How to Tell How Much Padding Your Dog Should Have
Use Body Condition Score: BCS!
Body condition score is a semi-objective way to get an idea if your dog has the right amount of weight for his or her body structure.
The weights and weight ranges published for pure-breed dogs are show standards. The show standard means the breeder organization (fanciers) of that breed want a dog of their breed to fall within a certain weight range. This is no guarantee that your dog will become only that size. It also is no insurance that a 18 pound Shih Tzu in a 10-pound Shih Tzu frame is okay, even though the numbers might fit the breed standard.
A majority of dogs are of mixed-breed descent. You cannot look in any book to really get any idea of how much a mutt should weigh. It is pure guesswork. Continue reading “How to Tell If Your Dog is Fat”