I never really understood the concept of “show weight”, especially when this is the second line of our standard: “compactly built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance and speed.” I’ve never had a judge comment on weight/condition so I just keep my dog as he is.
He’s handsome! I asked a long-time Doberman person about the “show weight” vs “sport weight” stuff once. She said a little surface fat will round out a dog and help the eye flow over each area and can help hide minor faults. I am not a conformation person at all. In the last three years in Dobermans I’ve become better at seeing a correct dog, but when I see a poorly bred dog with major faults I’m not yet good enough to say what exactly is “off.” I can just tell something isn’t quite right, sometimes I can tell if it’s the front or the back, but sometimes I’ll see a dog and be like “is that a bad rear?” and someone will say, actually the rear angulation is fine but the front is off so it makes the rear look funny too.I never really understood the concept of “show weight”, especially when this is the second line of our standard: “compactly built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance and speed.” I’ve never had a judge comment on weight/condition so I just keep my dog as he is.
This is him now and I wouldn’t like him heavier than this. I’m showing in two weeks so we’ll see if I get any comments.
Thank you so much!! He's 4 years old already, time flies.
Just another reason to keep them intact.Wowza Riley!
It helps that he has hills to run up and down.
What we've learned so far is that living on this island provides optimum canine conditioning, great bone density and muscle development, the best that the individual dog's genetics allow. I've had professional handlers say they'd love to send dogs to our island. Being the first puppy started out here at 9 weeks, I am still shocked at his bulging muscle development. It's definitely going to be interesting to see how he develops. He does have a bit of Russian in his lineage, Sant Kreal, de Grande Vinko and Pride of Russia and I think he is tending towards that body type.
Looks like you're in Alaska?
Indeed
What that looks like (we're on a remote island, basically all the islands around here are mountain tops jutting out of the sea) Taking a walk on the beach here isn't quite relaxing...
it is a complicated endeavor that takes a lot of balance, coordination, focus and concentration. It's rough, but an amazing life though.
That looks like an amazing place to live. But not for the weak!
His muscular system will not be hindered.
So true. And it wasn't my intention to highjack your thread. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to draw the line. He doesn't carry any fat, none of our dogs ever have. It's difficult to keep weight on as they burn too many calories/energy. Their weight is in bone and muscle. What do you do when you burn 1000 calories to walk 100 yards? We had one dog that required 8k-10k calories per day depending on activity of the day. I'm currently slowing this high drive/high energy pup down to "take it easy" with tracking, even so, it's still quite a physical workoutHe looks as if he's going to be a sizable Doberman. Since the terrain is rough there won't be a way for him to "take it easy" in his exercise, but I'd personally try to keep him as light as possible while he's growing, especially his first year, if not his first two years. None of his major joints are closed yet and it's preferable to slow down joint growth which is easiest by keeping the puppy slim. I know you didn't ask, so I'm sorry if you are already aware, just trying to be helpful.
we also do a little indoor nose work. I'm open to suggestions 
