Too many fat dogs.

[MandyLionRock]

there are plenty of pics of peoples dogs on this board , could you show me some you consider to be the obese ones ???? there's a picture section also where you might be able to find some ............ I honestly don't remember the last time I was at the vets and saw a big dog that struck me as obese ? I don't believe dogs get the arterial diseases we do , I think their heart problems are limited to genetic diseases ........... as far as joint disease , weight may exacerbate it , but it certainly doesn't cause it .........I think I've known 2 diabetic dogs in my life , and the one I know now definitely isn't from lack of exercise or obesity ......I've seen more physically ripped looking dogs drop dead from a warm day to think what they look like like means anything as to how fit or healthy they are ....... and I got plenty of names and pics of those dogs , along with some old fat smooth ones I've raised ......

Wrong on all accounts. Weight does cause joint issues, weight does cause heart issues, weight does shorten a dog's life and a ripped dog or person is a definitive sign that said person or dog is, all other things being equal, in better physical condition. Do you also not believe the sun comes up on the morning?

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[MandyLionRock]

I know there are overweight dogs , I've had a few , i'm sure I got one you'd say was overweight right now ....... I just don't believe it's a major health problem , I don't think you will find much in the way of an obese mastiff ...........most folks don't have the time to actually condition a dog , do you have any idea how long it takes to walk a dog into condition ????? how old is your dog ? got a pic of him ??? this one I called "Tubby" , he's 12 in this pic ............................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................this one was called mortisha , she didn't live to see three , she dropped dead on a warm day, I got a bunch more ....................................................................................................................................................................

If you don't have the time to "walk your dog into condition" then you are not fit to own a dog. Dogs need love, a healthy and controlled diet, kind and firm leadership AND sufficient exercise to make sure they live up to their potential. If any of those things are beyond you please don't get a dog.

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[MandyLionRock]

If you don't have the time to exercise your dog you shouldn't have one. I've posted many pics of Solo. He's almost 2. Look around.


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Amen

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[MandyLionRock]

Mortisha was a beauty. Here are some of Solo.

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Perfection

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[MandyLionRock]

Wow! Quite the thread. I've read through and will skip all the silliness and back and forth and just say that I definitely agree that there are far too many overweight dogs and that it is indeed inexcusable. I don't have an opinion on overweight adult humans, not my monkeys, not my circus.

A dog, however, can't make the decision as to what it's health will be like so it's absolutely the owners fault if their dog is overweight. I'm fairly passionate about the subject especially with the Mastiff's because we are already working with a short lived breed so we should do all we can to give them a full, healthy life.

I am very proud of my dogs, they are my very best friends and definitely my family and I raise them accordingly. I exercise them daily and they love it. I feed them a quality kibble and add cooked meat to each meal which I've been told over and over is BAD for them, I disagree.

There are a couple things I have seen that I disagree with. Someone said obesity in dogs is not an epidemic and that is not true. Research the topic, speak to a few vets or simply flip through a bunch of pictures and you will see that it is very much an epidemic and it is only getting worse. Ruger (EM) is well over 200 pounds without a bit of fat on him. I was told in a Mastiff Facebook site the other day that there is no way he weighs that much because their dog was 215 pounds and way bigger. Their dog was "bigger" around (fat) however, Ruger was at least three inches taller, has a bigger bone structure, a thicker neck, a large mass of muscle and a much bigger head so it's all relative I suppose. I've also been told that because of his weight in numbers he must be overweight even though pictures show a very clearly healthy, muscular boy but they are stuck on the numbers. If you like you are more than welcome to look at the tons of pictures of both of mine that I have posted in my years here.

On the other hand, even though this thread does not address it, overly thin dogs are unhealthy as well. Magnum (GD) is a two year old healthy, muscular boy who weighs 180 pounds. He is thick but fit and has no fat on him. In the Great Dane community I don't see too many overweight dogs but the opposite..way too thin because "keeping them thin helps them live longer" some of these dogs you can easily see all of their ribs when they are standing still and there are a few that you can see spines and hip bones. Horrible! The look like overly tall malnourished Greyhounds.

In the end, if we decide to get a dog we should do whatever we can to give them healthy, happy lives.

