Re: [PyrNet-L] How Much Food?

["Mitzi Potter" <Pyrs@Prodigy.net>]

On Mon, 23 Nov 1998 17:03:43 -0600, Rodney Brandt wrote:

>Okay, so this seems like a pretty basic question but I am not really
>sure how much to feed our full grown Pyr. The person that we got him
>from says she gave him six cups of dry food and half a can of moist food
>once a day. (Fresh water in copious amounts goes without saying!)
>Granted, she has always had him clipped short (never again!) but I think
>his haunches look so bony.... Are Pyr's just scrawny dogs hidden by a
>lot of hair? I don't want to judge him by my Newf who is rather squarish
>and solid. Also, is bloat  a problem with these dogs? Seems like he
>takes in a lot of air when he eats or maybe he is just the 'belching'
>kind of guy...? <G>  I don't want him to get overweight, but I do want
>him to be properly filled out for his size. Right now Napoleon stands 32
>inches at the shoulder and weighs 100 pounds.

He does sound a little underweight for 32 inches. My boys are 30-32" at the shoulder and 
weigh 110-120 lbs (I've got 3 adult males). I feed each of them 2 cups AM and 2 cups PM. I 
just switched them over to Diamond Lamb/Rice a month ago (doing great!) but it doesn't 
seem to matter what they're on, they always eat the same amounts. They've been on Iams 
or Nature's Recipe for the last 6 yrs or so. Always the same amounts. MIne are all neutered 
and neutered males are more efficient with their calories, that may have something to do 
with it.
As far as bloat, they're not *near as prone as Danes, Newfs or Saints. But like any big dog, 
it's always a concern. If he ceases to be able to belch-that's when you worry. As long as 
he's getting the air out, that's good news.
When my Newfie's wet, he looks wide and stout. When my Pyrs are wet, they look much 
much smaller. Pyrs aren't as bulky as Newfs or Saints.
~Mitzi  Potter   
~Pyrs@prodigy.net   Okla City   OK
~http://members.aol.com/fivepyrs/dogsz.htm