My young collie - getting on for 11 months old now doesn't seem to put any weight on.  He is perfectly healthy - I asked the vet today when I had him weighed before getting worming tablets - she says he is just very active and not to worry.  I have him on Burns - he was on puppy version but have been feeding him half and half for a month or more (they say 9 months to change to adult)  I have just started moving him over to Burns Alert because their website says that the dog should be calmer on it - he is very easily over aroused but I am working on that - when I am working with him he is total concentration - I do try to give him lots of brain work but he is still a very busy dog!  He is not a big dog - he weighs 13.4 kg.   I have been feeding more that the recommended amount and he gets treats while training too.  Should I be doing more to get him to put more weight on? 

I have just read on the Burns site to supplement food with tuna or fried egg - does the egg have to be fried???  Can't it just be raw?

Burns is the one with a reputation as a diet food isn't it?  I'm sure I've read on here many times that dogs don't seem to put weight on with Burns, which can make it very useful unless your dog is a skinny mini :)

I like lean youngsters and based on his age I'd say yours is probably still in that slightly awkward unfinished phase where they can look like refugee victims if they miss a meal.  I assess weight by eye and a good feel so aim for a 'blanket over the ribs'.  A 'duvet over the ribs' will be too much weight and a 'sheet over the ribs' is too thin.  If your dog feels ok then I'd just relax a bit and let age take care of the rest.

If you are concerned about his food then you could look at finding a different adult kibble and start the transition now - at his age you can move him fairly quickly and you might find he's less excitable.  Don't worry about recommended amounts - just adjust by a few grams up or down whenever you need to.  It will differ for each dog, and often by time of year too.  My dogs are always extra hungry in the spring and eat less over the winter!!

IME pups especially males often go through a very lanky bony stage so your pup is probably totally normal. Especially if he is an active breed. However I personally I would consider if Burns Alert was the best food for him. I have just had a look on their website and it seems exceptionally high in cereals with 67% brown rice. I have always felt Burns was a very cereal rich food but that does seem excessive. No wonder they want you to supplement the diet with egg or tuna. It might be worth looking around for a food with a higher meat content as dogs generally digest proteins better than cereals so the food could be contributing to his skinniness.

> I have him on Burns - he was on puppy version but have been feeding him half and half for a month or more (they say 9 months to change to adult)

The 'instructions' on any dry food is there just a guideline & I always say to my buyers not to play too much attention to it & leave on puppy until around a year old. Same with what amounts they say...feed to the look of the dog, if it looks too plump cut down or if not plump enough give more.
How many meals are you giving, as it ought to be at least 2 meals(I recommend this for adults aswell).
Mine are on JWB Junior & are 13months...they say go to adult from 12 month for medium breed but I wouldnt change for at least 6 months personally.
lol....you say he is a collie, they are very active dogs so nothing different there... :)

I agree with your vet, stop worrying, many, many adolescents go through the lanky stage very normal. :-) Adolescents burn up more energy, and BC's are a very active breed. It can sometimes be genetic as well some lines are slimmer than others. He may be like this until he reaches 2yrs and then he will begin to fill out once mature, just make sure he is getting plenty of protein in his diet, replace one of the burns meals with some BARF that way he will get a good mix of differing foods to help him whilst he is still growing in mind and body. :-)

His father had a big operation a couple of years back and when I met him I was shocked to feel how boney he was under his lovely thick coat - the owner said that he hadn't got back into full condition yet.  Thanks for the replies.  Will consider the mixing of the food - BARF for the time being - I was told to cut back on the protein a bit because he was so hyper.  He can become too aroused at a drop of a hat - and over arousal makes him turn to me and leap up to bite - hard!  He still has a hard mouth in spite of all the training when he was young.  I have used a tuggy toy too much when he was younger and I think this has become a default behaviour - I am not doing that now - he still badly wants to tug - but he has to something really good for that - and then it is a very short tug and release.  He has great self control - just got to let him know what I want from him all the time.  The minute there is any anxiety, uncertainty he comes back at me - I am ready for him now and can deflect it.  I just hope he calms down by 2 ish!   Sometimes I regret getting another collie but they are such great characters and I love doing things with them.  If I had a couch potato I think I would get lazy too. 

> I was told to cut back on the protein a bit because he was so hyper.

In my experience that's unproven,  and actually poor advice for a breed which does sometimes exhibit these type of behaviours in puppyhood.  I think it makes more sense to reduce any and all additives and feed a more natural diet.  I'm a raw feeder and I appreciate it isn't for everyone, or every dog, but it may be worth trying to see if it has an affect on his weight and activity levels.  Feeding a frozen turkey neck is also a really nice option for you and your dog when you need a bit of peace and quiet!  My dogs are often quite sleepy after bone meals as their bodies are working quite hard to digest them - for this reason I only ever feed bone for their evening meal, not for breakfast.

In my opinion there may be better kibble options for you, and him, than Burns.  Finally, do look at the treats you give to ensure you aren't feeding excess sugar or colouring. 

My male collie was exactly the same. Very lovable but totally hyper and over the top. He looked like a rescue case and I was ashamed for anyone to stroke him. Eventually got through to him that you only got stroked with your bum on the floor, but he could still manage to spin in circles whilst sitting down lol

Changed him to a raw diet and the difference is amazing. He has a wonderful shine to his coat. He is still an idiot but has calmed down quite a lot. But he has gained some weight. Prize choice mince or tripe chunks for breakfast and a chicken back for supper. He now has a blanket rather than a worn out sheet covering him !!