Each dog is different and require different levels of food and exercise to remain healthy and happy and it is up to us to figure out what that is and supply it.


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I agree with you on all accounts. Like you said... people have a choice in how much or little they eat or exercise while dogs do not. We owe our best friends to make the best decisions for them.
I also agree that numbers aren't a way to determine fat. I always keep my dogs in perfect condition and their size ranged between 180 and 265 pounds. They were all lean but buff. Muscle weighs more than fat anyway. A dog's condition can not be determined by a scale but rather with our eyes. A fat dog is as obvious as a fat person. It's easy to see unless one does not want to see. Thank you for your intelligent reply.

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[MandyLionRock]

I agree if you don't have time to keep your dog fit and healthy then don't have one, we walk all 3 daily then with training and play they keep active not just physical but mentally also,

Agreed. I don't know how people have it in themselves to make these kind of excuses.

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[MandyLionRock]

if your dogs are conditioned your not gonna worry about it being 80degrees when you walk them .......... they'll undoubtedly walk 3-4 miles without missing a beat ....... it was 80 degrees today when I took two completely out of shape ddb for a 2.5 mile walk/jog , it didn't put a dent in either of them , and it was obvious the walking part was for me .... they're without question out of shape , I bred the one in December of 2014 , I haven't exercised her since ...... if she can go out and run 3 miles is she fit ????? I know she's not ........... there is only one way to actually condition a dog , run them , with you , on a treadmill , with a bike , rollerblades ........your not gonna condition a dog with a springpole , a flirt pole , or a tug , there are not enough hours in a day ....swimming , i bet you could if you had a boat , nothing I've done or tried ... I've walked 4-5month old ddb pups 3 miles ...... walking my ddb is exercise for me , it's mentally good for them , so is taking them out for a ride to the store .......from my perspective to get conditioned you need to push past what you are normally capable of a little at a time ...... I work with a guy who is 6'3" , he weighs 330-350lbs , he's in his mid 40's , he runs for a half hour every night after he lifts .... i'd love to see someone to tell him he's fat cause he's lazy and eats too much , LMFAO ......... this dogue could run 12miles in about 1.5 hours , I've seen some conditioned dogs , took about 2-3 hours 5-6 days a week , plus she ran around loose allday with 3 other dogs .........love to see some pics of obese English mastiffs ........

It's clear to me that you should not have a dog. And if your friend is working out as much as he does then no one needs to tell him he needs to work out... he's already doing it because he knows he needs it so kudos to him. Your entire reasoning is completely distorted. I feel bad for a dog in your care. Dogs deserve the best. They deserve absolute love and absolute commitment. If it's too hot during the day then you exercise them at night. There is NO excuse not to provide what your dog needs. If you can't do it then you should not own a dog. Period.

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[karennj]

I think diet is the biggest factor. My swiss mountain dog was overweight for a bit when my children were young. She was eating the food the littles were throwing off their tray and I did not realize how much she gained until one day I took a look at her from above and was shocked. Her waist was completely gone and a trip to the vet confirmed she had gained 10 pounds since she was last seen. I immediately started blocking her from the kitchen when the kids were eating and cut back her food a little bit. I didn't add any additional exercise, just a change in diet. Very quickly we got her back to ideal body condition. Now I am watching her condition all the time making sure she does not creep up again. She is almost 9yrs old and getting very stiff in the rear so I am keeping her moving as much as possible to keep up her muscle tone.

 

[MandyLionRock]

I think diet is the biggest factor. My swiss mountain dog was overweight for a bit when my children were young. She was eating the food the littles were throwing off their tray and I did not realize how much she gained until one day I took a look at her from above and was shocked. Her waist was completely gone and a trip to the vet confirmed she had gained 10 pounds since she was last seen. I immediately started blocking her from the kitchen when the kids were eating and cut back her food a little bit. I didn't add any additional exercise, just a change in diet. Very quickly we got her back to ideal body condition. Now I am watching her condition all the time making sure she does not creep up again. She is almost 9yrs old and getting very stiff in the rear so I am keeping her moving as much as possible to keep up her muscle tone.

You're doing the right thing. With an older dog you should not work them hard. It's better to take them for longer but slower walks... keeping a dog in the best condition is always a combination of good diet and exercise. Obviously older dogs need more gentle exercise but it's always needed...

