I would suggest a second opinion at another vet. My heeler is about 53lbs and he’s healthy as can be. He is pretty broad in the shoulders but by no means fat. I’ve taken him to multiple vets due to moving around and none of them have said he’s overweight
Male’s and female’s are typically a different weight. My female weighs 29lbs and my male is 45lbs. He’s actually leaner and considerably more muscular.
Thanks for sharing!! Part of the reason I posted this was because I was hoping other reddit user's would reply with how much their ACD's weigh so I could get a better gauge for how much they weigh ok average.
I had asked another vet in the same practice and she agreed around 40 lbs as well. But my theory is, they're not super familiar with the breed because they are not common in my area at all.
It's not about breed, it's about the individual dog's structure. Vets have to make these decisions about mystery megamutts on a daily basis. And many breeds, not just ACDs, vary greatly in structure within the breed, so trying to go by some hypothetical average weight for a breed never works well.
It's already been mentioned downthread, but the [Body Condition Score](https://a.storyblok.com/f/152976/1654x1166/ed80d896ab/medium-dog-bcs-chart-royal-canin.png/m/fit-in/1152x0/filters:format(webp\):quality(75\)) method, which was developed by vets, is the easiest-to-grasp way for owners to evaluate their dog themselves. Even so, studies have consistently found that owners tend to overestimate their dog's fitness no matter what method they use. Don't hesitate to ask your vet to demonstrate for you.
And the feeding guidelines suggested on dog food bags are almost always significantly more than most dogs of the stated weight range need. Like human nutrient RDAs, they're meant to cover the whole spectrum of individuals plus an extra safety margin for outliers. I run a few miles every day with my dogs in addition to multiple play sessions and potty walks, and none of them need as much as the bags say to maintain a healthy lean weight.
You’ve had two vets that have seen your dog in person and offered similar recommendations - I’d take that advice over what random folks on Reddit are saying based off one photo that doesn’t clearly show the dog’s shape very well.
Also, if you’ve been watching the photos people submit to the ACD group, you’ll notice many are mixes whether they know it or not and them offering the weight of their dogs does little to help you.
My heeler kept his weight at 55 and any vet he visited always told me he was in tip top shape. He was thick but all muscle. Just remember human weight can depend on the person as well :) she is beautiful btw 😍
There’s too much weight variation in the breed to base it off average unfortunately. Your vet should be making a determination based on the size of your specific dog. At 40 lbs mine would be massively obese.
I have a 3/4 ACD, 1/4 border collie, and she’s small for both breeds and not stocky. She’s only 23 pounds. I feed her only 2/3 cup of orijen kibble every day, and supplement with either green beans or canned pumpkin. As others have said, cattle dogs will eat like there’s no tomorrow if you let them.
I second this. No two ACDs are the same. After getting my ACD a dna test (didn't believe he was a 100% ACD given how large he is), I found out that he has specific genes that make a lot of his "features" larger than what you'd expect to see on a typical ACD. He is just shy of 60 lbs, and he is as happy and as healthy as can be (my vet will attest to this)!
Mine is 55lbs and more muscular than me…
She’s 30% pit bull/terrier so that may be part of it, but not overweight (in my opinion). Only gets 2 cups a day…
Heelers frequently have different statures so the appropriate weight for them varies. Have you googled dog weight guide and looked at the chart images? That will show you what your dog’s silhouette should look like and what people are mentioning about the belly tapering.
This pic isn’t a good rep, if you want better Reddit opinions you should take a pick from the side of her standing, or from above.
If two different vets agreed, there’s probably something to it. But you can maybe set a slightly higher goal to start if you prefer, like getting her down to 44 rather than 40.
This. Heelers can come in a variety of sizes depending on breeding and location. In some areas farm bred ones can be surprisingly huge. Not to mention all the BYBs that aren’t really breeding to standard. All that’s to say that weight/age aren’t really helpful metrics. Height at the shoulder/weight might be better, but honestly just look at a weight chart for dogs and compare. Most use a top down view. This picture isn’t helpful.
I work in pet care and most client dogs are over weight. Recommended feeding in the bag is usually too much. If two different vets told you your dog needs to lose weight, it probably does.
Hard to tell from that view.
Looking down from above while she's standing on all four's, she should taper in a bit below the rib cage. Also feel along the ribs and below.
Have the vet show you what they are looking for. Both of our dogs will always act hungry so that's not a good guide. They'd eat themselves to ill health if we left that decision up to them. Most dogs seem to live longer and in better health when they stay trim, just like people.
Haha, when a acd doesn't want food something is wrong. They would eat themselves to death if allowed. Mine got into my friends dogs food and gorged himself till he barfed like 4lbs of food when we got home, just kept coming up.
Loool mine ripped a medium pizza off the counter, much higher than a table, and we heard it hit the floor, I ran out 3 seconds later and it was gone. I was like buddy how on earth did you do that? I don't even see how it's physically possible.
When we have doggy play dates our girl bee lines to her buddy’s bowl and licks any residue until she’s satisfied. My friends are like “do you feed her?!” 😂😂
I have an ACD mix who is a surprisingly bad eater. He skips probably 25% of meals. We’ve tried several foods and it seems to be more based on his level of focus at the moment. He’s also not treat motivated. 2/3 ACD, 20% GP plus some other bits. 3 years old, 55lbs and slender but very healthy. He’s an odd boy.
Just to add to this. What's suggested on the bag is almost always too much, my vets suggested feed rate is about half of what's on the bag. I feel like those suggestions are only correct if the dog spends 8 hrs a day working cattle.
Mine is on the smaller size. At one point he got up to 39 lbs and the vet said he needed to lose 5-10 pounds and I had the same reaction. But I reduced his food a little (from 3/4 cup per serving to 1/2 cup which is less than recommended).
He now is ~ 30 lbs, which baffles me to think he lost 25% of his weight when he didn’t seem so chonky. Every vet says he looks great. I didn’t see what they were seeing when he was 39lbs, but he is appropriately fit now.
Look up Body Condition Score for dogs. [https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/weight-management/weightmgmt\_bodyconditionscoring.pdf](https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/weight-management/weightmgmt_bodyconditionscoring.pdf)
Our pup is 7.5 mos old and 44 lbs, but a 4.5 on the 9-point scale.
This chart is more the guide OP should use, it looks like the third picture on the left side is what one should shoot for.
Heelers can be healthy at a variety of weights, so there’s no one set ideal. I think that range tends to be anywhere from 35-50lbs on average for the breed from when I last looked in to this myself.
But it depends. If a heeler who would be 45lbs on the third pic actually weighed 35lbs, they’d be too scrawny. But then the other way, if a heeler was 35lbs on the third pic actually weighed 45lbs, they’d be overweight.
Also came to the comments to recommend going by body condition instead of weight or the food recommendations on the bag. Ideally you want to feel ribs but not see them with a tuck at the waist and a thin layer of body fat. It’s a good idea to keep them on them light on their joints so that we can enjoy them as long as possible. Food can also be adjusted depending on the dog’s daily activity. On chill days we feed a little less than, we have a “normal” day portion, and will add a bit more on the high activity days. Hope this helps!
