My "big boned" dog

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hi everyone!

So funny story. Moose has recently filled out a lot! He will be a year next week and no longer looks like a lanky teenager but now a very thick, muscular, big dog. The other day I was scratching his sides and I had this sudden realization that Moose might be fat. Loki has more of a poodle build to him so he has always been lean and unless he gets sick (God forbid) I really don't think I will ever have to worry about weight with him. Moose on the other hand is a little piggy! So when I was petting him and realized that he feels like there is wayyyy too much mass here I got concerned that he was becoming a little chunky monkey!
So I stopped into the vet for a walk in appointment and felt like a moron at the desk when they asked what was wrong and all I had to say was "I think my dog is fat.". They just kind of looked at me like there was another half to the sentence and then after an awkward silence walked me over to the scale and told me someone would come out in a minute. Apparently Moose is big boned not fat. As the vet told me this in all seriousness, I laughed and asked if this translates into he should lose 10-20 pounds but we don't want to offend him. All I could think of was how many times my friends and I make reference to maybe being big boned as an excuse to cancel on the gym, or eat a pizza or whatever else.

But back to this- apparently he's a great weight and the vet looked him over and he's right were he should be, he's just actually big boned and a big boy! Just a little funny story that I hope will make someone smile :)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Welllllll....that's my story....and I'm stick g to it! :p


Moose...living up to his name, and apparently took on the Retriever gene as opposed to the Poodle. Enz looks like a walking stick when she gets wet....and all fluff, when she's dry.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Lol! Enzo sounds like Loki, he is almost all fluff on a poodle body. And then Moose is the moose who is apparently built more like is Bernese mom. :)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Oops....Bernese! Even more so!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It is a cute story, and better yet, it has a happy ending. 

I have to commend you for keeping tabs on Moose's weight and body condition. So many dog owners don't until the dog is seriously overweight, and it's a lot harder to get it off than it was to put it on. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Thanks! That is a fear of mine because I like that when dogs are at healthy weights, you don't have to feel bad about giving treats. Since they are soooo food motivated I don't want to lose that opportunity for trainings sake! I don't think I would have thought anything of his build if I wasn't constantly comparing the two of them, especially since they come from the same gene pool. :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I love this!  Murph always stays pretty lean, but Guinness ( my mini) can "pork up" in no time if I'm not watching him.  He's currently on another diet because his annual vet check will be coming up in a couple of months and I'm avoiding the "lecture"...LOL.  With the good weather on it's way here in the Northeast I'm hoping that the fact that we'll be walking more will help too.  I'm loving the "big boned excuse"...I only wish it would work for me.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Clancy is big boned also!  Truly.  I guess some are just built that way.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

LOVE this story- it gave me good chuckle!  Being in healthcare, all I could think of is how there would be the same awkward silence at the reception desk of a Walk In clinic if I showed up and said the same thing. "I think I'm fat." Lol

I keep pretty close tabs on Winnie's weight, too. She's got the body of a lean poodle under her super thick coat. If I let her coat grow out too much, she looks downright pudgy. We tease her that it's time for a haircut so that she can show off her "girlish figure.."  :-)

[Marilyn and Sherlock]

I have 2 Aussiedoodles and have the same thing.....Sherlock has so much poodle showing...curly, strong and sturdy body... he is multi generation..... Watson, on the other hand, has a much thinner, scruffy appearance being first generation.... more like the Australian Shepherd......but right now Sherlocks hair is longer and it is heavy due to winter..... after grooming he will look 20 pounds lighter....

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

I like this!!!! Lucca and Izzy are exactly the same size and weight but Izzy looks lean and Lucca looks like he could "lose a few pounds!"(as many have suggested)!! I actually give Lucca a little less food but he has NEVER lost weight. I have contributed it to the big bone theory. Sooo he also has more of the retriever bone structure. Justified... YES!!

[Kaitee and Orwell]

I have the exact opposite problem. In the summer when I take Orwell swimming around other people I don't know I feel very self conscious because when he gets wet, he has chicken legs and doesn't look like he has any substance to him in general. All I can think is, "I swear I feed my dog, I swear I feed him. He's not neglected." I'm always afraid someone will judge me because of his body type. I've also had him checked and is the perfect weight. He's very solid, but doesn't look like it sometimes. 

Orwell was the biggest in his litter, but he has a brother his same height, but is 90 lbs to his 70 lbs. That dog isn't fat either, just big-boned like a lab would be. The only indication that Orwell has any lab in him is his head and eyebrows. Though, I'm happy about that because his weight should mean less stress on his joints in his later years.

[Cynthia Shoe]

That is THE BEST story! I love it. 

Lambeau is 7.5 months and he is no longer looks like a puppy and it makes me sad. I was walking him in the part the other day and a kid in a stroller pointed at him and said 'PUPPY!' and then the mother said 'That's a doggy. A BIG DOGGY' and I almost cried! He went from being a little puppy to a big doggy is just a few months. He still looks little to me, but apparently a 54 pound fluffy puppy is a BIG DOGGY.