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[marke]

If you don't have the time to "walk your dog into condition" then you are not fit to own a dog. Dogs need love, a healthy and controlled diet, kind and firm leadership AND sufficient exercise to make sure they live up to their potential. If any of those things are beyond you please don't get a dog.

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how far and how often do you walk your dog ????? I see folks talk all kinds of stuff they've heard ....... such as , don't feed large breed puppy food , i'd ask what problems these folks have had from feeding it .. and they haven't ......... they got all kinds of internet facts to back up their opinions , but they've never seen any of it , they've only heard it ....... and no , size/weight absolutely does not cause joint or heart issues .......... joint issues are from injury or genetics , heart issues in dogs are genetic ......... i'd think to condition one of my ddb i'd have to walk them 10 plus miles regularily ....... as far as conditioning i'd add drag pulling ......... do you run ? drag pull ? or swim your dog ????? or do you play with him a half hour or hour every now and then ......... one thing I got lots of experience at in my life , I can raise a pup/dog from scratch as good as anybody ........................................................

 

[MandyLionRock]

how far and how often do you walk your dog ????? I see folks talk all kinds of stuff they've heard ....... such as , don't feed large breed puppy food , i'd ask what problems these folks have had from feeding it .. and they haven't ......... they got all kinds of internet facts to back up their opinions , but they've never seen any of it , they've only heard it ....... and no , size/weight absolutely does not cause joint or heart issues .......... joint issues are from injury or genetics , heart issues in dogs are genetic ......... i'd think to condition one of my ddb i'd have to walk them 10 plus miles regularily ....... as far as conditioning i'd add drag pulling ......... do you run ? drag pull ? or swim your dog ????? or do you play with him a half hour or hour every now and then ......... one thing I got lots of experience at in my life , I can raise a pup/dog from scratch as good as anybody ........................................................

You are unfit. Plain and simple.
I walk my dogs 4 times a day. 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes in the afternoon, 30 minutes in the evening and 1 hour at night. I play with them at least another hour one on one. They are hand fed to avoid bloat since I can control how fast they are eating. Besides the walks I run with them three times a week and they go with me EVERYWHERE. which means they are always active.
You are one of those uneducated wanna be but don't wanna do the work kind of dog owners. I am not saying everyone needs to do as much as I do with and for my dogs but you are unfit, period.

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[Smokeycat]

There are actually many obese Mastiff's and if people don't have time to condition their dogs they simply shouldn't have them.

It would take a very long time to walk a dog into condition but it takes very little time to exercise them properly. My boys are walked daily just because but I exercise them at home by playing games that they love. You can take your dogs swimming, use a flirt pole, play catch or fetch, etc....it's good for the dog mentally and physically and they enjoy it to boot. Just my opinion, of course.


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The only problem I have is the statement that it "takes very little time to exercise them properly". The amount of time required depends on the dog in question. An athletic dog may still require a large time investment to keep fit. But that is why it is so important to make sure you choose a dog/breed that matches your lifestyle.

 

[MandyLionRock]

The only problem I have is the statement that it "takes very little time to exercise them properly". The amount of time required depends on the dog in question. An athletic dog may still require a large time investment to keep fit. But that is why it is so important to make sure you choose a dog/breed that matches your lifestyle.

Excellent point.

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[Rugers-Kris]

Fair enough, however, there are plenty of ways to exercise in a short time. If you walk your dog at a basic pace for an hour, I promise I can play fetch for 15 minutes and mine will get more actual exercise than yours did. I'm just saying that it isn't impossible to exercise your dog regardless of time constraints. My reply was to was to the question "Do you have any idea how much time it takes to walk your dog into condition". I use walks for training, socialization and mental stimulation not for exercising. If it takes you hours to walk your dog enough to get enough exercise, you can run them less time with even better results. If your dog is not a runner you can use the flirt pole for 20-30 minutes and get the same results. I'm just pointing out that "Lack of time" is not a good excuse to not keep your dog healthy. Some people hike, some ride a bike with their dog beside them, some play different "games" to get the desired effect.


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[Rugers-Kris]

And it does depend on the dog but doesn't change the fact that you can choose activities for your dog, based on his needs and get the same desired effect in less time than just walking.


