weight watching

In spite of their great energy, Lapphunds often have a weight problem.  Perhaps it's the fact that they are very greedy eaters.  Greeder eaters are easier to train, but more difficult to keep healthy, weight-wise.  I've had 1 greedy eater and 1 fussy eater - I never had to worry about the weight of the fussy eater - in fact, it was a struggle to keep him looking in good condition because he was so persnicketty.

Neka, the greedy eater, is kept slim & fit by 2 plain meals a day and a minimum of treats (often raw veggies rather than pieces of sausage).

In Neka's first litter she gave birth to 7 chips off the old block.  Greedy little devils every one.  And weight watchers, every one.  Here are 3 of them with their mum.  In this photo they are only 12 months old and in need of diets and she, the smallest of any of them, is only a few weeks away from giving birth to 9 more puppies.  Nine!

L-R: Keksi, Neka, Taika, Taito  (photo Andrew McCarthy)

These days Taika's and Taito's weight is kept in check by strict diets too.  As for Keksi, she struggled longest & hardest with her weight.  Then after her own litter of puppies last year, it all dropped off like magic.

There is little more pathetic or sorry-looking than a bitch at 11 or 12 weeks post-whelping.  She is skinny and she has lost absolutely all her fur in readiness for a lush new coat.  I won't embarrass Keksi by posting a photo of how she looked then.  But the good news is that once she shed all that weight, her speed increased dramatically and now she is able to keep slim & fit easily - and she is able to eat more at her meals than ever before.

Of course, she has not been spayed yet.  And neutered dogs & bitches have a whole new challenge with weight.