My puppy has grown into a pony.

[Inthepotty]

We got our pup at 10weeks, (taken from my SIL, long story, those who saw previous threads will know). He was a teeny tiny little dot, could fit in the crook of my arm sort of size! Were told he's a 'miniature labradoodle'. Now, at 6 months, he's a big big boy. About 23 inches to the shoulder, in fact! Taller than friends adult springer, nearly as big as my dads 1yr old boxer. I'm worried I'm not feeding him enough to sustain this big growth spurt! He's fed raw, weighs 17kg looks nice and slim and has a feel of fleece blanket over his ribs? No idea if that's right- as a breed they're all so diffrent/

Not that I'm bothered in the slightest about the shetland pony lanky pup, but am concerned it's no good for his joints? He has around 20/30 mins walk in the morning, then the same again or slightly less in the afternoon/early eve. Does that sound ok? We do lots of training/games at home to tire him out, as to be honest I think he would love longer walks. Don't want to break him!

Advice, please?

I know the feeling !
As a previous boxer owner we were used to largish dogs. Took in a 18 month old skinny, ribby, rescue boxer, vet confirms he is a boxer crossed with a mastiff and now he weighs 30k and stands to my hip bone.
We play lots of fetch and football in the back garden and walk approx 3.5 miles every day, somestimes in one go, sometimes split into two walks.
once or twice a month we do a six mile walk.
Good luck!

Our rescue pup (lab x) also turning out bigger than we expected! At 6 months he weighed 17kg, now at nearly 10 months he weighs 20kg.

We could see his ribs, the vet said he was perfect - didn't need feeding more - but he was food obsessed, and constantly chewing. He does get more exercise than your pup, admittedly, but we have upped his food - and he is filling out a bit, happier, calmer, no longer chewing everything in sight

Vet said 'you need to be able to feel their spine' which I suppose is a good rough guide (??) but feeling ribs, as opposed to seeing them, makes sense to me too. The lankiness is going, but he hasn't quite grown into his legs yet either!

The 'too much walking is bad for their joints' thing has, apparently, been disproven by recent orthopaedic vets - the most important thing for joints is not being overweight. Exercise is fine. So I guess you could do whatever feels right for your pup, you will know if he's getting too tired - at least, its easy to tell with Mouse: he lies down (never happens anymore )

Your pup sounds gorgeous - pics please?

The fleece bit sounds good - ideal in fact.

All I'd say is that it can be difficult to get all the necessary nutrients in the right proportions with a raw diet - so I'd make sure I did. Lots of protein, vitamins, calcium etc to build strong bones and muscles. I have absolutely no idea what the proportions are; I'm not a RAW fan but that's all that would worry me.

And, I can't imagine that any mating of a miniature poodle and a lab would make a guaranteed miniature anything! He'll have more upward growing to do if he's only 6 months, but he's done most of it. A male lab to the shoulder should be 22 - 22.5inches to the shoulder so he's there already!

Are you sure it wasn't a full size poodle involved?

Exercise sounds good - a longer walk wouldn't hurt him every now and then, but on a regular basis you sound pretty spot on.

Thanks so much for advice- I've just had a feel and can feel curve of spine, it's difficult to tell how thin/fat he is as very scruffy! Just put my 20years ago stint as a hairdresser skills to use and trimmed the crinkly ears and old man beard lots of food stuck in, he looks like he's off out prowling for chicks now...Will try and get a pic up, Elibean I'm sure you were on the old thread when I'd first got him, will link to 'little' and 'large' pics though! We do do a longer walk (1hr) at weekends, does get very tired though and sleeps for hours after.

Daisy I'm quite precise about raw feeding, measure and weigh like a demon at min, he was really struggling on kibble (runny eyes, runny poo, dandruff) but may look into other food options? Have tried JWB, fish4dogs, Burns and
Chudleys.

Apparently his mum was 21 inch tts, dad 14 inch tts- who knows though, I took him in after my stupid SIL bought him and went on to be the worst puppy owner ever

Vet reckons he may get taller, but will most likely fill out at the same time.

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Add message | Report | Message poster Inthepotty Wed 01-Feb-12 19:48:02
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Big breeds (your's is a cross-breed) go on growing until well over a year then slowly fill out. He'll get a whole lot bigger before he's finished.

He's lovely! And if he's stable and happy with what you're feeding him, stay confident and stick with it. He looks perfect.

I would expect most of his upward growing is done - maybe he'll get another inch or so taller but most things lab based grow upwards and then slowly fill out so that by the time they're 18 months/2 years they're full sized.

Oh yes, I remember him! He's still gorgeous

Mouse has grown upwards between 6-9 months for sure, but hopefully now is just filling out....