Weight maintenance

[sarnewfie]

Most vets i know want newfs heavier than they should be!!!!!!!!!!!
ask your breeder what weight and how much to feed.
my adults get two cups wysong synorgen daily and 1/4 can of turkey or chicken meat.
that is it, i can feel ribs on them they are lean mean running active machines! *G*
breeders have better advice then the vet on the proper look and feeding.

 

[kzdz]

I'm somewhat concerned about my pup's weight gain. He seems to be growing at a normal rate, and I can always feel his ribs, but his build is very different from what my 2-year-old was like at 6 months. She was a lot scrawnier looking and didn't start to fill out to the "newf look" until about 18 months. Quark looks like a mini adult. I know the adult males tend to be more massive in both weight and appearance than females. Does this difference show in the puppies also?

 

[sarnewfie]

Many puppies grow thru many different ugly stages before the become the "swan"
i would just grow him out, males take up to 3 years to fully mature.
i have a female landseer pup here that is to be a year the end of this month, she is thin and lanky, she doesnt look quite like a newf in body yet, but......
she will, just give him time.
be patient.
it also depends a lot on lineage many lines tend to take longer than others to mature.
i take a long last look at 8-12 weeks of age, and than i tell people that they wont look put together until ages 2-4 depending on sex, heads also are the last thing to fully develop.
Also in case you are not aware, giant breeds grow rear high, than shoulders catch up, rear high and than shoulders catch up, so that also can make them look like they have funny structure.

 

[Kodiak]

I feel much better after reading the above posts. Kodi looks like he's walking on stilts. His legs are long, his rear is higher than his shoulders, his black hair is shiney and wavy and sort of sticks out a bit here and there, his ears look too big for his head and he looks totally unbalanced. He's 7 1/2mths old, 90+ lbs and gawky looking. I can still feel his ribs. At what age does the head start to grow bigger? When will his coat become thicker?

 

[Diane]

Kodi sounds like a perfect adolescent male! As Sarnewfie points out, all Newfs are a bit different. Our breeder has been a great source of information, because they know so much about the parents. Willie is apparently maturing just like his Dad did ("Dad" is 180 lbs, though...:eek

Sarnewfie - I appreciate your perspective - it's consistent with what I've heard about growth, although I didn't know it could take 2 to 4 years...thanks.

 

[sarnewfie]

Hey diane, no problem! thanx.
anyway, i am enjoying this forum, i had been a part of another pet forum where all they do is bicker and fight, and claim they know so much about other posters, continually beating them into the ground, this from dog owners, how sad, this is a peaceful place to share and learn, and i am enjoying this tremendously.
i had no idea the net could be used for harrasing posters, but it is happening, so sad, that hiding behind a puter screen brings about so much disrespect.
anyway, i hope i dont come off as a know it all, i love to share knowlege, and i know many people who come here to be educated on our breed enjoy meeting us and always write me or call me afterwards thanking me for spending so much time with them.