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[marke]

you walk them for 2.5 hours a day , another 1 hour one on one ..... I assume at least 2 dogs another 2 hours ......... you spend 4.5 hours a day devoted solely to your dogs , and 3 days a week you spend more because you run with them in addition to the walks , has to take two hours to go run with them , so you spend 6.5 hours a day on those three days ???? LOL ................ here's my izzy running 8.25 miles in I think 54 minutes ................... you never know who your talking to on the internet ..................... [video=youtube;7l2VYLG_DjI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7l2VYLG_DjI[/video][video=youtube;RpEK-gnQwfg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RpEK-gnQwfg[/video][video=youtube;eCxfg9mkhSA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eCxfg9mkhSA[/video][video=youtube;9VB7T4V67Go]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9VB7T4V67Go[/video]

 

[MandyLionRock]

Fair enough, however, there are plenty of ways to exercise in a short time. If you walk your dog at a basic pace for an hour, I promise I can play fetch for 15 minutes and mine will get more actual exercise than yours did. I'm just saying that it isn't impossible to exercise your dog regardless of time constraints. My reply was to was to the question "Do you have any idea how much time it takes to walk your dog into condition". I use walks for training, socialization and mental stimulation not for exercising. If it takes you hours to walk your dog enough to get enough exercise, you can run them less time with even better results. If your dog is not a runner you can use the flirt pole for 20-30 minutes and get the same results. I'm just pointing out that "Lack of time" is not a good excuse to not keep your dog healthy. Some people hike, some ride a bike with their dog beside them, some play different "games" to get the desired effect.


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Ideal is all of the above. Cardiovascular workout is best when it is a prolonged but relatively mild exercise like jogging. Intense workouts like sprinting are better for muscle development but don't do much for cardiovascular health. Any one is better than nothing but ideally you should combine brisk prolonged walks with more intense short exercising like you were saying.

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[MandyLionRock]

you walk them for 2.5 hours a day , another 1 hour one on one ..... I assume at least 2 dogs another 2 hours ......... you spend 4.5 hours a day devoted solely to your dogs , and 3 days a week you spend more because you run with them in addition to the walks , has to take two hours to go run with them , so you spend 6.5 hours a day on those three days ???? LOL ................ here's my izzy running 8.25 miles in I think 54 minutes ................... you never know who your talking to on the internet ..................... [video=youtube;7l2VYLG_DjI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7l2VYLG_DjI[/video][video=youtube;RpEK-gnQwfg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RpEK-gnQwfg[/video][video=youtube;eCxfg9mkhSA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eCxfg9mkhSA[/video][video=youtube;9VB7T4V67Go]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9VB7T4V67Go[/video]

When I say "dogs" I meant the "dogs" I've had throughout my life. I prefer having one dog at a time because it is a more intimate relationship.
The fact that you are laughing at the amount of time I spend with my "dogs" is convincing me even more that you are unfit.


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[MandyLionRock]

you walk them for 2.5 hours a day , another 1 hour one on one ..... I assume at least 2 dogs another 2 hours ......... you spend 4.5 hours a day devoted solely to your dogs , and 3 days a week you spend more because you run with them in addition to the walks , has to take two hours to go run with them , so you spend 6.5 hours a day on those three days ???? LOL ................ here's my izzy running 8.25 miles in I think 54 minutes ................... you never know who your talking to on the internet ..................... [video=youtube;7l2VYLG_DjI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7l2VYLG_DjI[/video][video=youtube;RpEK-gnQwfg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RpEK-gnQwfg[/video][video=youtube;eCxfg9mkhSA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eCxfg9mkhSA[/video][video=youtube;9VB7T4V67Go]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9VB7T4V67Go[/video]

And you after wrong... I don't spend 6 hours a day with my dog... I spend 24 hours a day with my dog. Laugh at that unfit one.

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[marke]

well , I've had 2,4,5,8 at one time .... you've had one at a time , if your 80 you could have only had maybe 6 , if your 30 , your on your first one , maybe starting your 2nd ????? your dogs have to live at least 10 yrs with the care you give them ?????? I've had 50-60 , i'm telling you some are just genetically fat ...............