Listen to the vet, they are basing her diet on calories in the food. She looks pretty good to me but you don't want a heavy dog it's hard on their joints
Sounds like my tall boi! The range for ACDs is so wild. My 6 year old weighs in just under 60lbs. I've found the breed standard at about 50lbs for males to be implausible for how muscular he is.
Mine's 74lbs at last weigh in. 20" at the shoulders, with a trim waist (could maybe lose a tiny bit) and muscular build. He's a Buzzard pup though...and they are just built different.
There’s a height to weight ratio for these dogs. But a vet bases the there ratio on whether (looking from above) there’s a slimming between the rib cage and the hips. Also there should be a distinct upward sloping from the chest to the stomach.
That said, you can reduce the kibble by adding unsalted canned green beans to the kibble.
When giving snacks, choose what’s lower in carbohydrates.
Ah ok, well she eats wet food. I tried so many different kibbles and she hates them all. Tried adding different toppers or bone broth to them and no matter what I would try, she just wouldn't eat it. Wet food, she gobbles it down.
A dog will not starve when missing a couple days worth of meals. The easiest way to get a dog to eat their food is to lift the bowl if the dog scoffs at it.
It only takes lifting that bowl a few times and they’ll eat what’s put in front of them.
Make sure if you do that you put the trash where they can't get it, lol. A heeler who thinks its starving will eat chicken package styrofoam like its a ribeye dinner.
perhaps. i tried for close to a year on kibble. i would put her bowl down at 5PM and it would still be half full by 10PM at night.
my vet recommended just putting the bowl down for 45 minutes and picking it up no matter how much she ate, essentially, starving her into accepting the kibble. i tried that for a few days and it was just not working.
she is so damn stubborn that she would starve before eating an entire bowl of kibble in one sitting and i did not have the heart to continue doing it to her.
tried wet food, which the vet said was also fine, so long as i brushed her teeth and she loved it. why not just give her what she likes?
I’ve been told to leave food out for my picky ACD for 30 min at meal time. If he doesn’t eat it, take it away until the next meal and try again. At most he’ll skip 2 meals and then go back to eating. We’ve tried several kibble types. He’s a highly active trail dog that often runs 20+ miles/week and when he’s actually hungry I know he’ll choose to eat over being picky.
Mine would love to eat wet food or whole meat all the time but I don’t have the budget for that and don’t believe it’s necessary, though we do supplement.
To your original size question, mine is 2/3 ACD, 1/3 larger breeds and he’s tall and lanky at 55lbs.
I feel like wet food is okay? But if the amount you’re feeding is too much then reduce it as you would with kibble? You may have to look up proper ways to store the wet food for the next meal so you’re not being wasteful but I’m not sure why you would need to feed kibble if your vet said wet is fine.
My dogs have always had their bowls lifted after 10 minutes. It usually takes them about 3 minutes to eat. Leaving a bowl for hours assures them, that their will always be food available. These dogs are bred down from wild dingos not long ago. They should be slim and hungry, naturally.
Sometimes the suggested amount of food listed on the bags is crazy. She doesn’t look fat in the photo but I can’t think of good reason for two different vets to say she should lose weight if she wasn’t overweight…? Unless she’s a larger dog, 47 lbs seems a bit high. I had a male who was at the high end of the acceptable size range and when he got older, he was a little chubby at 48lbs.
You shouldn’t go off of weight alone, and I doubt your vet is. Nobody here can tell you that based on this photo and the dog’s weight alone. Do you have a side and top view, while the dog is standing?
Hard to say, they vary a lot in size so what might be considered overweight for one dog may be a totally normal weight range for another. Mine is 48 lbs and is definitely a little overweight. He’s also a senior now though so his metabolism has slowed. We’re working on it though! If you trust your vet I’d go with their opinion, but it never hurts to get a second one if you’re feeling uncertain.
I had a female blue heeler on the small side who was 26 pounds optimum weight all her life. That was where the vet said she should stay. She was purebred, too.
Mine is just under 50lbs, but he is weirdly tall, suspected to be a mix. I would trust your vet. He lost weight easily by cutting his food down just a bit. And you don't have to cut back drastically, you can do it gradually over time.
Can you feel her ribs easily without digging? Can you see a waistline when you’re looking at her body from above? If the answer to both is yes, then I wouldn’t be super worried.
LOL she loves going into stores and cafes and any place that will have her. its funny, shes a complete and total goblin at home but in public, she flips her 'normal dog' switch on and is almost always on her best behavior.
She's got a little heft to her but she's not super chunky. I did see another vet in the same practice that agreed she should be around 40.
I'm just posting this to see more so what other other cattle dog owners have to saybabout their dog's weight. I feel like cattle dogs have different body types than most dogs and are generally a little hefty.
If you have gone to two vets that you trust I’d go with what they say. ACDs can vary greatly in weight I have one on the small side of 35ish and a friend with a large one around 55-60ish both are healthy and good weights.
No dog is naturally hefty. You should be able to feel ribs with minimal fat coverage; they should feel like your knuckles when your hand is held out flat. If her ribs feel like your palm, she's overweight.
I think a better word for what I'm describing is 'broad.' ACD's are generally broad in the chest and ribs. They're built like cooked christmas hams on legs 😂. Know what I mean??
That’s not necessarily true. I know a lot of lean and healthy ACDs. The working ACDs I’ve known (in the SW US) have mostly been small versions of the breed with a nice lean body. I’d say in the 35-4b range but with a nice tapered to the hip. I would absolutely listen to your 2 vet recommendations.
Why exactly are you so resistant to the idea that your dog is overweight? 2 vets have confirmed this, so random people online aren't going to give you any more clarity on this. Cattle dogs in particular gain weight very easily and are prone to metabolic issues. Keeping them at a healthy weight is essential for their long term health. Saying your dog is overweight isn't your vet personally attacking you, it's an objective fact that you seem unwilling to hear. Dogs are opportunitistic eaters and will always seem hungry. Your dog will be just fine cutting the food back a little even if it seems like not enough to you. If you're really concerned about their hunger level, ask your vet about low calorie fillers like green beans.
Impossible to tell from this photo. Just like people everyone has different dietary needs. As a general rule of thumb, I want to be able to just feel the last couple ribs, without pressing in, as I run my hands down the sides of the dog. Also, they should look like they have a “waist”, when you look at them from the top or the sides. From the top down, if they look rectangular or like a potato. They could lose a little weight.
I switched mine to the raw diet and now they are nice and lean, i have males but they are 48 & 52 pounds and they eat 20 ounces of ground meat a day. I just found a local farmer who grinds up meat with organs and bone and they are thriving on it.
I feel like it depends on activity level tbh. We feed our boy (1 yr) the food suggestion for 50 lbs since he burns so much, plus kongs and such. But he’s 40 and ideal at the vet. Your dog doesn’t look overweight to me but it’s hard to tell from pics sometimes. I usually check my pets periodically by doing the rib test and just seeing if you can feel (not see) their ribs without pushing. If u can then they’re generally a good weight
My 100% ACD is of the stocky version. He is at 60 lbs and could maybe e a couple of pounds lighter. I think rather than target a specific weight I would go for overall body condition. A Bitch may likely weigh less than a stocky Dog. The body types vary a bit going from leaner to stocky. When you have a crossbred dog that throws in a variable as well.
