Hi there,

Murphy is almost four months old - where has the time gone?!

His weight is about 36 lbs - is this about average for this age in a lab?
I can feel his ribs and I think he's probably going to be a big dog...he's on 5% of his body weight in food at the moment. Any ideas?

TTFN

Ruth

Our Bella was 36lb at 17 weeks - she made a 60lb bitch (working-type) when in her prime. I always weigh my pups once a week for a year, and do out a graph (sad, isn't it:)) so I've always got something to refer back to.

Hi Jeangenie,

I've got a chart too!:D

Problem is, I soon won't be able to pick him up to weight him - I do that and subtract the difference. I could always get him to 'piroette' on the scales!
I think they do put a lot of weight on fast and then slow down in adolesence - don't they? Please say they do!!

TTFN

Ruth

Righto, let's see. I've got the graph out in front of me..... she was gaining about 2 and a half pounds a week till she was 20 weeks, then it slowed to about one and a half for another couple of months, then slowed further till she reached her maximum of 64 lb at about 40 weeks, then after about 50 weeks she lost a couple of pounds and stayed there for years....

I got quite good at holding her in my arms as I stood on the scales - husband had to read the scales though as I couldn't see the dial! Then he had to avert his eyes as I weighed myself and did the sums!!!! :D

If you like I'll email you pics of her in her prime and you can see the type she was.

Thanks Jeangenie, pics would be great!

Her weight gain sounds like Murphy's up to now which is reassuring! He's bound to be heavier though, being a dog.

TTFN

Ruth

Anna's a little heavier boned than your girl Jan. She is also well over breed standard in height so tends to be a bit heavier. I reckoned her working weight was about 72lbs. A month after the end of this season I figured she had put on a little so weighed her again and she was 81 lbs! She had damaged her tail during the season so I had not done much with her when the season finished thinking I'd let that heal up first. When I realised she had put on so much weight I put her on a diet and started some Dummy work to tighten her up. I looked at her last weekend and thought how trim she looked so I put her on the scales again and she is now. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83lbs!!! doesn’t muscle weigh heavy!

John

That's my husband's excuse!!!

But that's why I reckon you should always go by the look of the dog, and not what the scales tell you.

hi there John and Jan,

People often say that when they go to the gym to lose weight, they end up heavier than when they started!
It's true, muscle weighs heavier than fat.
We're not walking Murph yet as he's only four months old but he does go out for a five minute stroll once a day. He's a very active dog around the house - where does he burn off his calories?!:D

TTFN

Ruth

Keep the exercise down as you are for the time being but remember, everything he sees is so important at this age. It's all part of his socialisation. Put him in the car and take him somewhere else to walk so he sees different things. I would also have my puppies in the fields to have a little free running by that age. Choose a safe place where it is impossible to get onto a road. You dont need to walk far, he will exercise himself. Call him back, treat and or praise him then let him go again so that he does not think you are going to put the lead on as soon as you call him. Again, 5 to 10 minutes is quite long enough. On another day go somewhere where there is a roadside seat and spend a few minutes quietly sitting to let him absorb the sights and sounds of the traffic.

Best wishes, John

Thanks John for the advice. We live in Battle, not far from the sea so we could take him down there - I'm sure he'd love it!

TTFN

Ruth