Puppy health, keeping pups fat and happy, or keeping them lean and athletic?

Recently, there has been a lot of debate going on in the rearing of pups, especially when it comes to feeding. Some vets believe in keeping pups fat and happy, however, others believe that keeping pups too fat can have harmful consequences. The traditional vets opt to keep pups fat and healthy so that their fast growing bodies have an abundant supply of energy. However, this can often cause problems for the pups, especially during play where they run and jump around a lot as their bones are still relatively weak. This severely restricts their play. On the other hand, pups kept lean tend to be able to play harder, longer, and are more energetic than pups kept fat. However, the pups can quickly go from being lean to skinny within 2-3 days due to their quick rate of growth. Different vets say different things, but in general, experience is the best teachers. In everyone's experience, what is the healthiest way to rear pups? Letting them eat and then sleep, or keeping them lean and letting them run?

 

by lean, I mean something like this:



I don't mean excessively skinny with spine showing, just a little rib.

 

keep em well fed. Some pups are different and metabolize at different rates. X amount of food keeps one lean and another looking rolly polly.

feed generous portions and let the rest work itself out.

 

I like to keep all my dogs 10-15 pounds over top condition weight unless I am practicing for the big show. Then I like to have them 8 pounds over weight while they practice.

 

keep them plumped during the first year, they will lean out naturally as they develop.
some pups are naturally lean so it depends on the dog.
i like to free feed for the first 4 months and then offer 2 meals a day until about 8 months.

 

I keep them slightly overweight until 12-16 months. It depends on the dog but that's a bit lean for my taste on a pup. Ribs should barely be visible on a puppy. If they are too lean I think you might be depriving them of some essential calories that they need while growing. I tend to agree that the dog will lean themselves out as they develop into their adult muscle and bone density.

B

 

A little over a year old on the right and almost 20 months on the left. I like them soft around the edges until it comes time for them to work.

B

 

that's a good lookin boy right there. You did a good job on him and he looks like he is one hell of a bulldog.