How much to feed

[SheepOfBlue]

So porkchop aka Sca is not going to like me posting but....

I feed him 1/2 a cup in the morning and 1/2 at night. He gets half of a treat in the morning before going out and sometimes another half when I go to work. Tops two cookies on non-flyball day. He is getting Innova Red Meat Small Bites for food and the bag recommends 1 3/4 for a dog his weight.

So the punch line is me and the vet both think he should be around 30 lbs but even at almost half of their recommended feed level he is staying the same weight. What am I doing wrong

 

[Phebe*DD]

So porkchop aka Sca is not going to like me posting but....

I feed him 1/2 a cup in the morning and 1/2 at night. He gets half of a treat in the morning before going out and sometimes another half when I go to work. Tops two cookies on non-flyball day. He is getting Innova Red Meat Small Bites for food and the bag recommends 1 3/4 for a dog his weight.

So the punch line is me and the vet both think he should be around 30 lbs but even at almost half of their recommended feed level he is staying the same weight. What am I doing wrong

Try more flyball days!

 

[BarbV]

Koji is 17.5". I'd say he's more fine boned than Miko.
Miko is 15.5". He's on the fine boned side, but seems big boned compared to Koji (his brother was big boned).

I don't want this thread to get OT, so don't worry about it. I know they're not real skinny (their ribs aren't easily felt), but I just worry cuz that seems so low. lol. Vet time soon anyways.

Seems a little light to me. But my guys are both porkers at about the 18" and 30 lbs. Indy especially, because he is finer boned than Bacca.

I think their best weight would be about 23 to 24 lbs.

Under 20 lbs for 17.5" seems light. You might want to pork them up abit. But the real test is the touch test. Feeling down their rib cage and underbelly.

I know you know this already. Just reminding you that you are the best judge.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Try more flyball days!

He probably snoozes when I am at work (but his ball does move around) but we play frisbee every night except rain days. So he does get a decent amount of running in. I cannot figure how he stays heavy unless someone is stealth feeding him (I strongly doubt it). When he goes to Mom and Dad's maybe since he has Mom fooled but not normally.

 

[Caro]

You would be surprised at how much they burn off when they are just moving around generally (dare I say another dog would help him burn more calories). Deska lost 1 1/2 kg really quickly after getting treatment for his elbows because he was just moving about more - spinning when he saw bikes, bouncing when he was happy and moving about the house more. I think dogs that fidget and are more restless generally burn up more (works for humans). So if you want a slim dog crazy is good.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

You would be surprised at how much they burn off when they are just moving around generally (dare I say another dog would help him burn more calories). Deska lost 1 1/2 kg really quickly after getting treatment for his elbows because he was just moving about more - spinning when he saw bikes, bouncing when he was happy and moving about the house more. I think dogs that fidget and are more restless generally burn up more (works for humans). So if you want a slim dog crazy is good.

and yet he is a couple over Maybe I need to start a fat Sca thread next week

 

[Ann]

You would be surprised at how much they burn off when they are just moving around generally (dare I say another dog would help him burn more calories). Deska lost 1 1/2 kg really quickly after getting treatment for his elbows because he was just moving about more - spinning when he saw bikes, bouncing when he was happy and moving about the house more. I think dogs that fidget and are more restless generally burn up more (works for humans). So if you want a slim dog crazy is good.

This is so true, Caro!! Our Barkley, who is the Wild Man, is never still. (or quiet! ) He never has a weight issue, and he gets more food than both my girls, who are couch potatoes. They'd spend the day eating bon bons and watching soap operas if I'd let them and blow up like blimps.

There IS something to be said for crazy!

 

[Diana]

Really the best way to find out whether your dog is overweight - or underweight - is to ask your vet for an honest opinion. Your vet will give you an honest opinion if you ask.

To be honest, I believe it doesn't really help to get comments from the peanut factory here. We all have dogs of different shape and bone size, and weight and height don't always tell you alone whether a Sheltie is overweight. They're informative, but it's better to talk with an expert who has the capability to reach into your dog's coat and feel how much extra is around the ribs and abdomen.

After talking to your vet, read Dr. Mac's thread about how much to feed your dog.

 

[take4roll10]

This is so true, Caro!! Our Barkley, who is the Wild Man, is never still. (or quiet! ) He never has a weight issue, and he gets more food than both my girls, who are couch potatoes. They'd spend the day eating bon bons and watching soap operas if I'd let them and blow up like blimps.

There IS something to be said for crazy!

Absolutely agree! Bailey is a nutcase. Always on the go. The only times she sleeps is at night and when I'm eating. Such a good girl! She gets at minimum of 15 mini zuke treats a day. During agility class, she gets 1/4 of a turkey hot dog, yet this girl has a physique to die for. No weight issues with her.

To answer the OP's comments... my bag of TOTW lists the calories per cup one the bag. And I agree, every dog is different...age, activity level, body structure, metabolic rate, etc. You have to feed the amount that works for your individual dog. If they're too pudgy, cut back food/treats and increase exercise. Too thin then increase food. That's what I do. I don't really think there's a simple way or mathematical solution to figure out how much to feed. I think it's just trial and error until you find the right amount to maintain your dog's ideal weight. Bailey eats 1/2 of what the bag recommends for her size.

 

[Lightplum]

This is so true, Caro!! Our Barkley, who is the Wild Man, is never still. (or quiet! ) He never has a weight issue, and he gets more food than both my girls, who are couch potatoes. They'd spend the day eating bon bons and watching soap operas if I'd let them and blow up like blimps.

There IS something to be said for crazy!

Absolutely agree! Bailey is a nutcase. Always on the go. The only times she sleeps is at night and when I'm eating. Such a good girl! She gets at minimum of 15 mini zuke treats a day. During agility class, she gets 1/4 of a turkey hot dog, yet this girl has a physique to die for. No weight issues with her.

To answer the OP's comments... my bag of TOTW lists the calories per cup one the bag. And I agree, every dog is different...age, activity level, body structure, metabolic rate, etc. You have to feed the amount that works for your individual dog. If they're too pudgy, cut back food/treats and increase exercise. Too thin then increase food. That's what I do. I don't really think there's a simple way or mathematical solution to figure out how much to feed. I think it's just trial and error until you find the right amount to maintain your dog's ideal weight. Bailey eats 1/2 of what the bag recommends for her size.

hahaahaa I think we need to get Barkley, Bailey and Six together and they can wear each other out...but seriously Six gets double the amount of food compared to the rest of the group here and he is by far still the thinnest...it really does depend on their activity levels. Six never stops from the second his crate opens until he gets put back in his crate again...hes running and non stop movement....as oppused to his brother who'd rather sleep on the bed up on a puffy pillow! Talk about opposites!!