Condition

I've been looking at the fantstic pictures of Vixen in another thread, and it has prompted me to ask a question about condition. Vixen is obviously in fab condition and this makes me wonder if my whippies are overweight or is condition all about the dogs purpose. I've been piling the food in Woody and Bobby since I got them because they were skeletons but at what point should I level it out and just try to maintain condition? Their muscle tone has improved but as they can only manage about half an hour to forty minutes walk a day because they're very old boys it's unlikely muscle tone will improve any further? I'm a bit confused generally about what weight/condition a whippet should be in as you see quite a few variations, but I am interested to find out what is the best body type for old and young whippets to have? or if they differ at all? Can any one give me advice?

Also, I've always thought that keeping your whippy warm (i.e putting rugs on him if he's shivering) will help maintain condition, as being cold uses up body fuel that would otherwise be stored as fat? Am I right in thinking this or is this an old wives tail

I hope this makes sense,

Woody, he looks very cold here because I just took of his fleeces so you could get an idea of his condition



Bobby

I think they look ok for old men

I think they look great, they are elderly gents.

Vixen is in a class of her own...I love her, she's stunning...

....but I think condition is as you say dependant on what they do, Bluebell is very much a pet, she hasn't a clue on bunnies and sometimes has days without a good run and she doesn't have a regular running partner...as Dasiy is a little slow!...so she I guess would be described as in soft condition...

I think they look in great condition . I wouldn't like to see them any thinner in view of their age

I think they look fabulous for old boys. And they sound like they are still managing a really decent walk each day.

I have to admit that I hate seeing whippets in soft condition and even worse fat. I take pride in the condition of our dogs.

They look fine to me for a couple of elderly gents :thumbsup:

My Finn is Vixen's litter brother and they are beautifully made, vibrantly healthy dogs and don't ever really seem to lose much condition. My other adult, Tyg, just never looks to quite have Finn's (or Vixen's) condition, even though his coat shines and he has plenty of muscle and he is fed and exercised in exactly the same way as Finn ... he just isn't as well put together as the Mallyfields ... you can't condition it if you haven't got it lol.

They look super for elderly gents well done !!!! it is all about purpose. Working dogs need to be lighter and with good muscle tone ( you can have them like that and in fab condition coat wise) But our whippets are pets and run an hour each day, we watch their weight but they are as people say in soft condition. I personally like it, but i think that it is because my maternal instinct is to feed everyone :lol: :lol: :lol:

They are cracking boys what a good mummy you are. :wub:

they look realy good for old guys. my 2 old lads realy realy feel the cold and they do seam to drop weight quick if they arnt warm. iv got race and pets old and young here and all have differnt mussle mass but they all have good coats ad clear eyes and look in good condtion with the old guy7s if there coats ok and there happy going outfor a potter and are eating well I realy wouldnt worry

I think they both look wonderful for their age, and, given their previous history, they have come on in leaps and bounds since being with you :thumbsup:

Whatever you do, keep doing it as it obviously does them the world of good!!

I struggle to get muscle definition on my gang but they spend all day running around my fields and play fighting so they are extremely strong but they are lacking in roadwork and distance running to put in the muscle tone. Keeping the weight off is a constant battle with the girls although Irie isn't so prone to be fat so at least I can feed him normally :lol:

I need to sort out a routine!! :b

Oh, and yes, keeping a jumper or coat on will help to retain the body warmth and they won't use up energy keeping warm and thus lose weight :thumbsup:

pointydogs said:

I've been looking at the fantstic pictures of Vixen in another thread, and it has prompted me to ask a question about condition. Vixen is obviously in fab condition and this makes me wonder if my whippies are overweight or is condition all about the dogs purpose. I've been piling the food in Woody and Bobby since I got them because they were skeletons but at what point should I level it out and just try to maintain condition? Their muscle tone has improved but as they can only manage about half an hour to forty minutes walk a day because they're very old boys it's unlikely muscle tone will improve any further? I'm a bit confused generally about what weight/condition a whippet should be in as you see quite a few variations, but I am interested to find out what is the best body type for old and young whippets to have? or if they differ at all? Can any one give me advice?Bobby

Click to expand...

You can't fight genetics! I have one little show/coursing bred whippet among the three racebreds and although the little un exercises more and harder than the racebreds, he will never get the muscle they have, it's just not in him to make it. If they're alert, bright eyed and fit they're fine. With the older gents I give them a bit more leeway (ie a little more cover), just in case they go off their feed for a day or two. Having said that, the racebreds with a few extra pounds just look more muscly, the little guy just looks a bit softer.

Louanne

They look great to me for oldies. Bobby has certainly filled out. Neither look overweight.

I do watch the weight of old Foxy (13) because of her joint problems and weakness in her hind legs. If I think she is getting a bit heavy, I put her onto Wagg senior and lite for a few weeks. It is not one of the fancy expensive senior feeds, but she does really well on it. As feeeding time is the highlight of her day (now that chasing squirrels is out of the frame) it allows her a decent quantity of food without piling on the pounds.

pointydogs said:

I've been looking at the fantstic pictures of Vixen in another thread, and it has prompted me to ask a question about condition. Vixen is obviously in fab condition and this makes me wonder if my whippies are overweight or is condition all about the dogs purpose. I've been piling the food in Woody and Bobby since I got them because they were skeletons but at what point should I level it out and just try to maintain condition? Their muscle tone has improved but as they can only manage about half an hour to forty minutes walk a day because they're very old boys it's unlikely muscle tone will improve any further? I'm a bit confused generally about what weight/condition a whippet should be in as you see quite a few variations, but I am interested to find out what is the best body type for old and young whippets to have? or if they differ at all? Can any one give me advice?
Also, I've always thought that keeping your whippy warm (i.e putting rugs on him if he's shivering) will help maintain condition, as being cold uses up body fuel that would otherwise be stored as fat? Am I right in thinking this or is this an old wives tail

I hope this makes sense,

Woody, he looks very cold here because I just took of his fleeces so you could get an idea of his condition

Bobby

Click to expand...

I use the following as general WEIGHT GUIDELINES (not for show dogs):

* I must be able to see ribs when they turn, not really when they are just standing

* I must be able to count 3 vertebrae in the topline

* They must look like a peanut in its shell when viewed from above, in other words, have a waist.