[Java]

Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

My Java is still pretty lean and seems to be in decent shape with all the exercise he gets. I've seen beagles with more barrel shaped bodies and was wondering if this normally comes with maturity or is it typically the product of over-feeding? It's kinda hard to determine how much to feed him since he's always in the mood to eat

He's kinda got that greyhound leanness to him right now, but i'm wondering if he's supposed to be thicker? I know in the grand scheme of things, as long as he's healthy, how he looks only appeals to my own vanity.

 

[Murphys Dad]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Chloe is very different from other Beagles too. She is very slim, however, according to the vet is not underweight and has good muscle tone. I was told that she might fill out after she finishes growing, but that happened at around 11 months, and she is now 16 months old, and still looks like a model.

Beagles look different from one another, but somehow still manage to look like Beagles....

 

[Murphys Dad]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Some beagles are long and lean critters with slender features and some are stout robust barrel chested brutes. The key is to keep then the way they were born to be. He's is supposed to be healthy, have good muscle tone, and not have excess pounds. Depending on individual body types within the breed one 15 could be that and only 18 lbs and another 33 or 35 pounds. Beagles don't stop growing when reach 10 or 11 months, they just stop getting taller. He may fill out some more till he is an adult at about 22 months.

 

[DaisysMom]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Daisy is a long thing herself. I was wondering the same thing

 

[Murphys Dad]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Originally Posted By: bobBeagles don't stop growing when reach 10 or 11 months, they just stop getting taller.

I stand corrected, Bob. Actually meant that, but Chloe didn't even changed a bit since she was almost a year old..... I don't see how she will fill out

 

[Zookeeper]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Duke is 15 months and has the long, lean body shape. Like Bob said, some have different shapes than others, just like us humans.

I had also always thought they stopped getting taller by a year, but just within the past month, 3 people have commented on how Duke has grown. We even noticed a few weeks back when we came home from 3 days out of town. I pulled out the tape measurer and sure enough, about 1/2 height gain at 14 months.

On my labs, Cassie has always had a barrel shape and Roscoe was always lean. Only after Roscoe was unable to run because of his blindness at 8 years old did he finally fill out some, and even then, he was still at a healthy weight and never had the barrel shape. I would imagine it will be the same for Duke.

 

[Murphys Dad]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Jersey stopped growing at about a year (maybe a little younger) but kept filling out until she was about 18-20 months. She's got a big barrel chest which makes her look fat even though she's still got a waistline and her ribs are easy to feel.

 

[jft]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Angel was always long and thin until she was about 3, she then started gaining weight and does so now easily....too easily.
We really have to watch her food intake and excercise. During the winter gains more than she should. Since it is so cold here during the winter, she gets less exercise. She has asthma and cannot be out in the cold for too long or she has an attack so walks are short for her. She ususally takes it all back off during the summer months.

She is fondly known as sausage dog during the winter months.

 

[Java]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Thanks for the input, folks. I guess I was curious as to whether it is ever too young to start watching what our beagles eat. For the most part, I refrain from giving Java treats all the time, but with training becoming more and more of a priority with me now, I wanted to reward him without ruining his girlish figure. I think I will try healthier snack alternatives that I've read about on this forum:
Carrots, string beans, ice cubes...
Are there any other suggestions out there?

 

[beaglesmom]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

When I took JoJo to obedience classes, the instructor told us to use string cheese as training treats - you can slice them into very thin slices - same with hot dogs - you don't want to give them too many treats, but for training that works well - it's more the idea of the treat than the actual quantity of the treat. The cheese and hot dogs can be sliced VERY thin. Another thing I have used is .... Cheerios. When I tried clicker training years ago, the information I had suggested cheerios - they love them - and again, it's the idea, not the size. You can also use slices of carrots - my pack loves carrots, but heck, my pack loves anything that doesn't eat them first. You're wise to be concerned. Beagles are chowhounds and gain weight easily. Right now I have only one chubby beagle - and that is Lottie, who came to me with a weight problem. She's a tiny little girl - very short - we're working on getting her trimmer. Usually mine fill out and gain more after they've been spayed/neutered.

 

[Genie]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Just have to put in my 2 cents' worth: Miss Shiloh is part bassett hound, so she has always been on the longish side. But lean? Not her. She started filling out and just kept on filling!!!

 

[BookerMoose]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Ours are also all different - Booker never lost her puppy fat and has basically been pudgy and round since birth (one of the many reasons I love her, since I am just the same!). We have to really watch EVERYTHING she eats for her to lose any weight at all... and even then it is a long, slow process.

Moosie was long and lean when we adopted him at 1 1/2 and basically stayed like that without having to watch what he ate until he hit 5 years of age - then he started to slowly gain weight and fill out unless we were really careful with his food intake. He still creeps up from time to time, but even a minor food adjustment shows immediately success, such as his recent 9 pound weight loss (when the girls only lost 4-5 pounds with the same adjustments).

Popcorn came to us super-skinny, but that was most likely due to her having been a stray and terrified, since after a while with us she started to gain weight and fill out quite rapidly.. She is therefore also on a strict diet and although she is doing a bit better than Booker, she is losing weight much more slowly than Moosie.

 

[bender29]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

LOL! Banjo has already filled out. He's a little chub-monster.

 

[Lisa P]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Bentley is 5 now and while we rescued him at 1 year of age I did notice around 2 he thickened up a bit. He didn't get fat he just became thicker and more muscular. He still has a very well defined waist.

 

[Pack Leader]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Henry is a beagle mixed with something big, lol, most likely German shepherd. That's where all the signs point anyway. Due to these genetics he is long, tall, and lean, much like a shepherd puppy. The best description of his body type is like that of a foxhound or a pointer. Even so, I'm still careful about his weight because I want him to be around forever. One of my cockers was built more stockily than the other, so we forever had to watch his weight, but it paid off because he was solid brawn, an excellent field dog, and problem-free until his death at 15 1/2 y.o.

Henry, the beagle/german shepherd

Devil dog, lol.

 

[Java]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Melissa, what an awesome mix. I love the coloring and how Henry's ears stand when he's attentive!

 

[NORTHWEST REDNECK]

Re: Do Beagles start to fill out after a certain age

Yep, Just as I did in my early 20,s! Goober was never fat
in his youth...But, he was a very buff & tall beag in his youth
weighing in at 45 lbs & being about 18s tall! Today, I count
myself lucky if he weighs over 30 lbs! He is our longest living
beagle ever...! As he ages he has lost the energy to greet me
with the zoomies now...but , he still tries to greet me that
way! Goober is nearly 16 & 1/2 yrs old now & has outlived my
caged Cockateil Gorromino!