I go by the old rule "the eye of the master maketh the horse". It applies to dogs as well. You may start with a rule of thumb, but pay attention to what your eyes tell you and you won't go far wrong. If your dog is gaining weight past the ideal, time to cut back, and vice versa.
Feeding?
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All of my Basenjis are first family members always have been, always will be, just because I show or do performance events with them, that doesn't mean that they are any different then a loved family pet.
To each their own on feeding for sure, just pointing out why I do not believe in free feeding, also why mine are fed in crates….. so that they each can enjoy their meals in peace and I know what they are eating and how much....
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All of my Basenjis are first family members always have been, always will be, just because I show or do performance events with them, that doesn't mean that they are any different then a loved family pet.
To each their own on feeding for sure, just pointing out why I do not believe in free feeding, also why mine are fed in crates….. so that they each can enjoy their meals in peace and I know what they are eating and how much....
+1 on this - and yes, to each their own on the feeding. Mine are definitely family members, just because I control their food doesn't mean I love them any less. Another reason I really like controlled feeding for my 3 kids…when Ruby was sick, I was 100% clear on what she was eating and what she wasn't eating so I could figure out (with the help of everyone here :)) just how serious things were. It also makes output a lot more predictable...when sick or healthy. Mine eat in their crates, there are no squabbles over food...and with 3 b's, that is one less cause of major noise:D:D:D...
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I agree with both of you….yes, our beloved dogs are in fact family members.
Rita Jean, I also free fed for years until I got Kate. She was what we used to call on the farm "an easy keeper". She gained weight just looking at food (I think Kate and I are soul mates in this:()
I still feed my 2 together, and they regulate naturally, but I cut down the food in the bowl to a measured amount per day. They don't fight, or gulp, or go hungry late in the day. They both look great, (Kate's a little chubby but has been since she was a pup. She continues to lose excess #'s on a slow but steady basis)
Tanza, I also see your pov. If/when it comes to the time that I feel I need to monitor Ty and Kate's diet closer, I'll have no problem separating them for feeding, nor will I have have any resource guarding issues to deal with. At this time I'm blessed enough to be able to monitor my pets and their issues on not only a daily basis, but an hourly basis.
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All of my Basenjis are first family members always have been, always will be, just because I show or do performance events with them, that doesn't mean that they are any different then a loved family pet.
To each their own on feeding for sure, just pointing out why I do not believe in free feeding, also why mine are fed in crates….. so that they each can enjoy their meals in peace and I know what they are eating and how much....
My dogs are beloved family members also. I do not crate feed, but each dog has been taught to eat from its own bowl. As with my human children, I do not free feed. There are set meal times for the humans and for the dogs.
My dogs are fed morning and evening, at roughly our breakfast and supper times, and they do get snacks throughout the day…..just like the human kids. -
B's in show weight will usually carry a bit more "meat" on their bones.
Can you expand on this? I'm not sure what you mean. Thanks.
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Dogs in the show ring are usually shown with more fat than a dog that is at what some refer to as "race weight". The description that Pat gave for what a basenji should look like is a nice lean athletic weight.
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Can you expand on this? I'm not sure what you mean. Thanks.
lvoss said it well, usually a show dog, depending on their body conformation will carry a bit more weight/fat/padding that somewhat softens their look as compared to racing weight….
It is a small difference, but with a dog in typical show weight, it might not be as easy to see the outline of the ribs when running or if you were standing over them, they would be a bit "thicker" through the loins.... -
Are we talking just slightly larger? By no means "chubby" or fat though, right? The pics I have seen of all y'alls dogs they look like they are in great shape, and not large, but then again, I don't have a before show and at show pic.
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Are we talking just slightly larger? By no means "chubby" or fat though, right? The pics I have seen of all y'alls dogs they look like they are in great shape, and not large, but then again, I don't have a before show and at show pic.
Not chubby or fat… just more filled out - if you go to my website and look on the lure coursing page, enlarge the picture of the red bitch (Fatia) with the red jacket (in the line of four pictures). Note that if you look at her loins, she is much more tucked up the red bitch (Kristii) at the top of the page in yellow. One is more in show weight (the one at the top) then the other one.
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Thanks I will go right now.
Ok I am back. I see what you mean. If you wouldn't had pointed that out, I probably wouldn't have been able to see the difference. Thanks -
I've noticed that dogs, including Basenjis, eat more and get chubby if they were abandoned and lived in the streets for a while, especially when they were young pups. One of my Basenjis and one of my rescues have cast iron stomachs, they aren't picky eaters, and they love food! One of my Basenjis doesn't eat a lot and I often hand feed her so I know she is getting enough nutrients.
