Feed the Darn Dogs!!!!! - Page 4

Ten 4  on cost   I feed till im sick of looking at food...mine eat all they want and they are slim...I could, though, just let them eat and eat as they all have high food drive and they would be as large as the side of a barn....cant let them do that...one day Austin found the sack open in the truck and jumped in an ate almost a half of a 20 lb bag....I thought hed bloat or die before morning....I have to limit my guys ,,they would eat 10 cups a night and never look back.....then they couldnt move...

Excellent thread , Zeus  THanks for posting it.

I knew what you were getting at.and so did all the rest of the working people....

Sabel and Bhandi the two slim sables , run all day and never stop...in their pens they always have something in mouth and when I let them out   SABEL STARTS  her own circle and her own exercise pattern   she will run to fence and cover the whole three acres checking the whole fence line, come back grab the toys and start her getaway .....she plays a game of this is mine , you cant have it....she and Bhandi are my two slimmer dogs because they genetically  are that way,,,,they run off  alll calories and I actually feed them more because of that...

I think the females lin the pics ook very good -- how do they feel?

I confess I agree that if a dog has pano and needs to be restrricted in activity he needs to have his food intake reduced temporarily.

I'm impressed and not surprised that the kind hearted folks are coming out and supporting the idea that the happiness of our dogs matters, too.  I thought I was going to be out on a limb, perhaps, and am happy I'm not.

Xeus:

I think that SchH is more like football than the marathon, although it's not a linemen's job, but a defensive back or safety's.  The sport is takes a training plan of something between rugby and soccer.  I bet if we put a pressure coil on our training leads we would note that dogs are doing a lot of pulling, perhaps the equivalent of serious weight pulling, during our training sessions.

I carefully said 5 miles at the pace that an AD dog has to run 12.  I think the conditioning needed for the AD is excessive for a dog's lifetime.  It would be like a marathoner trying to stay in sub 2:30 shape forever.  So when I said 5 I did not mean to imply that a gsd should live like a marathoner, but just be in good general shape.  Any decent dog can run 5 miles at a 6 min.mi clip.

You see the need for endurance in some big dogs who do get winded at the end of protection.

None of this is directly related to long term health, of course.  Xeus, you and I are now fading from our big muscle days and we'd be better off increasing our mileage.  I think a SchH dog in retirement needs to reduce his power and increase his general aerobic conditioning for his health.

Xeus - read the label on this RAW we use - I order it to ensure a good balance of ingredients

http://www.lizzyshealthypetfood.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=33

and I do use 50% Royal Canine GSD 24

I would say, feeding 2 adult dogs, I spend @ $42 per week

I also use raw baby carrots, green beans as snacks, along with freeze dried raw niblets, add yogurt to their dry sometimes and spend about $5 per week on these extras.

They are on the side of "could lose a few pounds" - going to training 2x's week plus lots of daily exercise.  My girl stays on the thin side but eats more, my boy stays more fit and turns his nose up if he's not hungry.  Genetics and metabolism make each different, so I treat them different.

As many rightfully say, are they healthy?  Full, shiny coat, bright eyes, good stamina, well hydrated?  It is unique for every dog but I am happy with the results in mine.

My phylosophy on this dog stuff is this,

1. You show them love

2. Feed them well

3. play / excercise    =

A dog  who will work for you and would give his life for you.

Thought I'd bump this thread, because I just saw a dog in the database that is an excellent example of a fit, healthy dog...but he's showing a lot of ribs. Personally, I'd like to see a few more pounds on this dog (and less rib) but no way would you say he's too skinny to be healthy!

Dunco Va-Pe, VPGA, SVV@, !PO3, SCHH3, KKl 1

the above dog looks well muscled and healthy, but yes, i agree.......showing a few too many ribs.  i like to see the back 1-2 ribs but no more.

I think he looks great. Look at the front and rear, nice muscle in both. He is an overall thick dog, bone, neck, head, yet compact. Very nice dog indeed.

Dunco looks like a dog who is conditioned properly.  He has muscle where he is soppose too.  He looks like a very powerfull dog...........

I have seen Dunco recently. He looks much better in person than in the picture. He is a very nice and well muscled dog.