"Puppy Fat" & Coat Length Questions

Gypsy Wolf · 13-07-2010, 07:24

Whew! OK! I have raised German Shepherd, Malinois, Finnish Spitz puppies and they all seemed to have some "puppy fat" as youngsters that the vlcaks seem to lack.
Luna's plush coat masks her thinness, but Pollux's coat is close and you see ribs, muscle, even the top of the pelvis. But he is HARD all over. SOLID and HEAVY. MUCH heavier than he looks.
I agree - with large breeds, lighter is better. The GSD lines I breed on tend toward leanness until they are mature. The first litter I bred is about 18 months and I have to reassure their owners that no, it's OK they are thin. They will even "self-limit" when eating - consuming no more than 2 cups in volume at a time. It's actually something I LIKE in my dogs - less worry of bloat/gastric torsion! And their joints develop beautifully... They tend to have plusher coats, too, though, so they do not look scrawny... there's someone who posts on this list (I will have to find out who) that has a picture of their vlcak and the coat is exactly like Pollux's...

michaelundinaeichhorn · 13-07-2010, 08:50

You can find here
http://www.twhclub.de/wbb2/thread.ph...tuser=0&page=3
some pictures of some of the wolves we raised for a wildlife-park.

Blitzen · 22-07-2010, 10:24

I always find it amazing how much like wolves/wolfcubs the CSV looks!

Lunas mom, do you have up to date pics of Pollux and Luna? I would be interested to see the difference in the coats as I haven't noticed this among CSV (I am relatively new to them, and haven't seen one in the flesh yet - being in the UK that is a little difficult!)

Gypsy Wolf · 22-07-2010, 18:35

Yes - there are some posted on my Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/saradonadei
Go to the photos section.
Luna has a plush coat, whereas Pollux's is a "close" coat - Nebulosa on this forum has a picture below the signatur line of a CsV in profile laying down, chin on paws - Pollux has that coat.
Luna's is more "fluffy" with a full "collarette" and pointy cheek fur and her tail and "pants" are bushier.

jefta · 22-07-2010, 19:36

unfortunetly your photos section is not visible for guests

lupis · 25-07-2010, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunas Mom

Luna has a plush coat, whereas Pollux's is a "close" coat - Nebulosa on this forum has a picture below the signatur line of a CsV in profile laying down, chin on paws - Pollux has that coat.

Is photo of Pollux and Luna?

On photo dog on right have normal coat. And on left has much too short coat - not good for wolfdog.

Nebulosa · 26-07-2010, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupis

On photo dog on right have normal coat. And on left has much too short coat - not good for wolfdog.

It's not so easy to judge, they're in summer now and depending of where they live in USA now would be a very hot weather, like here.
Then, the coat will variate depending on "how long already makes that he changed the coat" and "wich was the temperature in this time period", Also my experience shows that imported dogs often shows bigger difference in the coat change than "native dogs" or even dogs that came to the country very yung, for what I know Pollux was imported and traveled alone, so I beat that he had traveled with minimaly 2 months, probably about 4 months (??), already Luna is a "native dog", so does not wonder me such kind of difference.
I think in this photo Pollux was with a very new summer coat, so it's probably shorter than it realy is, as it's developing still.

Gypsy Wolf · 26-07-2010, 07:37

Yes, the above picture is of Pollux and Luna. In Malinois, I see similar coat length differences. The "plush" dogs tend to produce Tervuren in their litters from time to time.
Luna was born in the United States and has been with me from 8 weeks old, Pollux arrived here from Hungary at about 9 weeks old. We live in Florida - SOUTH Florida and it's summer, so it is hot.
Neither has shed out any coat - both just seem to have continued to carry the coat that they had from puppyhood, though Luna's has gotten plusher.
I don't see anywhere in the standards for the breed about specific coat length. I also see that Pollux's coat is very similar to actual wolf pups the same age.
I am also curious to see how their coats develop living here in Florida, where it is ALWAYS summer! My other dogs have normal coats for their breed, just not as dense and thick in the winter, though I have traveled from my home here in FL to cold winter places and they have never needed any sort of "blanket" to keep them warm.
In the show ring, it seems the judges prefer plusher coats in Malinois and German Shepherd Dogs, but the "close" coat is not "wrong"... why is it not good in a vlcak?

22-07-2010, 19:36	#5
jefta Call Me Sexy Srdcervac Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wroclaw Posts: 1,233	unfortunetly your photos section is not visible for guests __________________

13-07-2010, 07:24	#1
Gypsy Wolf Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Florida & Minnesota U.S. Posts: 252	Whew! OK! I have raised German Shepherd, Malinois, Finnish Spitz puppies and they all seemed to have some "puppy fat" as youngsters that the vlcaks seem to lack. Luna's plush coat masks her thinness, but Pollux's coat is close and you see ribs, muscle, even the top of the pelvis. But he is HARD all over. SOLID and HEAVY. MUCH heavier than he looks. I agree - with large breeds, lighter is better. The GSD lines I breed on tend toward leanness until they are mature. The first litter I bred is about 18 months and I have to reassure their owners that no, it's OK they are thin. They will even "self-limit" when eating - consuming no more than 2 cups in volume at a time. It's actually something I LIKE in my dogs - less worry of bloat/gastric torsion! And their joints develop beautifully... They tend to have plusher coats, too, though, so they do not look scrawny... there's someone who posts on this list (I will have to find out who) that has a picture of their vlcak and the coat is exactly like Pollux's...

13-07-2010, 08:50	#2
michaelundinaeichhorn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bad Dürkheim Posts: 2,249	You can find here http://www.twhclub.de/wbb2/thread.ph...tuser=0&page=3 some pictures of some of the wolves we raised for a wildlife-park.

22-07-2010, 10:24	#3
Blitzen Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 19	I always find it amazing how much like wolves/wolfcubs the CSV looks! Lunas mom, do you have up to date pics of Pollux and Luna? I would be interested to see the difference in the coats as I haven't noticed this among CSV (I am relatively new to them, and haven't seen one in the flesh yet - being in the UK that is a little difficult!)

22-07-2010, 18:35	#4
Gypsy Wolf Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Florida & Minnesota U.S. Posts: 252	Yes - there are some posted on my Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/saradonadei Go to the photos section. Luna has a plush coat, whereas Pollux's is a "close" coat - Nebulosa on this forum has a picture below the signatur line of a CsV in profile laying down, chin on paws - Pollux has that coat. Luna's is more "fluffy" with a full "collarette" and pointy cheek fur and her tail and "pants" are bushier.

26-07-2010, 07:37	#8
Gypsy Wolf Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Florida & Minnesota U.S. Posts: 252	Yes, the above picture is of Pollux and Luna. In Malinois, I see similar coat length differences. The "plush" dogs tend to produce Tervuren in their litters from time to time. Luna was born in the United States and has been with me from 8 weeks old, Pollux arrived here from Hungary at about 9 weeks old. We live in Florida - SOUTH Florida and it's summer, so it is hot. Neither has shed out any coat - both just seem to have continued to carry the coat that they had from puppyhood, though Luna's has gotten plusher. I don't see anywhere in the standards for the breed about specific coat length. I also see that Pollux's coat is very similar to actual wolf pups the same age. I am also curious to see how their coats develop living here in Florida, where it is ALWAYS summer! My other dogs have normal coats for their breed, just not as dense and thick in the winter, though I have traveled from my home here in FL to cold winter places and they have never needed any sort of "blanket" to keep them warm. In the show ring, it seems the judges prefer plusher coats in Malinois and German Shepherd Dogs, but the "close" coat is not "wrong"... why is it not good in a vlcak?