I've got a big fat dog!

Well, Ok, Tori's not quite that big, but since she has been spayed, she's starting to slow down some. She gets plenty of playtime with Buster, and until recently I hadn't really noticed, but she's starting to pack on a few pounds. Can't wait to take her to the vet to see how much she weighs now. Buster by the way, at 5 months old (already???) tips the scales at almost 40#.

When Tori went back for her check up after surgery, she had trimmed down to a svelt 60#. I know it's more now, not a lot, she's not waddling yet.

Besides the obvious of exercising her, any diets out there that will work for keeping her trim and also giving a growing puppy everything he needs?

Buster was neutered very early, I still in a way wish I hadn't gone ahead with it, but the upside is that none of those nasty boy habits have developed. He does try to mount his mother sometimes, but as my daughter likes to put it, his "lipsitck" doesn't come out. He does seem very lean, hope he starts to fill out someday. Could I have done the wrong thing in letting the vet neuter him too early?

Hope everyone and theirs are well,

 

Neutered males will try to mount other dogs, male and female, on occasion as an attempt to establish dominance.
As for the weight I not sure how to judge a puppy. Your Vet will have to gicve you that advice. You have to balance growth nutrition with the adverse effects of too much weight. You also do not want a large breed pup to grow too fast.

 

Mounting another dog is sometimes just play behavior. Female dogs do it, too.

Spaying a dog really doesn't make them get fat. It's age and diet and exercise that are the real factors.

 

Yeah, Tori likes to do it to Buster too, I was hoping she wasn't the only girl dog out there that did that.

As for age, she will be 8 in March, so I know she's slowing down some. She gets a run for her money with Buster around, she still gets plenty of excercise, daily walks, and wrestling with her puppy.

Speaking of puppies, there must be a neon sign that hangs over my house that only deviant pet owners can see. The sign must read "Abandon your dogs in this neighborhood, the woman in the red brick house will find a home for them!!". About 3 weeks ago, I was in bed almost asleep, and all of a sudden I heard a puppy yelping. Based on where it "sounded" like it was coming from, I thought maybe someone forgot to let their puppy in. But the puppy kept yelping for a few more minutes. I got up and went outside and still couldn't figure out where the sound was coming from. I went back inside and eventually the yelping stopped. It didn't sound like an injured yelp, it sounded like a frightened yelp. I figured the puppy owner must have realized his or her error and let the little guy in. I went to sleep and never gave it a thought the next day.

That afternoon, one of the neighborhood kids was knocking on my door. She said they found puppies. in 3.2 seconds my daughter was out the door with her and on her way. A few minutes later, they came came from the field with 3 little puppies. I guessed their ages to be around 6 weeks or so. They were so dosh gone cute too. But I have 2 big dogs already, and only 1200 sf, no more room for these guys. After I processed the anger, I immediately set out to find homes. I had 2 girls and a boy. The boys head was so huge, I could feel nothing but pity for his poor mother, where ever she was. At first I thought they were a St Bernard mix, but the hair wasn't right. Then someone else said they were a Pitt mix, my sister thought Boxer. And up till a few days ago, I thought maybe the Pitt mix was the most accurate. I was talking to the guy across the street who helped get the Big Headed boy a home, he said the vet told them the puppies are actually Sharpei/Lab. That explains all the skin! Anyhow, in a weeks time, they were all in good homes. My sister has the small girl, her name is Zoe and she is queen. The big headed boy, we named him Cartman, the new owners thought it was an appropriate name, big head and fat, they kept his name. The other girl went a couple of towns over and apparently, she's queen too.

Over the past weekend, my sister wound up with her Brother in laws dog. A giant Airedale puppy who is about the same age as Buster and twice as big. Her Brother-in-law was transferred to Indianapolis, and they tried to find a place that they could keep the puppy, but to no avail. My sister was able to give the puppy to a mutual friend of ours. That lasted for about 1 week and the girls land-lord found out about it and said it was a no-no. My sister has 3 dogs already, so Riley the Airedale makes 4. I found a home for him today, she doesnt know this yet. I haven't been able to get a hold of her.

People at work are starting to whisper about me. I'm rumored to be the crazy dog lady! I guess there are worse things to be called! As long as they go to good homes, but honestly, I'm running out of dog people.

1 minute till I'm 39...sigh. I found out last week that they don't actually set all those fire works off for just me.

Hope everyone has a safe weekend....