At what point is a puppy fat rather than chunky?

[jmanagh]

Well, I looked at Alfie yesterday, after he had eaten his chicken wing for tea  , and decided he looked fat rather than chunky   He has an enormous appetite, but I am weighing his food out and taking into account any sea jerky treats he has.

I can feel his ribs but there is a good layer of fat over them. Is there a point that a puppy is fat rather than chunky   How can I tell?

I have cut down his portions today. He is having Natural Instinct for breakfast and lunch and a chicken wing for tea. I was giving him 6% of his body weight in raw food. I have dropped that to 5% today, is that ok? (I know that technically he should have 4 meals until 4 months but on the breeders advice I have dropped him to 3 as he wasn't as interested in the mid morning meal, probably because he is usually snoozing then  )

Also, any fruits and veg I give him, I have added on in addition. Is this ok or should I include it in his allowance?

I'm now wondering if this should have gone into the feeding thread rather than puppy   Mods please move it if I am wrong and sorry.

Thanks, Jacqui

[Anita D]

Hi jmanagh, my understanding for pups is that they should be fed 4-6% of body weight. When you look at your pup from above you should be able to see a waist.  You should be able to feel but not see ribs.  Adjust food up and down to maintain the correct weight.  If you are worried you could ask your vet to weigh your pup.

To be honest it sounds like you are on the right track. 

[Jonnydog]

Alfie looks absolutely fine in the photo wearing his new harness. He's still a baby after all. We picked Penny up at 10 weeks she weighed 3.2kg and she's always been on the tiddly side. I'm not sure what Alfie weighs, but I recall there were several pups the same age as Penny who were much chunkier. The breeder had another litter the same age as Penny, and honestly, they would all have made two of her. She was delighted with them. Don't worry about your wee man. He'll be growing so fast at this stage that he'll not look the same two days running!

[Jane57]

When we picked chunky Riley up we got him weighed two days before he was 10 weeks and he was 4.2kg
Now he is just under 6 months he is about 9.6kg.
I think Alfie looks perfect.

[jmanagh]

Thank-you everyone  I think I am just a worrying Mum  My daughters think I worry more about what the dogs eat than what they eat  He was 3.6kg on Monday at exactly 10 weeks. I felt that he was looking chunkier though yesterday than he did on Monday. I have cut him down to 5% of his weight in raw food and factored in his sea jerky treats. Going to have leaner meats this week (chicken) too. I can feel his ribs, but not see them. I can just see his waist but probably not after he has just eaten. I just want to do the best for him and would hate for him to have problems through being overweight (says she who is overweight herself ). I think when he can start to have a few short walks from Monday next week that will help keep his weight in check and mine 

Jacqui

[Jane57]

Thank-you everyone  I think I am just a worrying Mum  My daughters think I worry more about what the dogs eat than what they eat  He was 3.6kg on Monday at exactly 10 weeks. I felt that he was looking chunkier though yesterday than he did on Monday. I have cut him down to 5% of his weight in raw food and factored in his sea jerky treats. Going to have leaner meats this week (chicken) too. I can feel his ribs, but not see them. I can just see his waist but probably not after he has just eaten. I just want to do the best for him and would hate for him to have problems through being overweight (says she who is overweight herself ). I think when he can start to have a few short walks from Monday next week that will help keep his weight in check and mine 

Jacqui

Lol at your daughters Jacqui 
I think your just wanting the best for Alfie. Riley for example looks really chunky (our neighbour even said he needed bit weight off )  he knows nothing about cocker coats 
Riley is so fluffy, but when he is wet he looks so much leaner, I reckon his coat weighs about a kg 
Im sure it will even out when Alfie gets out on his little walks soon. I find Im walking lots more now with having Riley , which is good.

[Helen]

I wouldn't put a puppy on a diet - they have stages where they are chubby preceding a growth spurt 

[karen488]

Bingley was round when we got him, and for some time after. He has over time grown into himself! Now he's too thin!

[Sharon]

3.6kgs isn't heavy at all, I've had pups leave at 8 weeks heavier than that.  Don't cut his food back he needs it, he's a growing boy!

[lauren2709]

I wouldn't put a puppy on a diet - they have stages where they are chubby preceding a growth spurt 

I thought Molly was looking a little plump last week but that puts my mind at ease. 

[jackie 14]

My little! man is 7kg at 4 months old

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Charlie was a chunky pup, he didn't look fat but he weighed 8kg at 14/15 weeks. Now at a year he's about 13.4/13.5kg.

[jmanagh]

I wouldn't put a puppy on a diet - they have stages where they are chubby preceding a growth spurt 

Well Helen, this week he is definitely having a growth spurt and thinned out again  I feel much less worried now, the poor thing seemed to be really waddling this time last week  Thanks for the advice and reassurance everyone 

[Jane57]

I

[jak3]

My Alfie was defenetly a chunky pup he always had tons and tons of lose skin even on his face we just kept telling him you will grow into it son lol and oh my he sure did, he is know 9mnths and weighs over 16kg a big boy no way fat thou on some occasions can see a hint of his ribs but he is solid I think he burns off his food in seconds with his crazy mad energy lol!