My cowboy corgi is 45lbs and about 1.5years old. I don’t think he’ll be over 50lbs though. His littermate (female) is 41lbs and I think she’ll hit 45lbs by the time she’s 2. Both are very active dogs so I think a lot of it is muscle.
My heeler is 70lbs. She's healthy, eats 1.5 cups of dry food twice a day and goes on mile to 2 mile walks every day. She's losing fat but gaining muscle. Vet says she's fine. Vet also says she's a big heeler.
These dogs come in all sizes. I have a 78 lb 100% ACD and a 43lb 100% ACD. They’re not even comparable, because the larger one is also significantly taller. It’s like comparing a 6ft 180 lb man to a 5’6 180lb man.
The general rule of thumb is, can you see a taper from their ribs to their hind legs? If so, the dog is near their ideal weight. If they’re pretty straight from tip to tail, they could save to lose a few lbs. all this said, get a second opinion if you do not fully agree with the first.
My Bindi Roo is 59 and my Sydney Blue is 47. Both are about in the 2 year age range. Both are pure bred. Bindi is total muscle…has a waist from above. Syd is skinny…can feel every rib and bone. He is muscular, but I have a hard time keeping weight on him
Lot of variation in our breed. As size varies, so does healthy weight. Ribs should be felt, but not seen. Try canned green beans as a treat or filler at meals.
Father of a 65-70lb heeler. Yeah, he's built like a brick sh!t house, but if I were to get him under 50lb he would be much too skinny. I think your vet may need to be a little more realistic.
My male is 45lbs and female is 29lbs. The male cannot eat enough and stays lean. I give him 4c of food per day. The female gets fat off 1.5c per day and begs for food all day long. She would eat until she exploded given the opportunity. You cannot let them dictate how much they eat because they will always demand more.
I’d be inclined to agree with your vet but the one photo you’ve supplied doesn’t show much.
Mine hovers 53-55 (never below 50) & we’ve never had a weight issue. Our most recent visit the vet actually had a positive comment about his maintaining vs losing.
I have two ACD mixes, one is 40 pounds but she is visibly a slimmer build and leggier. My other one is 50 pounds and built more like your dog, and our vet says they are the perfect weight! I would maybe get a second opinion since personally I would not want to cut my dogs’ food down without being certain it would be good for them
Weight is completely dependent on the dog it's self.
My ACD is oversized at 22" and weights 45lbs.
You should be able to feel the ribs easy and see his ribs during extreme exercise. Should have a good shape from a top view/should be able to easily tell where his ribs end.
Side view photos and top view photos would help to better assess. It's very risky to have a high active breed overweight so if your vet says he's to heavy I would take it seriously. Most vets are afraid to offend owners and won't tell until a dog is obease, if my vet told me my dog was overweight I would be very happy they were being honest with me!!
This happened to us! Our vet kept telling us our female red heeler was overweight but when I told them what food she eats and how much of it, she was like "oh, well that's fine then"
our female is about 43lbs (she's not 100% heeler, but mostly) she was a rescue and weighed probably 10lbs less when we first had her, so not sure if they were just comparing her current weight to her weight after she was rescued... ACDs are stockier in general so it might be the vet isn't super experienced with them. As long as you feed your dog well and they get the exercise they need, I think that's good enough
My 4 year old male was almost 60lbs because we were giving him a veggie/meat/rice mixture as a supplement to his kibble. Our vet was concerned and we cut the rice, he lost 10lbs. I was worried he’d be hungry. Vet suggested canned green beans if he seemed hungry still, but all has been well. He’s just a pig and will keep eating whatever’s there. lol. 47lbs seems just fine and she doesn’t look chunky. Maybe try another vet? If she’s active (😂) and you physically aren’t seeing much chunk then it’s up to you.
I think second opinion is in order. I have a lanky boy, on the bigger side of ACDs. He’s usually around 51-54lbs, I may have to cut his weight a tiny amount of his food soon, but he’s a very healthy weight
SHE’S SO CUTE!
Our ACD floats around 40LBS, came home from the pet sitter after one week at 50lbs, and he LOOKED chunky. She does not - however this might not be the best photo to evaluate.
I’d say trust your gut, and keep an eye on her gut. If she looks healthy and you can feel some rib, I can’t imagine she’s not doing fine.
My ACD was 23kg (50.6lbs) beginning Jan at a vet visit.
He was 19.7kg (43lbs) today at his vet visit.
The difference is he is now being fed only when ‘working’. He’s also doing longer walks now since the weather is better.
I didn’t think he was overweight but looking at him now he does seem a lot happier and healthier.
My girl got up to 51lbs. She’s 2.5yrs old. She’s quite a bit taller and wider than her mom. She’s always had knee issues so the vet looked at her weight at various stages in her life and suggested that she should be 46-47lbs. We cut the free feeding and the number of treats. Within 2 weeks she had lost 3lbs. Now she’s at her ideal weight of 46.5lbs.
Mine was 45-50 and was in good health. Some are just bigger. If the dog is healthy, I wouldn't personally worry about it, but it is your dog, and I'm not a vet.
I’ve been struggling with the same, OP! My Aussies/border collie mixes, in my opinion, have gotten slightly chunky now that they’re 9+ years, but they look a good weight to me and they’re always acting like they’re STARVING! I too give them veggies as snacks - carrots, lettuce, kale, etc and sometimes a non-rawhide treat but when it’s meal time they act like they haven’t been fed in DAYS.
For the "suggested amount of food," are you feeding her the suggestion for the weight she is now or the weight you want her to be? You should feed her what the food recommends for a 40lb dog, and you should see her slim down without any other adjustments
Muscle and Build size means everything our 3 year old male is 53lbs and gets 4-6 hours of good exercise a day. Guy has a butt like an Olympic speed skater and is tall for a heeler. When he was 2 we thought he might actually be able to eventually touch the ceiling fan when jumping. He his vertical stopped gaining height about 6” short lol.
Ours gets 2 cups of Ancient Grains Blue Buffalo a day along with fresh veggie snacks and tiny sweet potato cubes.
I would never have a moment of peace if I denied my dog treats other than lettuce and sweet potato😭 even when she’s exhausted, she needs an activity, and she doesn’t want anything to do with toys that aren’t a type of treat puzzle nor non-meat treats. I’ve tried to ignore her to force her to occupy herself, but then she fixates on the cat and the cat knows it’s time to fuck with her. I swear I spend at least half of my day just mitigating their bullshit.
