Ayo 6 months

[dmey]

Hello everyone. Here are a few new pictures of Ayo. He has grown a lot but I think he is a bit skinny .. what doyou think?

[Maya]

Aww, what a handsome boy.

I dont think he looks too skinny, just has a lot of maturing and filling out left to do

[dmey]

Thanks a lot..Maya, I was looking at your website, your Dogs are really beautifull. I am thinking of trying to show Ayo here in Santo Domingo, but really have no clue how to do that..or if he is .. you know,, would be good for show..

[Maya]

Thank you!

I would definately have a go at showing him, its a wonderful hobby that im sure you and Ayo would enjoy and you will meet a lot of lovely people. Try to find some local training classes (we call them ringcraft classes here but they may be called something else there!) and get him along to a local show and see how he does. If possible, go along to a show to watch first if you have never shown before so you can get an idea of how things are done

[Patty]

For me a puppy should have a bit more weight after all they still have growing to do. It has become a fashion in the UK to show puppies as though they were mini adults. I like to see a puppy enjoying themselves evn in the ring.

[Maya]

@Patty:

For me a puppy should have a bit more weight after all they still have growing to do. It has become a fashion in the UK to show puppies as though they were mini adults. I like to see a puppy enjoying themselves evn in the ring.

I havent seen any puppies looking unhappy in the ring in the UK.. quite to opposite actually, they all look very happy and playful in the ring

[dmey]

Yeah , thats why I asked because all the pictures I see of puppies are kind of chubby…

[Maya]

I personally do not like to see fat pups, it can cause long term damage to have to much weight on growing joints.

You boy would be fine with a little more on but I honestly dont see that he is thin, just lean like a basenji should be

Unfortunately the fashion in the show ring is often for fat dogs, but I have always believed that basenjis should be fit and lean and, as the standard calls for, have a well defined waist. To me that is well covered enough not to see ribs/spine/hip bones, but with a good tuck up. But i have had so many differing opionions on what my young basenji should weigh i've given up listening to other people, so feel free to ignore me lol

[tanza]

While I don't like overly fat puppies, I firmly believe that they need to carry a bit extra… especially if they get ill.... Had my OJ all those years ago not been a bit fat we would have lost time when he caught the dog show "crud" from another one of ours (long story).... That said, by the time they are 6 months, I like to see them in normal weight. And remember all, show weight is typically a bit heavier then lets says Lure Coursing weight.

[Basenjimamma]

He is so pretty, growing up nicely..I love his face and almond shaped eyes, nice!

[jhickmond]

Rudy is 5 months and has skinny legs. I think thats the way they are. My vet says he is growning normal.

Jerome

[thunderbird8588]

Ayo is a handsome little chap

[Shaye's Mom]

I don't think Avo is skinny at all - when he's standing, you should not be able to see his ribs, but when you run your hands down, you should be able to find them easily. My vet keeps telling me this because I compare Shaye to her Basenji/collie mix, who is a LOT heavier. He's young yet, and will fill out some as he gets older -but like the others, I don't like to see fat puppies, it portends fat in the future. He is a beautiful boy, you must be very proud of him.

[Patty]

No dog should carry too much fat but puppies do need enough to allow them to grow and to cope with set-backs, in my opinion. There is a difference between too much and not enough. Nobody is criticising Ayo - only responding to the request for an opinion. He is certainly a lovely boy.

Photographs can be misleading I agree.

Maya - you seem to have misunderstood what I said - I didn't say that the puppies are not happy in the ring but only described how I like to see them when I judge.
When I said that I don't feel that they should look like adults I'm referring to their demeanour. In my opinion a class of puppies should be distinguishable from a class of older dogs.

[JayCee]

I'm so glad to hear you say this Patty:
"When I said that I don't feel that they should look like adults I'm referring to their demeanour. In my opinion a class of puppies should be distinguishable from a class of older dogs."

I was under a lot of pressure to put a chain on my little lad so that I could 'make him behave' in the ring. I refused - to me he was a puppy, with little or no concentration - and there was way too many interesting things going on around to be more than slightly interested in me! And as he has got older he is settling without the need of 'force'. So hopefully as he matures into full adulthood, his behaviour will match.

As to weight, being then a single dog for his first 7 months he was a very light eater and I could not get an extra gram of weight on him - and even now that he has a 'brother' he still will not eat extra rations. I also think that its self limiting - he wouldn't be able to run as fast if he was carrying extra weight!

[tanza]

@Patty:

No dog should carry too much fat but puppies do need enough to allow them to grow and to cope with set-backs, in my opinion. There is a difference between too much and not enough. Nobody is criticising Ayo - only responding to the request for an opinion. He is certainly a lovely boy.

Photographs can be misleading I agree.

Maya - you seem to have misunderstood what I said - I didn't say that the puppies are not happy in the ring but only described how I like to see them when I judge.
When I said that I don't feel that they should look like adults I'm referring to their demeanour. In my opinion a class of puppies should be distinguishable from a class of older dogs.

Much like my post Patty… and totally agree... puppies need to carry a bit extra....
And also agree that it is very easy to "over train" a puppy for the ring... and take the fun out of it.... We always joke here with puppy classes when the judges says "take them around" .... answer... "Well we will give it a shot!".... and moving the class as a group is again another adventure in itself!

[dmey]

Jaycee- "As to weight, being then a single dog for his first 7 months he was a very light eater and I could not get an extra gram of weight on him - and even now that he has a 'brother' he still will not eat extra rations. I also think that its self limiting - he wouldn't be able to run as fast if he was carrying extra weight!"

Thats exactly how Ayo is, he is a very light eater, thats why I asked because I never know if he is eating enough or not, since it vaires with the brand of food and everything its hard to tell wether he is getting the right amount. Since he is helathy I go by him, he eats as much as he wants.. I leave it for about 25 minutes, then I remove.. He is eating about half a cup twice day, sometimes he eats more, sometimes less. I dont know if I should feed only once a day now, and also "should I switch to adult food already?
Thanks everyone for all the comments and info….

[MDSPHOTO]

That is one handsome man!!

[tanza]

I feed twice a day…. puppies (over 5 months) and adults. I think they do better with the meals split into two.

And for me, I change to regular adult food some place around 4 to 6 months depending on when I run out of the puppy food on hand.

[Janneke]

Handsome pup! I think he looks good