I now feed all my dogs raw including the Miniature Pinschers. Very amusing watching 6 week old min pin pups squabble about chicken wings

Have a look at this video ceejay - fab way to teach self control. Lauren Langman is a brilliant agility instructor
https://www.facebook.com/DevonDogs1?sk=app_106171216118819&app_data

Yep I agree with dab the protein comment and connection with behaviour isn't proven and certainly doesn't apply if you raw feed
as for the egg raw would be better you don't cook food for dogs :) and if fried you are adding oil he doesn't need like that

Burns actually do (or did?) recommend switching at 6 months, but that would, for me, depend on the breed, and how well the individual is going.   I tended to switch to a Junior version, if available in a particular brand, or adult by around 9 months with mine.   My line was always slow-maturing, and one individual hit around a year at which point I had to pull him from the ring because he looked dreadful.   Two boards clapped together would be putting it mildly.   Try as I would, nothing put any body on him, so I just stopped looking.   By 2 years, it was all change.   He had bodied up and looked the part.   I'd never had one quite that backward, and certainly his sister wasn't.  But this was a complete outcross so.    I'd advise you to try waiting.   Provided the dog is otherwise healthy, wormed probably by aged 2, he'll do the same as my boy did (different breed).

As for too much protein - I am rather of the opinion that feeding something mid-range is better than all this high protein food.   Especially with the bigger breeds.   Hyper apart, using a high protein food can produce too much, too fast = bone development problems.  Just my opinion but I'd not use anything much higher than 26%.   Even lower is more sensible.    I have used Burns btw, but I gather it's changed hands, and may not be quite the same as it once was.    I currently use Arden Grange.

I agree with others that adding some raw may help.  One of my youngsters was very lanky and lean to the point of being skinny.  He was on Arden Grange which suited him in every other way and I didn't want to take him off it altogether.  I added Prize Choice minced Tripe and sometimes Prize Choice  minced Chicken + Tripe.   I used the 'free flow' frozen stuff.  The difference in just a couple of weeks was amazing and he very quickly got a better covering over his ribs.  The great thing was that this combination was very easy to feed and it did not upset his tum at all (which just increasing the kibble might have done).  Still feed minced tripe/chicken as a supplement  to the AG now - but not every day.  They love it!

Might be worth a try - good luck.

His father had a big operation a couple of years back and when I met him I was shocked to feel how boney he was under his lovely thick coat - the owner said that he hadn't got back into full condition yet.

After 2 years? **Gulp** It is taking him over 2 years to eat properly again and re-build his muscle, have to ask if he is not yet back to tip top condition why was he used as a stud dog? - Sorry, but very strange and not an answer that would have made me wish to even contemplate getting a pup from this stud dog, the dam and sire should be great examples of the breed, no excuses IMO.

So........ there could well be a genetic reason often happens with a lot of close breeding as well.

I was told to cut back on the protein a bit because he was so hyper Probably more to do with his breeding or him just being a typical BC, some can be extremely hard work and are very hyper as youngsters, training must be kept on top of, some really just need to work or do agility to keep body and mind exercised well. You should not cut back on any of the needed food groups for any animal whilst it is growing (unless for a medical reason) so no do not cut back on the protein. :-)  Just get that whistle out and keep him occupied......

Sometimes I regret getting another collie but they are such great characters and I love doing things with them.

Must admit, I was shocked too....... after all the problems with your first, (you are a sucker for punishment :-D ) not the easiest breed by any standards, you are never going to get an easy ride unless you really train well and then they are a dream.

If I had a couch potato I think I would get lazy too.

Must admit talking of couch potatoes, one of my brothers has a Couch BC she was never 'normal', so laid back and lazy, she's 17yrs now so fits the bill but she has always been the same, so you just never know....... :-D

Good luck, as you say, you'll always be fit and on the go with a BC. ;-)

> why was he used as a stud dog?

It was a back injury - I didn't know about it when I booked my pup.  I saw him a year after he had had the op.  He was looking pretty fit to me - but felt thin under his coat.    I have only heard good things about the sire and I think my friend who bred him went to a lot of trouble to research any genetic faults before she chose the sire - She is very responsible and thorough.     

> Must admit, I was shocked too..  :-)  Oh yes I am a beggar for punishment - I am really trying not to make the same mistakes I made with the first one.  She has her issues still - she will always be of a nervous disposition - agility training has been a God send but I missed out on the foundation work for self control - puppy classes were inadequate in those days - there is so much more information and ideas out there now - and I am doing plenty with this one. 

Harley thanks - I have the 'pup to perfection' DVD - and see lots of stuff from Lauren. 

Protein amount has no bearing on behaviour - quality and other ingredients (i.e. additives, some e-numbers) can do.

I would get him off the Burns if you are very concerned, it is known for taking weight off - it's much less dense than most foods for a start, and most of the varieties are around 40% rice (give or take, I've not checked in a while so don't quote me on that!) which I've found with my fat dog is good at taking weight off as well (she gets 50/50 raw meat/rice).

But he could just be at that stage as people have said, give him some time :)