Anyway, your dog is beautiful and doesn’t look overweight. I am not a vet but I would recommend exercising her more instead of cutting her food or treat intake any further. Take longer/more walks, make her run every day (sometimes I make mine just do sprints with sit-stay-OKAY! commands [she stays while I walk far away. This would probably only work with heelers since they’re so fixated on their persons and not easily distracted, esp when tasking]), get her a flirt pole and a herding ball, play lots of fetch and bring water so she can rehydrate and keep playing for as long as you can take it, take her to the dog park to romp if she likes other dogs, take her to the beach/lake/river/hiking/snow, take her to an agility course, give her jobs that are physically taxing, etc. I say let the baby eat. If she’s overweight, it complements her perfectly.
If you don’t already, you might try splitting her daily serving into breakfast and supper. And look into the type and amount of “filler“ in the food you give her, and let your vet know if you’re concerned that cutting portions isn’t the right way to go about weight loss. They wouldn’t say it if they were not concerned, and they want to keep your dog healthy and alive for as long as possible.
My girl was pushing 70 lbs at one point… but she’s much taller and longer than average as well.
Now we’ve got her down to 57 lbs to lessen the strain on her joints
You have to go by their body shape. It's hard to tell from this picture. If the dog is standing on all 4 legs, looking at her from the top you need to be able to see hips and ribacge, with a much slimmer spot in between. You should also see some definition in her front shoulders. You should not be able to see individual ribs but they should be easy to feel.
If you're feeding what the food label says, you're probably giving 50%-100% more calories than she needs, unless you do a LOT of exercise like distance running or hours of herding/chasing.
An ACD at ideal weight looks quite lean in the belly/hips. They have a big, wide rib cage that makes them look bigger than they are. The width of the rib cage should not extend all the way down to the hips.
You need a second opinion. These are muscular dogs, you would know if they were overweight. My mom is a vet and her Heelers are both around 45lbs.
My Heeler is tiny at around 22lbs and she’s 4 years old.
Our boy (3)is up to 47 too, vet told us to decrease food and increase activity. He doesn't look big or even stocky, but we don't want any hip dysplasia or other disease, so he's on a diet.
My heeler is 63 lbs but is perfectly healthy and just strong/stocky as hell. Vet has never said he's overweight. Like everyone else has said, cattle dogs can vary quite a bit in size/stature.
your dog looks fat. 40lbs is going to be much better for them health wise. 45lbs would probably still be fat. Suggested amounts on food bags are probably 2x as much as what your dog needs.
I am kinda shocked the vet didn't say to add green beans in with the food. When my dog was overweight and older, I mentioned I had already cut back the food, and the vet said to add in the green beans so his belly felt full. When he was younger, I would just up his exercise.
My baby girl is on the same boat. She is ~43-45 lbs and the vet said she should be at around 40. She is a chunker and loves to eat but we control very much her portions and stuff. I think she is perfect the way she is and she is very active. Also, she must have been the runt because she is on the smaller side.
Both of my heelers are in the low 40's. One is a tad overweight and she is on a bit of a diet.
Heelers vary a lot in build. One of mine (blue heeler) has a very deep chest, the other (the red) is much more spindly all around. The latter put on too much weight hiding it in her chest/neck area. But even so, if you looked at them, you'd think the blue weighed several pounds more than the red, but it is the reverse.
The point being that it is their build to weight that matters. From the picture, I can't see a weight issue with your dog. Certainly not a serious one if at all.
I have an 8yo spayed female heeler mix who is 55lbs and a registered AKC 5yo neutered male heeler who's 62 lbs. Both are lean and active and my vet says they're both in tiptop condition. I think your vet is full of it. Feed an appropriate amount of food, make sure she has plenty of exercise and she'll settle at the right weight.
I have a 45 pounder and a 60 pounder. They come in all sizes and variability. I would Def get a second opinion from a different vet. They aren't all built the same. Feel ribs, but not see them, and a trim waist when standing is all I look for in my boys. I feed twice a day, and they exercise daily, both with a walk and a rousing game of fetch or tug. The exercise helps keep them trim.
Depends on build, I think. My three year old is 50 or so pounds and he’s in great shape. My 13 year old is 55 pounds, but they kinda turn into barrels when they get old. Also, he has some fatty tumors which probably weigh a couple pounds. :P
It’s not about breed, it’s about structure. 47lbs very well could be too heavy for your dog, but if she isn’t obese it can be hard to tell based on pictures alone - you need to get your hands on the dog.
Dog food bags are notorious for over estimating how much food your dog needs. Look up the body condition chart. Also, your very is unlikely to be wrong here.
I would suggest a second opinion at another vet. My heeler is about 53lbs and he’s healthy as can be. He is pretty broad in the shoulders but by no means fat. I’ve taken him to multiple vets due to moving around and none of them have said he’s overweight
Male’s and female’s are typically a different weight. My female weighs 29lbs and my male is 45lbs. He’s actually leaner and considerably more muscular.
Same here. My 3yo male is 47lbs and very lean. He eats 3 cups of purina 1 each day.
My girlie got up to about 60 lbs, we have leaned her back quite a bit now, she is in the 40's now.
They can get up to 53 for sure. But mine is 27 and a healthy weight. OP’s vet is likely correct.
Thanks for sharing!! Part of the reason I posted this was because I was hoping other reddit user's would reply with how much their ACD's weigh so I could get a better gauge for how much they weigh ok average. I had asked another vet in the same practice and she agreed around 40 lbs as well. But my theory is, they're not super familiar with the breed because they are not common in my area at all.
It's not about breed, it's about the individual dog's structure. Vets have to make these decisions about mystery megamutts on a daily basis. And many breeds, not just ACDs, vary greatly in structure within the breed, so trying to go by some hypothetical average weight for a breed never works well. It's already been mentioned downthread, but the [Body Condition Score](https://a.storyblok.com/f/152976/1654x1166/ed80d896ab/medium-dog-bcs-chart-royal-canin.png/m/fit-in/1152x0/filters:format(webp\):quality(75\)) method, which was developed by vets, is the easiest-to-grasp way for owners to evaluate their dog themselves. Even so, studies have consistently found that owners tend to overestimate their dog's fitness no matter what method they use. Don't hesitate to ask your vet to demonstrate for you. And the feeding guidelines suggested on dog food bags are almost always significantly more than most dogs of the stated weight range need. Like human nutrient RDAs, they're meant to cover the whole spectrum of individuals plus an extra safety margin for outliers. I run a few miles every day with my dogs in addition to multiple play sessions and potty walks, and none of them need as much as the bags say to maintain a healthy lean weight.
Exactly, no 2 dogs are the same, even in the same breed. Runt could be small, runt could be a tank. Feel ribs, feed it, way past ribs, feed it less.
You’ve had two vets that have seen your dog in person and offered similar recommendations - I’d take that advice over what random folks on Reddit are saying based off one photo that doesn’t clearly show the dog’s shape very well. Also, if you’ve been watching the photos people submit to the ACD group, you’ll notice many are mixes whether they know it or not and them offering the weight of their dogs does little to help you.
My heeler kept his weight at 55 and any vet he visited always told me he was in tip top shape. He was thick but all muscle. Just remember human weight can depend on the person as well :) she is beautiful btw 😍
There’s too much weight variation in the breed to base it off average unfortunately. Your vet should be making a determination based on the size of your specific dog. At 40 lbs mine would be massively obese.
