What weight is good?
|
|
| It really depends on their breeding and lineage a lot. If the parents were small, they'll probably be small. Extra food will only make them fat. There's a really big span in weights of OES-- some on here are little 50 pounders and others are over 100. If they're getting proper nutrition, and are a healthy weight for their frame, you're in good shape. |
| There does seem to be a variety in size with sheepie. Tasker's normal weight is 97lbs, his Mom weighed 60 and his Dad was 100. |
Along with what has been said, I feel many people think OES' should be "fatter" which makes most vets cringe. My family members always say Yuki is thin, but when I take her in... I get told she's perfect by every vet (weight wise). You should be able to feel where their ribsmare when you rub them on the sides (assuming they don't have a full fluffy coat!  ) .....but they shouldn't be "sticking out."
my female is 61-64lbs |
Joahaeyo wrote: Along with what has been said, I feel many people think OES' should be "fatter" which makes most vets cringe.
Maybe people think this because in full coat they look alot fatter than they are? So when people see them with shorter hair they look too thin/small 
I know when I let Izzie's coat grow out in the fall I am constantly checking to see if she is getting chubby, because she looks chubby  |
| I think the coat has a lot to do with it. In his full coat Chewie looks hefty. Underneath, he is a slim 66 pound boy who could gain a few pounds! |
| Bingley also looks heavier than he is. He is about Chewie's weight and he is almost 15 months old. Whenever I see him wet I always think he's too thin, but I think he's actually a healthy weight in reality! |
| Never go by weight comparison on sheepies it varies so much.
You can have a smaller sheepie weighing more then a bigger sheepie due to being more muscled or thicker set in the bones. You can have two the same size and the weight can be totally different on both. The best guide to attaining the correct weight for them is by feeling them. You should lightly feel the withers and just feel them, run your hands along the back bone lightly and you should be able to just feel the backbone. Run your hands lightly along rib cage either side, there should be just a light covering over the ribs and again you should just be able to feel each rib bone. Then correct healthy weight for them. Sticking out and easily felt, too thin. Can't be felt easily and has a good covering over them, then too tubby.  |
Quote: Maybe people think this because in full coat they look alot fatter than they are? So when people see them with shorter hair they look too thin/small Rolling Eyes While i think that's COMPLETELY true.... I still agree with my vets and a few breeders that many OES' are overweight AND people like them bigger than they should be. The same can hold true with the hair hiding that fat too. |
| My RHeba is only about 55 lbs. She is healthy and happy. My cousin has a sheepie that is about 65 and my aunt's is about 90. It's wild how they vary so much but each of them are at a good weight for their framework. They are just like humans...a 5' woman shouldn't weight 150 lbs and a 6' man shouldn't weigh 125 lbs. Find a comfortable weight. Plus, if they are overweight it just creates more problems later on. Think about their health. Mo matter how much you feed them, it doesn't make their bones grow bigger. Their bone size has to do with their genes.
Remember their health is more important than the visual appeal. |
| You definitely have to find what's right for your dog. You can get a good guideline for what your dog should weigh but you need to put your hands on your dog and feel what their body is like.
Suzi is probably one of the smallest sheepdogs that you'll see but she is hard muscled and weighs somewhere between 67 and 70 pounds depending on the time of the year. My old sheepdog was a smaller dog and was consistently 95 pounds and it was his right weight. I also think he was walking around with rocks in his pockets because I have no idea where he was hiding that poundage. |
| We've been surprised at the difference between Sydney and Bella. Syd never got over 65 pounds in her life of 14 years. Bella hit 65 pounds ay about 7 months and is still going. The vet and the breeder said that she should reach around 80 pounds. We have a friend who has a male that looks smaller than Bella and weighs 110 pounds. Her vet says that charles is at a good weight. |
| My MO is 55, Jack is over 100, tho I'm trying to get him under. I think he'd be fine around 95-97......hard to do with hubby giving him bananas every morning.
Let your hands tell you how "thick" they should be. You should feel ribs, but they shouldn't stand out proud....that is the meat shouldn't be greatly sunken around them. Their undercarriage should pull up towards their pelvis. The sternum should be the lowest part of the dog, not their belly. Muscle will weigh more than fat. So your dog could be heavy on the scales but still thin in the body......and have the legs of Atlas. Sheepdogs are active breed, they are built to have good strong leg muscles. Thighs of Steel! Most people over estimate how much dogs weigh, especially if they are long haired. Don't let people tell you they are "too fat" or "too skinny" unless they are a vet and have weighed and examined the dog. Don't get your ego involved in having a small or large dog. You want a healthy dog. Period. Since puppies don't put on weight evenly on their body or evenly by the calendar, you have to constantly feel your dog.........just another excuse to touch them
(having had monster and petite OES, I much prefer the petite!) |
I done the rib test and I can feel their ribs but they don't stick out. I don't think their is anything wrong with their weight and my vet hasn't said anything. I know they are healthy. Some people think that OES are supposed to be huge and tell the truth I thought that too.  When my male is in full coat he looks like he could be 100 pounds! They both are just so different but yet so much alike. She is dark gray and he is real light gray. I've also had people comment on her being too dark. Oh well mine are beautiful no matter what!  |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|