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Originally Posted by Zuskasue  Boomer is 2 yrs. and weighs 9 lbs. Is this a good weight or is he over weight? When we got him at 18 months old he was 6 lbs. with no hair, his owner (who we recused him from) shaved him close. We are letting his hair grow all winter just trimming him every 6 weeks. Just not sure what there wheight should be. |
A healthy weight depends on the size and frame of the dog. Even within a particular breed there will be a range of different ideal weights for different dogs. They do come in different sizes. My two yorkies are actually related but are very different in regard to their size, thus they have different weights that are ideal for each of them. It's my understanding that there should be an abdominal tuck, some separation between the rib section and the waist area when viewed from above, and you should be able to feel their ribs with a small amount of fat cover. There's lots of diagrams and pictures online that can serve as an example of what an ideal weight for a dog should look like, as well as seeing what overweight and underweight looks like. Just do a google image search.
Some people however disagree with what all the diagrams show, and they tend to prefer what would probably be called slightly overweight. I know some people who refer to it as being a conformation weight - I guess maybe because there is a trend to have show dogs at conformation dog shows to be a touch overweight. I'm not too sure about that though, but it's kinda what I gathered speaking to some people. Regardless, I'd take a good look at the diagrams to get an idea. And if you're still not too sure, just ask your veterinarian next time you're at the clinic.