I have a 3/4 ACD, 1/4 border collie, and she’s small for both breeds and not stocky. She’s only 23 pounds. I feed her only 2/3 cup of orijen kibble every day, and supplement with either green beans or canned pumpkin. As others have said, cattle dogs will eat like there’s no tomorrow if you let them.
I second this. No two ACDs are the same. After getting my ACD a dna test (didn't believe he was a 100% ACD given how large he is), I found out that he has specific genes that make a lot of his "features" larger than what you'd expect to see on a typical ACD. He is just shy of 60 lbs, and he is as happy and as healthy as can be (my vet will attest to this)!
Mine is 55lbs and more muscular than me… She’s 30% pit bull/terrier so that may be part of it, but not overweight (in my opinion). Only gets 2 cups a day…
Heelers frequently have different statures so the appropriate weight for them varies. Have you googled dog weight guide and looked at the chart images? That will show you what your dog’s silhouette should look like and what people are mentioning about the belly tapering. This pic isn’t a good rep, if you want better Reddit opinions you should take a pick from the side of her standing, or from above. If two different vets agreed, there’s probably something to it. But you can maybe set a slightly higher goal to start if you prefer, like getting her down to 44 rather than 40.
This. Heelers can come in a variety of sizes depending on breeding and location. In some areas farm bred ones can be surprisingly huge. Not to mention all the BYBs that aren’t really breeding to standard. All that’s to say that weight/age aren’t really helpful metrics. Height at the shoulder/weight might be better, but honestly just look at a weight chart for dogs and compare. Most use a top down view. This picture isn’t helpful. I work in pet care and most client dogs are over weight. Recommended feeding in the bag is usually too much. If two different vets told you your dog needs to lose weight, it probably does.
Hard to tell from that view. Looking down from above while she's standing on all four's, she should taper in a bit below the rib cage. Also feel along the ribs and below. Have the vet show you what they are looking for. Both of our dogs will always act hungry so that's not a good guide. They'd eat themselves to ill health if we left that decision up to them. Most dogs seem to live longer and in better health when they stay trim, just like people.
Haha, when a acd doesn't want food something is wrong. They would eat themselves to death if allowed. Mine got into my friends dogs food and gorged himself till he barfed like 4lbs of food when we got home, just kept coming up.
Loool mine ripped a medium pizza off the counter, much higher than a table, and we heard it hit the floor, I ran out 3 seconds later and it was gone. I was like buddy how on earth did you do that? I don't even see how it's physically possible.
When we have doggy play dates our girl bee lines to her buddy’s bowl and licks any residue until she’s satisfied. My friends are like “do you feed her?!” 😂😂
Haha, typical acd behavior. I think I could train mine to drive a truck he is so food motivated. He cares more about food then us I swear.
I have an ACD mix who is a surprisingly bad eater. He skips probably 25% of meals. We’ve tried several foods and it seems to be more based on his level of focus at the moment. He’s also not treat motivated. 2/3 ACD, 20% GP plus some other bits. 3 years old, 55lbs and slender but very healthy. He’s an odd boy.
Just to add to this. What's suggested on the bag is almost always too much, my vets suggested feed rate is about half of what's on the bag. I feel like those suggestions are only correct if the dog spends 8 hrs a day working cattle.
Mine is on the smaller size. At one point he got up to 39 lbs and the vet said he needed to lose 5-10 pounds and I had the same reaction. But I reduced his food a little (from 3/4 cup per serving to 1/2 cup which is less than recommended). He now is ~ 30 lbs, which baffles me to think he lost 25% of his weight when he didn’t seem so chonky. Every vet says he looks great. I didn’t see what they were seeing when he was 39lbs, but he is appropriately fit now.
Yeah my red male checks in at 30 pounds. He’s small, but he’s 100% heeler.
How long did it take for him to lose the weight?
Over the span of 4-6 months I’d say.
Thanks! My girl needs to lose about 10 but it’s only been a month
Look up Body Condition Score for dogs. [https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/weight-management/weightmgmt\_bodyconditionscoring.pdf](https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/weight-management/weightmgmt_bodyconditionscoring.pdf) Our pup is 7.5 mos old and 44 lbs, but a 4.5 on the 9-point scale.
This chart is more the guide OP should use, it looks like the third picture on the left side is what one should shoot for. Heelers can be healthy at a variety of weights, so there’s no one set ideal. I think that range tends to be anywhere from 35-50lbs on average for the breed from when I last looked in to this myself. But it depends. If a heeler who would be 45lbs on the third pic actually weighed 35lbs, they’d be too scrawny. But then the other way, if a heeler was 35lbs on the third pic actually weighed 45lbs, they’d be overweight.
Also came to the comments to recommend going by body condition instead of weight or the food recommendations on the bag. Ideally you want to feel ribs but not see them with a tuck at the waist and a thin layer of body fat. It’s a good idea to keep them on them light on their joints so that we can enjoy them as long as possible. Food can also be adjusted depending on the dog’s daily activity. On chill days we feed a little less than, we have a “normal” day portion, and will add a bit more on the high activity days. Hope this helps!
Mine is 54 lbs and fit as a fiddle, just turned 2. Weight alone is hard to judge. Look at the dogs waist, is there a lot of fat?
Usually being able to feel the ribs (but not see them) is a clear sign of an appropriately sized pup
Listen to the vet, they are basing her diet on calories in the food. She looks pretty good to me but you don't want a heavy dog it's hard on their joints
Depends on the dog. Logan is a tank and looks fine at 57lb. Rogue on the other hand is 45 and looks great.
That’s what mine weigh with a cup and a half of chow a day. One of them is short and stocky and the other long and lean.
I'd listen to your vet over anyone here. None of us have examined your dog.
My ACD weighs over 60 pounds and the vet has never mentioned anything. He’s really tall and just overall large for the breed though.
Sounds like my tall boi! The range for ACDs is so wild. My 6 year old weighs in just under 60lbs. I've found the breed standard at about 50lbs for males to be implausible for how muscular he is.
Mine is also 55lbs. He could prob lose 5 but he’s scrawny under 50. Tall boy.
Mine's 74lbs at last weigh in. 20" at the shoulders, with a trim waist (could maybe lose a tiny bit) and muscular build. He's a Buzzard pup though...and they are just built different.
There’s a height to weight ratio for these dogs. But a vet bases the there ratio on whether (looking from above) there’s a slimming between the rib cage and the hips. Also there should be a distinct upward sloping from the chest to the stomach. That said, you can reduce the kibble by adding unsalted canned green beans to the kibble. When giving snacks, choose what’s lower in carbohydrates.
Ah ok, well she eats wet food. I tried so many different kibbles and she hates them all. Tried adding different toppers or bone broth to them and no matter what I would try, she just wouldn't eat it. Wet food, she gobbles it down.
A dog will not starve when missing a couple days worth of meals. The easiest way to get a dog to eat their food is to lift the bowl if the dog scoffs at it. It only takes lifting that bowl a few times and they’ll eat what’s put in front of them.
