[Pegasus]

Ok, Im posting multiple times b/c if you are like me and have not been here in 6 months...you sometimes read over some posts.

So, I know their are 'field' beagles - Snoopy is definately a field beagle.
Then there are 'show' beagles- Marbles came from a show line, but was the runt and not addopted until we came along at 6 months old

Of course I know that UK beagles look very different than the US beagles, esp in the face, they are beautiful

My conflict is this...Snoopy is very muscular, thin in the hips, 15 inches and lean (even though vet says he is overweight, he looks really good and in shape)

Marbles is 10 months old,14 inches (hoped he would be 15 inches) looks like a sausage...seriously from front to hind is one solid shape, no hips, feels like 'baby fat'..but he is only 10 months..is this normal.?? Shouldnt he be leaning out by now?

When should Marbles get the lean hips like Snoops...or is he just really overweight? Are we over feeding him?

I admit, we fed Marbles a bit more than suggested for the first 2 months b/c he acted like he was starving...they had him on 2 cups one time a day and we made it 1 cup twice a day...gulped down all of his food and wanted more. We cut back from 1 cup 2x a day to 3/4 cup 2x a day which is the recommended dose, and he still is hungry

I just want to know where he is at in the development stage. We dont want to limit his diet if it will hurt his growth or nutrition as a pup..but at the same time, he is larger in girth than my 3 yr old Snoopy

Thanks
Manda, Snoops, Marbles

 

[Murphys Dad]

Can you post a body shot of Marbles standing in both profile and overview? I only remember the picture of him in the cage and sleeping/playing with Snoops.

Of course, you know by now that each beagle is COMPLETELY different than the next.... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bounce.gif

 

[Zookeeper]

Duke has always been lean, even as a pup he was never very chubby. But I know that with my labs, the male is field lines and female is from show lines and my male has always been slim with the thin hips and longer legs. Cassie has always had a barrel body with little to no hip definition. Not sure if beags are the same, but I would think that by now, Marbles should have lost most of his puppy fat and should have a body shape close to what he'll have the rest of his life.

 

[Pegasus]

Yeah, I thought that Marbles should be thin like Snoopy by this point at 10 months...I think we over

fed him b/c we really wanted him to have his nutrition and our poor Snoops was so malnourished when we got him, we really didnt know how much was enough..and he acted SO hungry for food ...AND NOT for treats..he wanted his food...so we thought maybe he is hitting a 'growth spurt' and needs the food...

So at 11 months is ok to change to the adult food? I want to make sure that he is still having the nutrition that he needs

I want to post a pic but dont have time...on my computer it says they are all too big..so I have to figure it out....ahhh

manda

 

[Pegasus]

Here is a pic.

I talked to the vet today. He still wants us to keep him on puppy food for a few more months but just to cut back a little bit.

Manda

 

[Pegasus]

Here are the pics....the last one is what Marbles looked like in November at 6 months

Manda

 

[BeagleBabe]

You don't have a cat do you? If so, is it possible that Marbles is sneaking cat food? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/tired.gif

Abby started to look like that last summer because she was eating cat food (which is high in fat) and because, I was uncomfortably pregnant, we didn't walk nearly enough.

We have since moved the cat dish out of Abby's reach (unless she's determined!) and she goes on walks at least once a day, usually more like two or three. She's looking more lean now.

 

[Murphys Dad]

I think Marbles is just fine. Don't forget that once he matures, it will be easier to find the balance between the food and exercise. He is a handsome boy /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif

 

[Pack Leader]

It's possible that being from field lines Snoopy is more active or has a genetic predisposition towards slimness. Field dogs usually have a lot more endurance than show dogs and burn a lot more calories. That's all I can think of. Maybe you should use some of Marbles's food for training or hide it around the house so he doesn't act ravenous all the time.