Pudding went to the show

[Rosiepug]

She was actually one week too young to be entered and she acted like a juvenile delinquent anyway but I just let her play. She wasn't afraid but decided to be bossy around the other dogs.

Anyway I was told to tape her ears to get the 'correct' fold in them....not sure I've done then perfectly. I hope I can't set them wrong.

I was also told by her breeder that she should put some weight on which I'm a little perplexed about. She's not skinny but she doesn't eat all the food I give her at a sitting, probably 2/3 of it. I've been feeding all she'll eat 3 x day. I thought it would be better not to make her fat. I've heard people saying that they change from puppy food to adult food to stop them from gaining too much weight.
Waddaya all think?

I figured once she stops growing she'll fill out.

Also she runs around and plays a lot all day, using up all those calories. Is it better I make her stay in her crate longer?

[Snifter]

Aaaaaaaaaargh! The weight of show pugs. HUGE pet peeve of mine.

It is massively healthier for her not to be fat. Sadly they like them fat in the show ring. Certainly they do over here, and it sounds like they do over there, too.

My boys don't do as well as they might and part of that is certainly down to their weight. Sadly some people equate "cobby" with "fat".

A friend was showing her very pretty bitch at our latest champ show, and she is so totally NOT underweight (she's perfect) but the judge said to the handler that she would have to put weight on if she was going to do well. The handler said he would way prefer a fit dog over a fat dog. Good for him.

And this on a day when our Pug Dog Club announced they were concerned about the weight of pugs in general after the furore about the ill health of pedigree dogs and they wanted everyone there to bring their dogs to be weighed so they could start getting an accurate picture of weight issues.

A breeder over here deliberately fattens her pugs up for show and then when they have a rest period from showing she takes the weight off them again. I personally think that can't be terribly healthy, though probably better than keeping them fat all the time.

As she is still a young pup and some puppy fat is acceptable (even to the fanatic keep them slim brigade like me!) I personally wouldn't switch from puppy food yet. I generally switch at about 6 months, which is also when I go down to 2 meals a day.

Don't crate her extra - she needs to expend her puppy energy.If she doesn't you will end up with a frustrated and naughty puppy. If you think she is underweight and she does not like eating the bulk of kibble then perhaps try adding other things to her diet - meat or fish is what I am thinking of.

She will fill out in time - how quickly depends on her genes. It is kind of hard to deal with this issue as a puppy as they all mature at different rates. Toddy still looks very immature compared to pugs of a similar age.

[whatapug]

we need photos!

[Rosepugs]

I do not believe in getting my babies fat, yes if they are chubby they look like they have more substance. But a judge that truly knows our breed, can see through the fat and tell if it's substance or not. So what if she is lean now, running and playing will build muscle and that is way better than a fat dog. I just would let her grow up and mature before I would show her. Our standard says no tuck up, so I try to keep mine in good flesh without being fat. There is a breeder/vet who
advocates
taking our babies off puppy food at 3-4 months so they grow slower and will hopefully not develop hip and joint problems. I just continue to feed puppy food without getting them over done and fat.

[SmugPugs]

ACK! I'm with Bella - there's nothing healthy about a fat puppy.. It's bad enough that they want the adults to look like overstuffed sausages but when they do that to puppies....? Let her grow up - without extra kenneling - and just add stuff to her kibble to encourage her to eat it all.. I bake chicken thighs for them and add a little, along with the juice, to their meals.. Willie is like your Pudding - apt to leave a third of his kibble or more - but, when I put a couple of tablespoon of chicken juice in and stir it up so it's soaked into all the kibble, he's much more interested in eating it all.

[Bethy]

I'm having that problem with Joey, right now. He is just right for his frame. He is a little one..........16.5 pounds, and not skinny, but all the other dogs in the ring, are fat sausages, with rolls down their backs. Everyone tells me how skinny he is..............NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is spectacular, in my book, short back, great movement, lovely head and expression, and he has caught the eye of several judges, one giving him a 4 point major, but a lot of them have stated, when I asked them, that he was too thin, and lacked substance. Well, substance does not mean FAT, and I think some of these judges should realize that.
I will eventually find a judge that thinks he is just right, and I'm not goiing to force feed him, to make him fat, so that he will win.

[shaynapug]

I agree, there's a difference between substance and fat!

[SmugPugs]

I'm having that problem with Joey, right now. He is just right for his frame. He is a little one..........16.5 pounds, and not skinny, but all the other dogs in the ring, are fat sausages, with rolls down their backs. Everyone tells me how skinny he is..............NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is spectacular, in my book, short back, great movement, lovely head and expression, and he has caught the eye of several judges, one giving him a 4 point major, but a lot of them have stated, when I asked them, that he was too thin, and lacked substance. Well, substance does not mean FAT, and I think some of these judges should realize that.
I will eventually find a judge that thinks he is just right, and I'm not goiing to force feed him, to make him fat, so that he will win.

Geez, do we need to create a dictionary for some of these judges??? Substance does NOT = fat! Two entirely different things!

[Rosiepug]

Thanks all!
I'm just going to let her be a puppy and grow. I'm sure she'll be fine, it's just so overwhelming when you get to a show and everyone has their idea of how things should be.

I'll keep her on the puppy food because of the higher calorie content. She's not even interested in three meals a day, I may try two and see if that helps. Anyway I'm not worried about her. We have a hot summer coming up so lean is good.