Obesity is a common problem with certain breeds of dog, including pugs, bulldogs, basset hounds and Labrador retrievers. However, just because your Goldendoodle or Labradoodle is a mixed breed, it doesn’t mean that hybrid vigor makes them immune to weight gain. All dog breeds have a better quality of life when their bodies fall into the ideal healthy dog weight ranges for their size and breed because it lets them run, play and enjoy life without constraint.
Should I Be Worried About My Dog’s Weight?
Just like in humans, weight gain causes an accumulation of fat around the organs that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and more. Obese dogs have a poorer quality of life than their fit and healthy counterparts, and they’re lucky enough to have someone else regulating their intake. If your dog’s weight doesn’t fall within the range that’s considered a healthy weight, it’s time to address Rover’s food and activity choices!
Achieving a dog’s ideal weight isn’t something that happens by accident. Dogs are sensation-seeking and love the smell, taste and feeling of food. If you don’t carefully distribute their meals and offer an appropriate amount of treats at the correct frequency, they’ll quickly gain excess weight. Pooches also need daily exercise to keep oxygen flowing optimally through their blood and give their muscles and joints a workout. Helping them reach their target healthy body weight is a matter of reducing calories and increasing exercise.
Doodle Dog’s Ideal Weight
Large Standard
A large standard Doodle usually stands at around 25 inches tall and weighs between 85 and 90 pounds.
Small Standard
Small standard Doodles are around 20 inches tall and should weigh between 45 and 50 pounds.
Healthy Dog Weight for Miniatures
A miniature Doodle is a cross between a miniature poodle and a golden retriever, and it stands at between 13 and 15 inches tall, weighing between 30 and 35 pounds.
Work Out Your Dog’s Body Condition Score
Getting your Doodle onto your weighing scales might be a challenge, but don’t worry — you can use a body condition scoring process and your senses to work out whether your dog’s current weight needs addressing. There are three conditions: overweight dogs, healthy weight dogs and underweight dogs. Read on to find out more about how to identify where your pooch falls on the scale.
Too Small
- The dog’s ribs and pelvis bone are prominent, alongside an evident abdominal tuck and very cinched waist
- No discernable or palpable body fat
- Loss of muscle mass
Just Right
- Ribcage is easily palpable under a small layer of fat but not visibly prominent
- Cinched waist when viewed from above
- Abdominal tuck visible from the side
Too Big
- Ribs palpable under a layer of fat or not palpable at all
- Waist isn’t prominently visible or completely obscured by body fat
- Abdominal tuck either less pronounced or not present at all
- Fat deposits on lumbar region of spine, neck, limbs and base of tail
Weight Loss Tips for Adult Dogs
Overweight dogs are at risk for a number of health problems, including joint problems, diabetes, kidney disease and respiratory difficulties. Wanting to help your dog lose weight to achieve a healthy weight range is a noble intention, and it could significantly affect the time you and your furry best friend get to spend together. Pooches that are in a prime physical condition are said to live around two years more than an overweight dog.
- The most important aspect of weight loss is calorie intake and quality of food. If your dog is overweight, avoid many high-calorie treats. If you must give treats, opt for low-calorie options such as green beans.
- Stop giving your dog human treats or tidbits.
- Cut back on protein and increase carbs.
- Make sure your overweight dog gets plenty of fiber — little bits of carrot, apple or pumpkin are great additions to food.
- Ensure your pooch always has a full water bowl and stays hydrated — you can even devise games that encourage them to drink more water.
- Use high-protein treats or fun instead of unhealthy doggy treats.
- Dogs love movement, so any additional chance they get to play outdoors will be great for their waistline and their overall well-being. Losing weight while having fun outdoors is also good for your dog’s mental health.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Underweight
If your dog is underweight, you may have been underfeeding or over-exercising them. There’s also a chance that you’ve picked up a rescue dog. If this is the case, you should take them to the vet before putting them on any kind of refeeding diet to achieve ideal body weight.
If your dog just needs to plump up by a few pounds, simply increase their calories by 50 every two weeks and make sure they’re not getting overworked.
Dog Food Intake Tips
Here are some handy tips to help dog owners understand what types of food and treats to avoid giving your dog. Nutrition is one of the most important drivers of health, so the more you invest in and pay attention to what your dog eats, the better its life will be.
- Avoid foods with artificial preservatives like BHT or BHA.
- While a meat “meal” is fine in most cases, don’t feed your dog meat by-products or derivatives.
- Try not to use foods that list grains as a main ingredient.
- Don’t use feed with a high salt or sugar content .
- Never feed your dog anything containing alcohol, Xylitol, chocolate, caffeine, raw salmon or trout, macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins or onions.
Introduce a New Best Friend Into Your Home
If you’re thinking about becoming a dog owner, keep in mind that nutrition and the amount of food you give them is directly related to achieving a healthy weight and longer lifespan. Dogs love tasty treats just as much as we do, but we need to regulate their body weight to achieve the ideal weight and give them the best life possible. There’s no greater feeling than watching a healthy dog thriving whose wellness you’re responsible for.
Take a look at our adorable doodle puppies for sale on the Pride and Prejudoodles website today.
