Do yorkie continue to gain year after year?

[Deb1]

Do yorkies continue to gain weight after they have reached their full growth? I am curious.....my first yorkie, who passed when she was 10 1/2 yrs, always stayed within a few ounces of 4 pounds, give or take. The breeder, I bought Teeka from said hers continue to put on weight through out their life. She was surprised that she stayed at 4 pounds. So what is your opinion or experience? Again, I am just curious to see if her theory is true.

[MyDearSam]

I would think they are just like we are? As we get older, metabolism and energy slow down, and maintaining a certain weight means adjusting diet and exercise to compensate.

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

I would think they are just like we are? As we get older, metabolism and energy slow down, and maintaining a certain weight means adjusting diet and exercise to compensate.

[Deb1]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

I would think they are just like we are? As we get older, metabolism and energy slow down, and maintaining a certain weight means adjusting diet and exercise to compensate.

I would think that is true. So it mainly depends on their activity or lack of activity!

[Deb1]

Our Max, has put on so much weight, since he was neutered and is pretty much a couch potato!

[EvaNoel]

I'm new to Yorkies, but I can tell you about Pekingese. I've had Pekes all my life, as pets, but in the early '90's I purchased my first show potential and from that point on my life revolved around my Pekingese. My last Peke, my beautiful homebred show Champion, ChinaDoll Master Design, passed away of old age in 2009.

From 2009 until 2012 I was dogless, and then my husband surprised me with my very first Yorkie, and then my second, and then the third! *lol*

Sorry, I'm off subject, getting back to weight. My Pekingese growth level balanced between 6 & 8 months and their body weight never changed other than the weight of their massive coats. Their full show coats could add 1-2 pounds easy.

My Champion, "Wicky", only weighed 8 lbs. when I cut him back, so he only gained 1/2 pound since he was 7 months.

Here's a photo of him with our Handler, Ms. Charlotte Carter;

[Fatalivy]

I have a 4 yr old yorkie who has been 4 lbs for the last 3 yrs. He sometimes weighs 1-2 oz more, but that is as big as he has gotten so far.

[Hrossen11]

If the breeders dogs kept gaining weight after full maturity maybe they were getting fat. Once the dogs reach full maturity it is the owners responsibility to make sure they stay at a healthy weight ( varies with each dog).

[Deb1]

Originally Posted by EvaNoel

I'm new to Yorkies, but I can tell you about Pekingese. I've had Pekes all my life, as pets, but in the early '90's I purchased my first show potential and from that point on my life revolved around my Pekingese. My last Peke, my beautiful homebred show Champion, ChinaDoll Master Design, passed away of old age in 2009.

From 2009 until 2012 I was dogless, and then my husband surprised me with my very first Yorkie, and then my second, and then the third! *lol*

Sorry, I'm off subject, getting back to weight. My Pekingese growth level balanced between 6 & 8 months and their body weight never changed other than the weight of their massive coats. Their full show coats could add 1-2 pounds easy.

My Champion, "Wicky", only weighed 8 lbs. when I cut him back, so he only gained 1/2 pound since he was 7 months.

Here's a photo of him with our Handler, Ms. Charlotte Carter;

Attachment 385703

I find that interesting that they did not put on much weight, either. I know with Max, my DH was feeding him large amounts of table food which attributed to his large weight gain. He is now on only dog food and no treats except a nibble here and there. He has lost a few ounces and I am hoping to get him back to a sensible weight for his height.

[gemy]

I don't have neutered dogs, but I do believe based on various studies that neutering is often associated with weight gain. So that is one point.

As exercise levels decrease, so should the amount of caloric intake, in order to keep your dog in a nice trim state.

I almost always pre measure food amounts and they are adjusted (if necessary) daily for activity levels. This is important to me, because with daily training, we can go through a fair number of "treats".

Soon we shall begin swimming, and dock jumping and on those days the boys get three meals a day. It means their food is bumped up by about a third. With a 30 minute swim/or dock jump time they will burn up a whole lot of calories and have loads of fun doing so. So after swimming, they are fed on site, and then we go home. And of course they have dinner too.

My dogs have yet to gain weight - but I have only one senior dog, and one still young.

[Teegy]

depends what you are feeding them really, I think most stop growing from 12-18 months, but they can gain the almighty pounds if you are not feeding them appropriately

[Teegy]

Gemy I wish that was true about neutering and weight gain, but neither of mine gained an ounce

[Teegy]

Originally Posted by Hrossen11

If the breeders dogs kept gaining weight after full maturity maybe they were getting fat. Once the dogs reach full maturity it is the owners responsibility to make sure they stay at a healthy weight ( varies with each dog).

agree

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by MyDearSam

I would think they are just like we are? As we get older, metabolism and energy slow down, and maintaining a certain weight means adjusting diet and exercise to compensate.

My father was getting a little too generous with the kibble and my boys were starting to put on weight. I have to remind him to measure carefully.

[Deb1]

So basically controlling their amount of daily calories keeps them fit and trim....along with exercise, of course.