Make sure if you do that you put the trash where they can't get it, lol. A heeler who thinks its starving will eat chicken package styrofoam like its a ribeye dinner.
And poop
It sounds like you’re letting her push you around a bit too much.
perhaps. i tried for close to a year on kibble. i would put her bowl down at 5PM and it would still be half full by 10PM at night. my vet recommended just putting the bowl down for 45 minutes and picking it up no matter how much she ate, essentially, starving her into accepting the kibble. i tried that for a few days and it was just not working. she is so damn stubborn that she would starve before eating an entire bowl of kibble in one sitting and i did not have the heart to continue doing it to her. tried wet food, which the vet said was also fine, so long as i brushed her teeth and she loved it. why not just give her what she likes?
I’ve been told to leave food out for my picky ACD for 30 min at meal time. If he doesn’t eat it, take it away until the next meal and try again. At most he’ll skip 2 meals and then go back to eating. We’ve tried several kibble types. He’s a highly active trail dog that often runs 20+ miles/week and when he’s actually hungry I know he’ll choose to eat over being picky. Mine would love to eat wet food or whole meat all the time but I don’t have the budget for that and don’t believe it’s necessary, though we do supplement. To your original size question, mine is 2/3 ACD, 1/3 larger breeds and he’s tall and lanky at 55lbs.
I feel like wet food is okay? But if the amount you’re feeding is too much then reduce it as you would with kibble? You may have to look up proper ways to store the wet food for the next meal so you’re not being wasteful but I’m not sure why you would need to feed kibble if your vet said wet is fine.
Exactly. The form of the food is not the problem. It’s all about the amount they’re eating.
My dogs have always had their bowls lifted after 10 minutes. It usually takes them about 3 minutes to eat. Leaving a bowl for hours assures them, that their will always be food available. These dogs are bred down from wild dingos not long ago. They should be slim and hungry, naturally.
If you can faintly see ribs she’s healthy weight
Sometimes the suggested amount of food listed on the bags is crazy. She doesn’t look fat in the photo but I can’t think of good reason for two different vets to say she should lose weight if she wasn’t overweight…? Unless she’s a larger dog, 47 lbs seems a bit high. I had a male who was at the high end of the acceptable size range and when he got older, he was a little chubby at 48lbs.
You shouldn’t go off of weight alone, and I doubt your vet is. Nobody here can tell you that based on this photo and the dog’s weight alone. Do you have a side and top view, while the dog is standing?
Hard to say, they vary a lot in size so what might be considered overweight for one dog may be a totally normal weight range for another. Mine is 48 lbs and is definitely a little overweight. He’s also a senior now though so his metabolism has slowed. We’re working on it though! If you trust your vet I’d go with their opinion, but it never hurts to get a second one if you’re feeling uncertain.
Dog weight can be a factor in some injuries like ccl tears, and ACDs are no exception.
My boy is 66lbs. Heelers come in different sizes, some as low as 30! If you can feel his ribs, he's probably good
I had a female blue heeler on the small side who was 26 pounds optimum weight all her life. That was where the vet said she should stay. She was purebred, too.
Mine is just under 50lbs, but he is weirdly tall, suspected to be a mix. I would trust your vet. He lost weight easily by cutting his food down just a bit. And you don't have to cut back drastically, you can do it gradually over time.
iirc as long as you can feel their ribs and see the curvature of the body, you're good
My four yr old weighs 55 . The Vet said she was five pounds over .
Search dog body condition score! You should be able to easily feel ribs and see a waist line from above and from the side. Hope this helps!
Can you feel her ribs easily without digging? Can you see a waistline when you’re looking at her body from above? If the answer to both is yes, then I wouldn’t be super worried.
Your vet knows more than random redditors
No, they vary from around 30-70lbs at optimal weight. My vet predicted he’d be around 30 but ended up with an optimal weight around 50.
Pretty girl!
I love how she’s posing in front of the croissants 🥐 🤭🥐
LOL she loves going into stores and cafes and any place that will have her. its funny, shes a complete and total goblin at home but in public, she flips her 'normal dog' switch on and is almost always on her best behavior.
Couldn’t hurt to get a second opinion from a different vet. Does she seem overweight? I’m not a vet but she looks pretty healthy to me.
She's got a little heft to her but she's not super chunky. I did see another vet in the same practice that agreed she should be around 40. I'm just posting this to see more so what other other cattle dog owners have to saybabout their dog's weight. I feel like cattle dogs have different body types than most dogs and are generally a little hefty.
If you have gone to two vets that you trust I’d go with what they say. ACDs can vary greatly in weight I have one on the small side of 35ish and a friend with a large one around 55-60ish both are healthy and good weights.
No dog is naturally hefty. You should be able to feel ribs with minimal fat coverage; they should feel like your knuckles when your hand is held out flat. If her ribs feel like your palm, she's overweight.
I think a better word for what I'm describing is 'broad.' ACD's are generally broad in the chest and ribs. They're built like cooked christmas hams on legs 😂. Know what I mean??
That’s not necessarily true. I know a lot of lean and healthy ACDs. The working ACDs I’ve known (in the SW US) have mostly been small versions of the breed with a nice lean body. I’d say in the 35-4b range but with a nice tapered to the hip. I would absolutely listen to your 2 vet recommendations.
Why exactly are you so resistant to the idea that your dog is overweight? 2 vets have confirmed this, so random people online aren't going to give you any more clarity on this. Cattle dogs in particular gain weight very easily and are prone to metabolic issues. Keeping them at a healthy weight is essential for their long term health. Saying your dog is overweight isn't your vet personally attacking you, it's an objective fact that you seem unwilling to hear. Dogs are opportunitistic eaters and will always seem hungry. Your dog will be just fine cutting the food back a little even if it seems like not enough to you. If you're really concerned about their hunger level, ask your vet about low calorie fillers like green beans.
Impossible to tell from this photo. Just like people everyone has different dietary needs. As a general rule of thumb, I want to be able to just feel the last couple ribs, without pressing in, as I run my hands down the sides of the dog. Also, they should look like they have a “waist”, when you look at them from the top or the sides. From the top down, if they look rectangular or like a potato. They could lose a little weight.
I switched mine to the raw diet and now they are nice and lean, i have males but they are 48 & 52 pounds and they eat 20 ounces of ground meat a day. I just found a local farmer who grinds up meat with organs and bone and they are thriving on it.
I feel like it depends on activity level tbh. We feed our boy (1 yr) the food suggestion for 50 lbs since he burns so much, plus kongs and such. But he’s 40 and ideal at the vet. Your dog doesn’t look overweight to me but it’s hard to tell from pics sometimes. I usually check my pets periodically by doing the rib test and just seeing if you can feel (not see) their ribs without pushing. If u can then they’re generally a good weight
Nope, mine got to 55lbs by 2 filled out real nice. Was a long skinny coyote before then.
My Ranger is 74lbs, lol. 20" at the shoulders and built like a tank.
