through the chest and on his thighs, but he still has a nice waist and a good tuck, and I'm guessing your dog will as well.
by Two Moons on 05 December 2009 - 17:12
I prefer to go by feel and not looks.
by 4pack on 05 December 2009 - 18:12
The black dog looks exactly how my 9mo old male is looking right now. Your dog doesn't have much hair under his belly to camo the thiness is all. Congrats on having a healthy, happy dog. 2 thumbs up for feeding RAW too. 
by BlackthornGSD on 05 December 2009 - 19:12
Too thin is when the dog is not able to put on any muscle due to lack of calories. How can you tell this? Look for muscling in the hindquarters and shoulders and the top of the skull and along the sides of the backbone. The shoulder muscles should be easily felt and not convex (sunken in); the hindquarters in an active young GSD should be solid and thickly muscled.
Between 8 and 22 months, it can be hard to keep weight on an active young dog--this doesn't mean you don't try to feed them, though! You don't want to stuff them with food, but you want them to be able to build muscle and coat. So if you can see all the ribs, increase food by maybe 15%--see if the dog benefits. With a young dog, they may be having a growth spurt and could use the extra calories to help out.
If you can see the spaces along the back of the spine, btw, your dog is too thin--that means it doesn't have enough calories to develop that muscling. Seeing ribs is a function not only of weight but also of coat so it's not the best way to tell--but if you can see *all* ribs--you should definitely check the rest of the dog to judge whether or not he's getting enough to eat.
As a general rule of thumb, I like to be able to see the last 2-3 ribs in movement (again, depending on coat) and be able to feel the ribs easily with a hand along the dog's side. If you can't easily feel ribs, your dog is carrying extra weight.
Christine
blackthornkennel.com
Between 8 and 22 months, it can be hard to keep weight on an active young dog--this doesn't mean you don't try to feed them, though! You don't want to stuff them with food, but you want them to be able to build muscle and coat. So if you can see all the ribs, increase food by maybe 15%--see if the dog benefits. With a young dog, they may be having a growth spurt and could use the extra calories to help out.
If you can see the spaces along the back of the spine, btw, your dog is too thin--that means it doesn't have enough calories to develop that muscling. Seeing ribs is a function not only of weight but also of coat so it's not the best way to tell--but if you can see *all* ribs--you should definitely check the rest of the dog to judge whether or not he's getting enough to eat.
As a general rule of thumb, I like to be able to see the last 2-3 ribs in movement (again, depending on coat) and be able to feel the ribs easily with a hand along the dog's side. If you can't easily feel ribs, your dog is carrying extra weight.
Christine
blackthornkennel.com
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