Pup is too skinny - Brittany

[jetjockey]

 I've seen plenty of fat Brittany's, even the ones who get exercised. If you have a good eater, they will plump right up , they are no different then any other breed. The nice thing about PPP All life stages, is it is exactly that, food made for All life stages, including puppies.  Do you have any pictures?  I agree with some of the other posters, bird dogs arent suppose to be fat, and may look too skinny to most people when they are in good shape.  75% of the hunting dogs I see are overweight.

[McCRIZZLEY]

Is taste of the wild the expensive ones in foil bags? We had issues with our pup being light weight on the recommended servings of that, switched food and she plumped right up. Everything I have heard about free feeding is not good, just builds bad habits.

As far as watering food goes, I was doing that for a while too until I noticed my dog was not chewing as much and would just swallow it, resulting in dirtier teeth and the occasional puke.

Just my experience, I wouldn't sweat it though, just keep an eye on it, I'm sure your pooch is just fine.

[McCRIZZLEY]

My apologies, Natural Evolution is the one we had issues with. No experience with taste of the wild. Advice holds true though, just keep an eye out and take a breath...

http://www.petsmart.com/dog/food/blue-wilderness-trade-grain-free-adult-dog-food-zid36-3290/cat-36-catid-100004;pgid=wGVgEzj3LslSRpUaXdJ1M_Jd00009BhMvpWN;sid=xSSLJaS5hFuAJfD_RpzJIZazrI0SXc0QXFxN9ghl?var_id=36-3290&_t=pfm%3Dcategory

[Bmcox86]

I feed the diamond extreme athlete, put the reccomended amount in the bowl every morning before work and he eats when he wants, usually in the evening. Never had a problem and vet said he's the perfect weight, mostly muscle though.

[hollymaster]

All three of my Brittany's stayed on the slim side till about 2 years old, even on 3 cups a day of nutrisource buffalo.

[scottr]

Some people (non hunters) think my pup is too skinny. IMO he's the Usain Bolt of bird dogs

[JODakota]

Some people (non hunters) think my pup is too skinny. IMO he's the Usain Bolt of bird dogs

That is a very fine looking setter!

[KFhunter]

at least the longer coat covers up the ribs 

I just been getting comments the pup looks too skinny, the vet said she was skinny too but then added it's hard to tell with the sporting dog breeds.

With all the feed I've been pushing through her she is looking a little better, but still folks think she's skinny

[scottr]

That is a very fine looking setter!

Thanks! he's almost 9 months and had his first real wild bird encounter last weekend on some grouse.

[deltaops]

I was worried about my Field Springer when I got him. He looked skinny and after the vet check up and updated shots, we now feed him 4 times a day. He is constantly active and will not slow down. 4 cups a day seems to be a good amount for him right now. I use Pedigree along with some Joint Health for Pets by Univera. you cannot buy the Univera Joint Health for Pets unless you know someone who sells Univera Products though. Vet says he is in great shape and very healthy.

[scottr]

at least the longer coat covers up the ribs 

I just been getting comments the pup looks too skinny, the vet said she was skinny too but then added it's hard to tell with the sporting dog breeds.

With all the feed I've been pushing through her she is looking a little better, but still folks think she's skinny

I get those comments too, even from the vet. You're the best judge on her weight. Unless you like your Britts like Ben O'Williams breeds which look more the size of setters IMO. She's an athlete so she's gonna run on the lean side, but like the book title, they are A Feisty Little Pointing Dog.

[jetjockey]

Don't listen to anything  David Web says about Brittany's.  He has no idea what he's talking about!

[AspenBud]

at least the longer coat covers up the ribs 

I just been getting comments the pup looks too skinny, the vet said she was skinny too but then added it's hard to tell with the sporting dog breeds.

With all the feed I've been pushing through her she is looking a little better, but still folks think she's skinny

Pointing dogs are not supposed to be flabby or fat. They are track athletes, their job is to run like hell and find birds, and just like a human track athlete they don't gain a lot of weight unless they aren't getting worked.

Weight leads to injuries. Weight causes problems with stamina. Weight causes a dog to worry more about catching its breath than what it is hunting.

I've seen some field trial Pointers that were literally nothing but bone and muscle. You could see their ribs, their spine, hips and shoulders, etc. Those dogs also looked like canine Arnold Schwarzeneggers. There is a vast difference between an in shape pointing dog that is thin because it's an athlete versus one that is emaciated.

A lot of people who don't know what an in shape dog should look like would say these dogs (not mine) are too skinny...at about 2:10 into the video you'll see why...

Pointers Pointing in the Back Yard

People who think that are dead wrong. That dog is a titled field trial dog, something an emaciated dog can not become.

Puppies also don't grow evenly. That can lead to the appearance of being "skinny" as well.

[AspenBud]

Sorry for ranting. I can't tell you how many times some joker has told me my dogs are skinny, or are asked why they are, often with a lab that has fat jiggling on it wandering not far off. My dogs have spent more time around vets, including at a teaching hospital, than most and all I ever hear out of them is how they look great and that they wish more dogs were that fit.

[KFhunter]

   She's checking out the bacon




I put that fence in to keep the dog in the yard, it's worked great with the electric along the bottom and top.  Gets lot's of exercise in there and I don't have to worry about her hunting the quail in the field without me there.   She don't come out the yard w/o a check cord on.  Got some pigeons too and a bunch of feral coming when I trap em.  Neighbor has a barn full.