With a healthy body weight, a dog will have a shape similar to that of an hourglass figure, and you ought to be able to see it by standing just in front of its face and looking down. Ideally you will be able to see its waist tucked behind the ribs.
How do you know if your dog is in good shape?
Looking at your dog from above, if you notice that the pup looks rather rotund and oval-shaped, it's likely that your dog is fat. If, on the other hand, you notice that your dog has a defined waist toward the rear and a straight build down the sides, then they're probably at a healthy weight.
How can you tell if your dog is too skinny?
How to Tell If a Dog Is Too Skinny1The ribs are clearly visible or feel like they lie just beneath the skin, with no fat layer in between.2The hip bones, shoulder bones and spinal cord are easy to feel beneath the skin.3The bones at the base of the tail are protruding.Is My Dog Too Skinny? - Hill's Pet Nutrition
How lean should a dog be?
One super simple guideline to determine your dog's body condition: If you can clearly see all their ribs, they're too lean. If you can easily feel, but not see their ribs, they're at ideal body condition. If you can't feel their ribs due to a layer of fat, they are too heavy.
Should you be able to feel your dog's ribs?
You should be able to feel the ribs with a slight covering of muscle over them, but they shouldn't be visible, feel like sharp ridges or be poking out. It's important to really feel them with your fingertips rather than just looking, as many dogs' coats will hide the ribs from view.
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