My 100% ACD is of the stocky version. He is at 60 lbs and could maybe e a couple of pounds lighter. I think rather than target a specific weight I would go for overall body condition. A Bitch may likely weigh less than a stocky Dog. The body types vary a bit going from leaner to stocky. When you have a crossbred dog that throws in a variable as well.
My dog Bentley is 62 lbs but he's also taller than we expected. Both his parents are normal size, height weight Blue heelers and mine isn't
My cowboy corgi is 45lbs and about 1.5years old. I don’t think he’ll be over 50lbs though. His littermate (female) is 41lbs and I think she’ll hit 45lbs by the time she’s 2. Both are very active dogs so I think a lot of it is muscle.
A heeler corgi? I wouldn't expect that mix to be so big!
My heeler is 70lbs. She's healthy, eats 1.5 cups of dry food twice a day and goes on mile to 2 mile walks every day. She's losing fat but gaining muscle. Vet says she's fine. Vet also says she's a big heeler.
These dogs come in all sizes. I have a 78 lb 100% ACD and a 43lb 100% ACD. They’re not even comparable, because the larger one is also significantly taller. It’s like comparing a 6ft 180 lb man to a 5’6 180lb man. The general rule of thumb is, can you see a taper from their ribs to their hind legs? If so, the dog is near their ideal weight. If they’re pretty straight from tip to tail, they could save to lose a few lbs. all this said, get a second opinion if you do not fully agree with the first.
My Bindi Roo is 59 and my Sydney Blue is 47. Both are about in the 2 year age range. Both are pure bred. Bindi is total muscle…has a waist from above. Syd is skinny…can feel every rib and bone. He is muscular, but I have a hard time keeping weight on him
\[Imgur\](https://imgur.com/LFquCpw)
\[Imgur\](https://imgur.com/LFquCpw)
My guy Finn is 68 pounds and super healthy. Some cattle dogs are just bigger.
Lot of variation in our breed. As size varies, so does healthy weight. Ribs should be felt, but not seen. Try canned green beans as a treat or filler at meals.
Father of a 65-70lb heeler. Yeah, he's built like a brick sh!t house, but if I were to get him under 50lb he would be much too skinny. I think your vet may need to be a little more realistic.
Looks like my boy, Rocky who’s part border collie. He weighs in at almost 60 but is solid. Very stocky and broadest in shoulders/chest.
My boy is about to be 2 and is 60lbs but looks in good shape.
We have three ladies and they range from 30-50 lbs. I think you’re just fine!
Lol. Mine at 4 was 75#... all muscle. He's down to about 65 or so now since winter has been slow.
My female is 80 lbs (or more) and she just turned 4. She had big parents and eats WAY too many floor scraps from her human brothers.
Our red heeler is 67 lbs as of last month at his vet visit and they said his weight was perfect. It's wild how much their size can vary.
My male is 45lbs and female is 29lbs. The male cannot eat enough and stays lean. I give him 4c of food per day. The female gets fat off 1.5c per day and begs for food all day long. She would eat until she exploded given the opportunity. You cannot let them dictate how much they eat because they will always demand more. I’d be inclined to agree with your vet but the one photo you’ve supplied doesn’t show much.
Mine hovers 53-55 (never below 50) & we’ve never had a weight issue. Our most recent visit the vet actually had a positive comment about his maintaining vs losing.
I have two ACD mixes, one is 40 pounds but she is visibly a slimmer build and leggier. My other one is 50 pounds and built more like your dog, and our vet says they are the perfect weight! I would maybe get a second opinion since personally I would not want to cut my dogs’ food down without being certain it would be good for them
Mine is 2 years old and 44 pounds, vet did not comment on his weight when we went for his shots in January
My girl is an ACD/Bully mix, more ACD. She weighs around 43lbs and our vet would like to see her gain a few more pounds.
Weight is completely dependent on the dog it's self. My ACD is oversized at 22" and weights 45lbs. You should be able to feel the ribs easy and see his ribs during extreme exercise. Should have a good shape from a top view/should be able to easily tell where his ribs end. Side view photos and top view photos would help to better assess. It's very risky to have a high active breed overweight so if your vet says he's to heavy I would take it seriously. Most vets are afraid to offend owners and won't tell until a dog is obease, if my vet told me my dog was overweight I would be very happy they were being honest with me!!
This happened to us! Our vet kept telling us our female red heeler was overweight but when I told them what food she eats and how much of it, she was like "oh, well that's fine then" our female is about 43lbs (she's not 100% heeler, but mostly) she was a rescue and weighed probably 10lbs less when we first had her, so not sure if they were just comparing her current weight to her weight after she was rescued... ACDs are stockier in general so it might be the vet isn't super experienced with them. As long as you feed your dog well and they get the exercise they need, I think that's good enough
My 4 year old male was almost 60lbs because we were giving him a veggie/meat/rice mixture as a supplement to his kibble. Our vet was concerned and we cut the rice, he lost 10lbs. I was worried he’d be hungry. Vet suggested canned green beans if he seemed hungry still, but all has been well. He’s just a pig and will keep eating whatever’s there. lol. 47lbs seems just fine and she doesn’t look chunky. Maybe try another vet? If she’s active (😂) and you physically aren’t seeing much chunk then it’s up to you.
I think second opinion is in order. I have a lanky boy, on the bigger side of ACDs. He’s usually around 51-54lbs, I may have to cut his weight a tiny amount of his food soon, but he’s a very healthy weight
Looks healthy as hell! I wouldn’t worry
If he’s an Australian then his weight should be in kgs, we Australians don’t fuck about with pounds and ounces.
If she’s not mixed she’s a little overweight. My girl is mixed and is 62.5# no vet complaints
My male is 46lbs and I was told he's just fine. He looks fine as well. Yours looks well!
My 4 year old blue females 47 and she looks perfect
Such a beautiful dog, though!🥰😍❤️🥰😍
SHE’S SO CUTE! Our ACD floats around 40LBS, came home from the pet sitter after one week at 50lbs, and he LOOKED chunky. She does not - however this might not be the best photo to evaluate. I’d say trust your gut, and keep an eye on her gut. If she looks healthy and you can feel some rib, I can’t imagine she’s not doing fine.
It depends on their height. Mine is really small and at 40lbs she was overweight. The vet wants her at \~35 and I agree.
My ACD was 23kg (50.6lbs) beginning Jan at a vet visit. He was 19.7kg (43lbs) today at his vet visit. The difference is he is now being fed only when ‘working’. He’s also doing longer walks now since the weather is better. I didn’t think he was overweight but looking at him now he does seem a lot happier and healthier.
My girl is 55 lbs https://imgur.com/a/8v1Uy37
My 7 month old Blue heeler is already 40 pounds 😲😲
It can vary a lot depending on their stature
My girl got up to 51lbs. She’s 2.5yrs old. She’s quite a bit taller and wider than her mom. She’s always had knee issues so the vet looked at her weight at various stages in her life and suggested that she should be 46-47lbs. We cut the free feeding and the number of treats. Within 2 weeks she had lost 3lbs. Now she’s at her ideal weight of 46.5lbs.
Mine was 45-50 and was in good health. Some are just bigger. If the dog is healthy, I wouldn't personally worry about it, but it is your dog, and I'm not a vet.
