Is there a weight issue here?

[Km]

Hi everyone.  We have greatly benefited from the advice and reading the posts here on DK.  We have successfully switched from Royal Canin to Orijen upon reading all the info on this site/posts.  I believe it's been about approx 2months since we have switched to Orijen.  When on RC from 2mo to 10mo, Ridley was getting approx 3 cups daily.  It was unintentional.  We were supposed to be giving I think around 2cups or 2 and 1/4.  However, after MONTHS, our sitter who is home with our kids during the day informed us that she had been giving him a cup of food in the middle of the day.  Which meant that DH and I thought we were feeding Ridley 2 cups but he was getting 3.  Of note, Ridley is incredibly well behaved in the fact that he has never counter surfed, stolen food, does not eat food left on the couch by my young kids, doesn't beg, root thru trash etc. Absolutely no bad habits (except stealing the kids toys outside and running off looking back at us for the chase!) Once we got Ridley groomed (aka shaved his puppy coat off and could see his body) I was of the opinion that he was mildly overweight.  Not obese but I just couldn't easily feel his ribs, and I don't see the "waist" when looking above or the "tuck."  I do think he probably has trimmed up a bit since starting Orijen b/c I'm starting to see a waist.  DH and others think I'm crazy and do NOT think he is overweight.  Prior to having Ridley, we had two greyhounds that were as you know lean machines with very prominent waists and abdominal tucks.  I am concerned that maybe everyone else is right and that I'm judging Ridley's body type a bit harsh?  He is 65 lbs and 12months.  Mom (GR) was 55 and dad (Small St Poodle) was 45 (if that matters).  

In light of our concern that he might be slightly overweight, we have him on 2cups of orijen.  Since doing this, he is noising the trash can, going after the kids' food, crying at us, barking at us to get him food and chewing up toys in the living room.  It's like night and day.  

I was hoping someone could take a look at these pictures and tell me their thoughts on his weight.  Is 2 cups sufficient for a 65lb Dood?  Should we just hold strong at this and his tummy will adjust or should we increase?  

Thank you! Kim

[Anita - Thunder, Noodle, Sparky]

I am anxious to hear the advice on this one! He looks about the size of my white one who has bad hips, and because of that, the vet wants him smaller. My 12 month old is a bit thinner, but super long legs and we know how those long-legged people are always skinny :)

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, I would say "slightly overweight", but nothing you can't deal with right away.  Cut back to 2 cups a day and keep it at that until you can feel (and see) his ribs.  He probably won't even notice the difference.  He is only one year old, so you want him trim and slim.

[Donna K & Quincy]

I think he looks nice and trim. :>) I thought Quincy may be getting a bit chunky too because I couldn't feel his ribs as easily as I used to. We were visiting friends who just happened to have their vet daughter visiting as well and I asked her opinion and she said he was just fine. Try adding some green beans to his diet, they will help fill him up while adding very few calories. We do have a few doodles who have been on the 'Doodle Green Bean Diet". :>)

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup?commentId=2065244%3A...

[Km]

That's a great idea that I'm not familiar with so far.... I can add green beans?  Cooked or raw?  I"m sure he'd love it.  He's not been a pick dood.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Your best bet with the green bean diet is to use low sodium canned beans, and warm them before feeding. One cup of green beans only contains 30 calories, and Orijen adult formula contains 480 calories per cup, so if you substitute a whole cup of beans for a quarter cup of his Orijen, he gets two and three quarters cups of food instead of his usual two cups, and 90 calories less than he would with the usual two cups of Orijen. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

No sodium canned or fresh cooked. Most doodles seem to like them Quincy included. :>)

[Julie and Maggie]

I've got green beans growing out my ears in the garden right now. This is the prime season. I just chop them up raw and throw them in her bowl or give them to her as treats. I guess I might cook them if I didn't grow them myself. Hadn't thought about that though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What is Ridley's current age and weight? Which Orijen formula is he eating? 

[Km]

He's 12mo and 65lbs.  He is on orijen adult.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Two cups a day of Orijen is the minimum he should be getting, unless he's getting a lot of treats. I would not cut back his kibble at all, but you can give him a cup of green beans each day to help fill him up without adding any significant calories.

[Maryellen and Curly Lambeau]

Ok now I'm worried, my Curly weighs 53lbs and she gets 2 cups of Fromms per day. She does look like Ridley which I thought was perfect. I think you also need to look at how active he is. Curly walks 3 miles per day, chases a ball, and plays chase it.

[Julie and Maggie]

Hey Maryellen, just wanted to say that Maggie is 52 pounds and gets about 3 cups of Fromm Adult Gold a day, but that doesn't mean she eats 3 cups a day. She is a grazer. I find that if I add fresh foods or a couple spoonfuls of canned meats to her kibble she comes for it quicker. I've actually started doing that more. She gets her food in the morning and sometimes it is still there at dinner. I think sometimes she eats in the middle of the night too. 

She hasn't been terribly active in the last few months and that is my fault due to my schedule. Not counting her evening zoomies and retrieving the ball games in the house. But we are changing that up now and we are both getting more active with walks around town and signing up for a class. I am interested to see if her appetite changes with more activity or if she gets more consistent when she eats.

Anyway, she has been this weight for a while and her vet has said she is in great shape. 

I don't know what the calorie count is for Fromm. Of course I could look it up.