Shelties and Muscle Development

G

Greenepony

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We saw a new vet today on an emergency visit (Olive strained a muscle in her herding lesson) and she commented that Olive is in great shape despite the FHO-based asymmetry and that Shelties can have a hard time developing muscle so they're usually under-muscled. It's not unbelievable that some dogs could have a harder time building muscle but it seems weird that a herding/farm dog would have a hard time building muscle- that sort of undesirable trait would be bred out.

Thoughts?
 
My Spirit is not naturally muscular. She's been on a conditioning program and has built muscle through that - essential since she competes in agility, but if we had not worked so hard she would have remained very slender and wiry. My younger girl, Skylar, seems to be built a little more sturdy than Spirit and will probably have an easier time building muscle.
 
Kind of a strange thing to say. Most of the Shelties he would see are non-athletic dogs, probably couch potatoes so maybe that's why.

Shelties have athletic bodies, lean and lithe with long muscles, just like any other sheep herding breed. It isn't that they aren't muscular, they just have muscles honed for a specific purpose. When Tully was shaved for her hip replacement, she had a definite look of a greyhound, which I figured was probably appropriate for a dog designed for endurance and agility and not take down a bull.
 
Caro said:
Kind of a strange thing to say. Most of the Shelties he would see are non-athletic dogs, probably couch potatoes so maybe that's why.

Shelties have athletic bodies, lean and lithe with long muscles, just like any other sheep herding breed. It isn't that they aren't muscular, they just have muscles honed for a specific purpose. When Tully was shaved for her hip replacement, she had a definite look of a greyhound, which I figured was probably appropriate for a dog designed for endurance and agility and not take down a bull.
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Exactly. It was just weird that the vet suggested that they'd have trouble developing any muscle. Olive isn't even that fit right now - a couple of flat walk/stroll miles a week at most - and she has decent build (actually, I'd like if she'd lose a pound or two.) She's a pretty easy keeper as far as fitness is concerned. My first sheltie was the same.
 
Riley didn't have a lot of muscle mass despite being a working service dog. Even though our vet said he was in ideal condition I started him on FitPaws balance equipment at Christmas. Just yesterday I noticed that he's really starting to firm up. I wonder if perhaps it's because shelties need more exercise than the average dog. Anyways, you may want to try some FitPaws equipment if your dog is having trouble with muscle strains. It's actually quite fun and easy. Riley just got the hang of getting all four paws on a FitBone without help. He kind of surprised himself as he was just following a kibble and found himself up there. He actually turned and looked at his back paws before looking at me so proud of himself. Then for the rest of our session he kept wanting to get on the bone :)
 
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