Lack of Muscle in Rear Legs

[Subverto]

Nala is now 13 weeks, and I have noticed that while her front legs seem to have developed a fair bit of muscle on them, her rear legs are still very skinny. I think this is because she tends to use her front legs much more. For instance, when she is laying down, she will always push herself up with her front legs, then stand up with her rear, where as most dogs I see stands up from laying with both front and rear legs at the same time.

Is this common in newf puppies? Should I be concerned? Are there any exerices or ways that I could get her to start using her back legs more? Or will she start to use them more on her own?

Thanks!

 

[new_2_newf]

she's really, really, really young yet, so I wouldn't worry about too much. She's too little to really do any sort of leash walking, but if you had an area of nice, soft grass she could play on for short bursts, that would help. Just make sure it's dry grass, that she doesn't play too hard, and that you or someone else is there to watch her to make sure she doesn't start doing stuff like supermans off the deck or anything like that.

Newfs are also heavily boned in the front legs...that can make them look like they have more muscle in the front than they do the back.

 

[OodlesOfNoodles]

For what it's worth, here's a picture of our guy at just under 8 months...thick front legs, skinny little back ones in comparison (not to mention the half adult, half puppy fur 'do he's rocking haha.

 

[Subverto]

For what it's worth, here's a picture of our guy at just under 8 months...thick front legs, skinny little back ones in comparison (not to mention the half adult, half puppy fur 'do he's rocking haha.

Thank you for the picture. That is exactly how Nala's legs are. I take it it's normal. You have a very handsome boy there by the way

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

For instance, when she is laying down, she will always push herself up with her front legs, then stand up with her rear, where as most dogs I see stands up from laying with both front and rear legs at the same time.

I have no advice, that is the way Snuffles has always gotten up as long as I can remember, and going down, he sits and lets his front legs slide out in front of him. But he can jump into the backseat of my car still at over 9.

 

[OodlesOfNoodles]

Thank you for the picture. That is exactly how Nala's legs are. I take it it's normal. You have a very handsome boy there by the way

He's our first newf so I'm definitely not an expert - but he doesn't seem to have any issues thus far, so I'm going on the assumption that it's normal unless told otherwise

 

[Joan Fisher]

If you can get Nala swimming, that's the best for her muscle development!

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Even at 7, Maggie's front legs are thicker than the rear.

She always gets up front first, then rear. Not that I've been around tons of newfs, but Maggie's newfie cousins that we visit always get up this way too. They are big heavy dogs and the back end is big and heavy.:bear:

 

[Ginny]

Hill climbing (straight and serpentine pattern) and sand walking can help to build the rear.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Exercise in the form of free play, will help develop muscle tone.