Ideal Weight in Dogs

We are often blinded by breed standards when assessing whether or not a dog is overweight. We hear things like "Labradors should have a massive body" and "Salukis should be slender". This often leads to too fat retrievers and too skinny sighthounds. I've also heard breeders say things like "puppies should have some extra fat so that they will fare better if they get diarrhea or other diseases". In all this we must keep track of what a normal healthy dog looks like.

Most Labradors, and most Retrievers of the other breeds, have a "heavy" body, not an ideal (see picture above). Most people that has a Retriever will also aim for this body type in their dog. This is the type we are used to seeing, the type that wins dog shows. The "ideal" body type seen in the above picture are by most Retriever owners seen as too skinny.

But what about the other end of the scale? I've been to dog shows where I've seen Salukis and other sighthounds that were so skinny they looked almost emaciated or at least very thin. This is of course not any better. You are supposed to feel the ribs, not see the hipbones sticking out!

So when it comes to weight, no matter what breed of dog, you should be able to feel the ribs easily, but not see them on a dog that is standing. You should be able to see the narrowing of the waist behind the ribs when viewing the dog from above. It is especially important to remember this when it comes to puppies, as too much weight on growing bones and joints can lead to problems in the development of these. It is actually better for puppies to bee a bit too thin than a bit too heavy.

If your dog is overweight or obese, contact your vet. They can help you find the right food and the right amount to feed your dog, both during the weight loss and after.