Hi All

My 14 month old boy is a little on the lean side and I wondered what peoples views were on building him up a little?

First of all I should say that im not a staffie owning hoodie who wants a big mean looking dog. I am quite happy with my sweet natured baby as far as image is concerned!

I know that he is a young dog and has some growing to do yet and he is also an active dog so I know he will run off any weight that he puts on. I wouldnt say hes skinny (you can feel his rib cage when you apply firm pressure which I understand to be about right?) but hes not at all food orientated and quite frankly can take food or leave it as he pleases. I feed him on Nature Diet which he likes (has previously been very fussy about what he eats) and he weighs around 18kg. Although I am happy with him as is and I know that he will eat when hungry but especially as the winter coming should I offer some kind of supplement to help him build up a little?

I think its the Mummy instinct in me kicking in in terms of just wanting to see a well fed dog and im sure most of you will probably tell me to leave him well alone! I also think that the part of his body that connects to his hind quarters which is always the slimmest part of a dog is misleading and makes me want to feed him up!

Any thoughts? Am I being too much of a worrier?

Yup, he sounds a happy fit healthy young staff... leave him be!

My collie x thing, now he DOES need some extra dinners (and is getting them)... we have had an upwards/lengthways growth spurt
and suddenly he has gone from being lean and fit to being ribby and spiny... so more dinners and it will even out.

Im sure a lot of people cuddling Pteppic rightnow would say 'BLIMEY, he is emaciated' and yes he feels it, but he is happy, energetic, and still on three meals a day -- its just a growing phase, he is 7/8 months old and when he stops growing suddenly upwards or backwards or sideways (or just his ears), he will put on muscle and mature.

Em

Caroline,

Possibly you are comparing your boy to other Staffies you are seeing ;) sadly many pet staffies are overweight and like small pigs :(  You should be able to see a 'waist' area when you look from above, and feel his ribs without losing your fingers in flesh ;)   As long as his backbone is well covered and his ribs can be felt but not seen - and he's not acting like he's never been fed ;) then I'd say he's about right :)  don't forget that as he matures he'll become more muscular looking, but at the moment he's still immature and if you were showing him he'd be in Junior classes to reflect this ;)

Staffie weights are mentioned in the breed standard here Kennel Club

Thank you

I rather suspected that I was being an overprotective mum! You certainly can see his waist - it is tiny! But having said this you cant see his ribs but can feel them and the same for his back bone. I think the thing with staffies is that they all look so completely different from one and other though you can still spot one a mile off. Mine is fairly long legged too which makes him look thin whereas if he was shorter he would look fine. Also, I have had to starve him for 2 lots of 24 hour periods in 2 weeks due to sickness and the runs (thankfully we are back to normal now) so I am probably feeling guilty about that too.

Many Thanks for the reassurance.

Hi Caroline,

I too am the owner of (or owned by) a staffie.  Like you, I am certainly not a hoodie, chav type.  Only after lots of research did my partner and I decide that the staffie was the breed for us.

Since bringing her home aged 8 weeks, I have constantly worried myself about her weight.  In comparison to many other staffies that I see, Poppy does look very lean and weighs 13kg.  She too has long legs. 

She is now 13 months old and since we have had her she has been to the vets about 4 times.  Once for a stomach upset, when she was a young pup, once for her vaccinations and more recently to be spayed.  Each time I have taken her in, I have asked the vet if they think she is underweight.  She is due her booster soon and I have no doubt I shall ask the same questions again.

Each time the answer is the same.  She falls into the category of a healthy weight, she is bright, alert, energetic and friendly.  So I have no need to worry.  I still do though.  I sometimes think maybe I am a bit too much of a worrier.

I have spoken to her breeder a few times over the last year, and she too assures my that she is a very normal and healthy weight.  She takes after her mum.  I think a lot of it is down to blood lines and I have been told that she is more "terrier" than "bull". 

Many staffies that I have seen are possibly overweight, or are actually staffie crosses.  One that I met in our local pet store was by all accounts an Amstaff which are bigger and more muscular. 

Having spoken to the experts, i.e vets, breeders etc, I am now a llot more comfortable with her weight.  Poppy certainly is!  But I have no doubt that through her life I will keep a check and seek reassurance that her weight is about right.  I guess that is what being a resonsible dog owner is all about.