nightdog_barks | (Reply)

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I'll be very surprised if the results come back with Great Pyrenees then, though it's possible. She's entirely to small for me to expect it -- right in the range for a Border collie, actually. Then again, it's possible for a crossbred dog to come down 100% (or almost) on the characteristics of only one parent breed, so it's still just a guess.

For comparison, Cyrus stands 25.3" at the shoulder (he obligingly got out of bed so I could measure). He's fit and in his ideal weight range, but not "working weight" (i.e. he'd have to have a bit more muscle mass for that) at 35.5 kg/78 lbs as of his last weigh in two months ago. (I know he's lost weight since then, probably about 0.5 kg due to his food. I've put him back on the chicken based variety of his kibble now, the fish just didn't sit right with him.) Translated, Chango's ideal weight would probably be about 63 lbs. but being able to easily feel ribs (and muscle between) is the definitive criteria. With that fur it's not like you could assess waist, tuck, and distal rib/spinal column with her. :D

Have you tried getting her weight down? I know I sound like a judgmental nag, but keeping them trim really does have appreciable health benefits in the long term. It doesn't take anything radical, either, just gradually adjusting the quantity being fed downwards, and sometimes switching food. I'm not fond of the "diet" foods personally, as they have too many additives and too much filler. But finding something that agrees well with the dog that has higher protein and then gradually reducing the portion size often does the trick. (For example, Cyrus is on a high-end, grain free food. On the bag they say dogs in his size range should be eating 2.5-4 cups daily. I started with 2.5 cups, concluded it was too much, and adjusted it downwards for his metabolic requirements based on activity level. He eats 2 cups daily (split into two meals) and maintains good weight and very nice condition (in re: coat etc.). His appetite isn't more than just normal and healthy, either, so it's not like he's feeling hungry on that quantity of food (plus treats of course). For him to need the additional 0.5 c of food we'd have to be doing an additional three quarters of an hour of vigorous exercise. Essentially, the pet food companies lie on their packaging to sell more product.)

Edited to add: the variability in Border collies really is marvelous, and it's due to the fact that they were (until very recently) a "working" breed with no standard for appearance. People cared first and foremost that the dog could work. After that, if it was pretty that was nice, but not essential. Hence all the variation.