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Tandr

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I have a Weimaraner x Doberman and he lives outside with the cocker spaniel now she is fine maybe even slightly on the chunky side but he has always had a problem keeping weight on it's his first winter out ,I have tried putting a coat on him but he won't keep it on and he's fed three times a day but also gets left a full bowl if I know I won't be back for dinner this is usually still with some left when I do come back for tea. He goes through a 15kg bag of working dog food as the large breed he went like a hat rack is there anything I could do to help him as I want to nip it in the bud as much as I can.
sorry it's long can anyone help I don't want too spend a fortune for it too be a waste of money if I can
 
I'm not fluffy about dogs living out, but he'll be fine coated if he's a mix of those two breeds and a heat lamp in his kennel might be a better bet. Can you post pics? I'd rather a lean dog than a fat one! And what food are you feeding? Eggs, tripe, fish and fish oil can all add condition.
I had one who was a fence runner and ran all her weight off, I walked her then tried to keep her crated as much as I could so that she didn't self exercise. I'm exhausted just thinking about her!!
 
Modern dog foods are designed to encourage the dog to eat more without putting on weight, that's how the manufacturers sell more and make more money. I had that from a canine behaviourist who is quite well known and who used to work for one of the major pet food manufacturers.

The answer is to add a lump of suet or lard to the feed.
 
He hasn't got much of a coat so I bet if you warm him up a bit he'll keep the weight on better. Would he sleep under an old duvet? My weimaraner loves hers but won't keep a coat no matter how cold she is.
 
I can't get a pic as I forgot my password for photobucket. He's on one called batters which is high protein and it's chicken and beef his bowl is an old metal mixing bowl and he gets that full every time it's 2 litres if I remember correctly from buying it.
What would be the best too add to it and where do I get it do I just get the oil etc from asda?
He's in a huge wooden kennel will that be safe with a heat lamp I'm sure I could rig an extension out too him if that would help at the moment they have two double duvets which are 13.5 tog. He is fine coated which is a pain he only needs too live out so the cocker is put on her own she doesn't cope well inside if we go out so coming in isn't an option unfortunately.
 
He's on baxters sorry auto correct


Hope that works this was awhile ago when he was fine he has lost some since but too give you an idea of build as the one of him on his own was of him in too condition from August
 
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As above he is fine coated so probably is feeling the cold, I think both those breeds are known for being wimps (no disrepect, bless them). You say he has a huge wooden kennel, that is probably a lot of space to warm up, is it insulated? If not I would insulate and line it, and then make an inner sleeping box with a lid so he can build up a nice warm "fug" around him.
 
Hi, I know you said he won't keep a coat on, but have you tried the equifleece pull-on jumper things? My dogs won't wear traditional coats, they will constantly try to get them off, but are quite happy in the jumpers. It has no straps or buckles and is stretchie, so I think they don't feel so restricted in their movement.
My one which tends to be leaner, loves tripe and oily fish mixed through his food.
 
A heat lamp will be safe in a wooden kennel if over 18" from the sides. A duvet woun't keep a smooth coated dog warm unless burrowed under.
Can't find a baxters dog food - do you have a link to it please?
 
I never thought of making it small inside might have a look into that it's insulated and lined and has a slate roof it's 6foot by 6 foot.
I haven't seen those jumpers where do you get them from so I can have a look?
Will give fish ago I don't know if can get baxters online I buy it from a farm shop I got that as my friends dog did really well on it with it being high protein and meat content I'm buying a bag later so can put percentages on of what's in it.
I think he is definitely a wimp he use to shiver when it was under 15 degrees although not as bad now only in the minus does he shiver abit
 
From that picture he has lost a further 3 kilos in a month and half I know he isn't too bad but I'm worried about leaving him if that makes sense.
Which fish is best I don't eat it myself I'm a steak kind of girl which he gets quite abit of spoilt boy.
 
My dobers teeth chatter at 15deg! Big thumbs up for equafleece in our house! Definitely make a den within the kennel. A crate maybe? Covered with blankets. You can get heat reflecting liners as we'll from pets at home for him to lie on.

Food wise my slinky dober has done really well on barking heads fusspot which is salmon and potato he gets between 350 and 400gms a day split over breakfast and dinner (his granny gives him something for lunch gawd knows what,law unto herself that one!) and is now a fit 40kgs previously I had a job getting weight on him. I'd go for a lamb or salmon based food as they have a higher oil content. You could supplement with sardines or mackerel fillets. It sounds as though he is having considerable volume which could mean it's just pumping through his guts without getting the benefit. Tripe is also good or breast of lamb. I've heard good things about bionic biotic too effectively blue chip for dogs. As I type I am being muscled out of prime location in front of the fire :). Tell the girl to buck her ideas up and relocate to the house selfish spaniel ;)
 
I'll have a look at them I so wish she could come in would be so much easier but she just panics as soon as she can't see us and wees poos and throws up.
Glad to know im not on my own with weight problems he's 57kg but is big for his breeds he's very tall I just hate it when he looks so scrawny.
Shall give him more blankets and look at the heat mats hadn't heard of them for kennels
 
Wow, that does sound mahoosive!! My big leggy, deep chested GSD was 40kg, although he was skinny with a very heavy coat. My younger one is small for his breed and is about 30-32kg in fit condition.
 
I'm 5"4 and he's quite abit bigger than me especially when he decides my face isn't clean enough the silly ******. He's all legs and can be quite funny too watch when he runs and realises he needs to stop.
 
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