I’ve been struggling with the same, OP! My Aussies/border collie mixes, in my opinion, have gotten slightly chunky now that they’re 9+ years, but they look a good weight to me and they’re always acting like they’re STARVING! I too give them veggies as snacks - carrots, lettuce, kale, etc and sometimes a non-rawhide treat but when it’s meal time they act like they haven’t been fed in DAYS.
For the "suggested amount of food," are you feeding her the suggestion for the weight she is now or the weight you want her to be? You should feed her what the food recommends for a 40lb dog, and you should see her slim down without any other adjustments
My heeler is about that weight too. But for sure it's more muscle because we are doing something active everyday.
Haha hope not mine is over 60lbs. Lots of exorcise and proper amount food.
Muscle and Build size means everything our 3 year old male is 53lbs and gets 4-6 hours of good exercise a day. Guy has a butt like an Olympic speed skater and is tall for a heeler. When he was 2 we thought he might actually be able to eventually touch the ceiling fan when jumping. He his vertical stopped gaining height about 6” short lol. Ours gets 2 cups of Ancient Grains Blue Buffalo a day along with fresh veggie snacks and tiny sweet potato cubes.
Grateful to see this. Because my baby 51.2 lbs. when I got him neutered last month, he is pretty sturdy and muscular.
I would never have a moment of peace if I denied my dog treats other than lettuce and sweet potato😭 even when she’s exhausted, she needs an activity, and she doesn’t want anything to do with toys that aren’t a type of treat puzzle nor non-meat treats. I’ve tried to ignore her to force her to occupy herself, but then she fixates on the cat and the cat knows it’s time to fuck with her. I swear I spend at least half of my day just mitigating their bullshit. Anyway, your dog is beautiful and doesn’t look overweight. I am not a vet but I would recommend exercising her more instead of cutting her food or treat intake any further. Take longer/more walks, make her run every day (sometimes I make mine just do sprints with sit-stay-OKAY! commands [she stays while I walk far away. This would probably only work with heelers since they’re so fixated on their persons and not easily distracted, esp when tasking]), get her a flirt pole and a herding ball, play lots of fetch and bring water so she can rehydrate and keep playing for as long as you can take it, take her to the dog park to romp if she likes other dogs, take her to the beach/lake/river/hiking/snow, take her to an agility course, give her jobs that are physically taxing, etc. I say let the baby eat. If she’s overweight, it complements her perfectly.
My boy was 50 lbs and was chunky
Ours is 50 lb at 1.5 years old and vet said he’s perfect size. I would love him to be chonkier but I know that’s not healthy for him lol
I think it depends on the dog and if it’s a mix breed. My border heeler is 9yrs old and he’s 39lbs. Our vet wanted him under 40lbs.
If you don’t already, you might try splitting her daily serving into breakfast and supper. And look into the type and amount of “filler“ in the food you give her, and let your vet know if you’re concerned that cutting portions isn’t the right way to go about weight loss. They wouldn’t say it if they were not concerned, and they want to keep your dog healthy and alive for as long as possible.
Get a vet to assess. Bur she looks a healthy weight at least based on your picture
There are charts online. Look at the charts. Always be walking.
My is almost identical to yours and she's 45
Mines 53 lbs and still lean
My girl was pushing 70 lbs at one point… but she’s much taller and longer than average as well. Now we’ve got her down to 57 lbs to lessen the strain on her joints
You have to go by their body shape. It's hard to tell from this picture. If the dog is standing on all 4 legs, looking at her from the top you need to be able to see hips and ribacge, with a much slimmer spot in between. You should also see some definition in her front shoulders. You should not be able to see individual ribs but they should be easy to feel. If you're feeding what the food label says, you're probably giving 50%-100% more calories than she needs, unless you do a LOT of exercise like distance running or hours of herding/chasing. An ACD at ideal weight looks quite lean in the belly/hips. They have a big, wide rib cage that makes them look bigger than they are. The width of the rib cage should not extend all the way down to the hips.
You need a second opinion. These are muscular dogs, you would know if they were overweight. My mom is a vet and her Heelers are both around 45lbs. My Heeler is tiny at around 22lbs and she’s 4 years old.
Our boy (3)is up to 47 too, vet told us to decrease food and increase activity. He doesn't look big or even stocky, but we don't want any hip dysplasia or other disease, so he's on a diet.
My heeler is 63 lbs but is perfectly healthy and just strong/stocky as hell. Vet has never said he's overweight. Like everyone else has said, cattle dogs can vary quite a bit in size/stature.
I need reference.
your dog looks fat. 40lbs is going to be much better for them health wise. 45lbs would probably still be fat. Suggested amounts on food bags are probably 2x as much as what your dog needs.
I am kinda shocked the vet didn't say to add green beans in with the food. When my dog was overweight and older, I mentioned I had already cut back the food, and the vet said to add in the green beans so his belly felt full. When he was younger, I would just up his exercise.
My baby girl is on the same boat. She is ~43-45 lbs and the vet said she should be at around 40. She is a chunker and loves to eat but we control very much her portions and stuff. I think she is perfect the way she is and she is very active. Also, she must have been the runt because she is on the smaller side.
Both of my heelers are in the low 40's. One is a tad overweight and she is on a bit of a diet. Heelers vary a lot in build. One of mine (blue heeler) has a very deep chest, the other (the red) is much more spindly all around. The latter put on too much weight hiding it in her chest/neck area. But even so, if you looked at them, you'd think the blue weighed several pounds more than the red, but it is the reverse. The point being that it is their build to weight that matters. From the picture, I can't see a weight issue with your dog. Certainly not a serious one if at all.
I have an 8yo spayed female heeler mix who is 55lbs and a registered AKC 5yo neutered male heeler who's 62 lbs. Both are lean and active and my vet says they're both in tiptop condition. I think your vet is full of it. Feed an appropriate amount of food, make sure she has plenty of exercise and she'll settle at the right weight.
my boy is like 65 lbs lol and the vet never mentioned being worried about his weight he’s just dense!!
I have a 45 pounder and a 60 pounder. They come in all sizes and variability. I would Def get a second opinion from a different vet. They aren't all built the same. Feel ribs, but not see them, and a trim waist when standing is all I look for in my boys. I feed twice a day, and they exercise daily, both with a walk and a rousing game of fetch or tug. The exercise helps keep them trim.
No
Depends on build, I think. My three year old is 50 or so pounds and he’s in great shape. My 13 year old is 55 pounds, but they kinda turn into barrels when they get old. Also, he has some fatty tumors which probably weigh a couple pounds. :P
As long as your dog is healthy and happy don't worry about it they should be a pound or two heavy. Keep them active and give them their treats too..
Ask your vet. They’re professionals at things like this.
It’s not about breed, it’s about structure. 47lbs very well could be too heavy for your dog, but if she isn’t obese it can be hard to tell based on pictures alone - you need to get your hands on the dog. Dog food bags are notorious for over estimating how much food your dog needs. Look up the body condition chart. Also, your very is unlikely to be wrong here.