Took Duke in for the 10 month checkup yesterday and my vet stated she wanted to see about another 10 lbs on him? At 66.7 lbs, 10 months old, GSD/Malinois cross - I was able to find some weight guidelines that showed a general ideal weight for a male GSD of this age about 5 lbs more than Duke is now, but 10?

Generally he gets either 2 lbs of raw chicken/parts daily, or 3.5 cups of food plus training treats. I do trust my vet in many ways, but as she expressed to me that he should be on a large breed puppy kibble until he's 18 months (!) I am not sure I should take her input in this case.

Laying in his crate:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/738028_10152384963615531_1051679038_o.jpg

Chewing a toy:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/312388_10152391960165531_1852652365_n.jpg

Hi Kristin. I'm sure I won't be the only one to say that, before I would offer an opinion as to his weight/condition, I would want to see photos of him standing. Can you get a couple of photos with him standing fairly square, taken from the side. You will have to kneel down to his level for this. then get a couple taken with him standing, and you standing over him, shooting down, so we can see what his "waist" looks like.

I'm sure that would give all of us a much better example on which to base any opinion or advice.

I will try - it's darned hard to get pictures of him that aren't blurry. Will see what I can do this evening while he's busy with supper

These pictures are hard to use for body condition. Best pics would be one from the side and one from above, both with the dog standing.

My male Shepherd is 19 months and currently a very lean 75 lbs. I have kept him lean his whole life, to reduce impact on joints, and because realistically it is healthier for dogs to be an ideal weight. Now ideal weight for one dog, will not be the ideal weight for the next. My male was also about 66lbs at 10 months. It will depend on build and height.

Please also keep in mind, that most vets see obese pets day in and day out, so sometimes when they see a fit animal, automatically they jump to "skinny".

If I had a dime for every time someone has asked my why my dogs are so skinny.....well I for sure would be able to work/compete/breed dogs full time. Unfortunately, the reality is, most uneducated owners will kill their dogs with food, which they call "Love"....

Now, I am also not saying that your dog isn't underweight. He may be, I haven't seen the pics yet (or video if you have it), but just throwing out some "general" info your way!

It's a little hard to tell from those two photos, but I don't see a dog that is too skinny. He's trim, which IMO, is a very good condition, especially for a large-breed dog. I think nearly everyone's eye (and perhaps your vet's) is so used to seeing fat dogs that they don't know what a trim dog looks like.

Standing above the dog and looking straight down, you should be able to see a defined "waist." You should be able to easily feel ribs.

10-month-olds always look gangly. He'll fill out. If he is otherwise healthy and growing, I wouldn't worry about it. If you think he could use a pound or two, start with that. 10 pounds on a 67 pound dog seems like a lot to me. JMO.

Sorry, I was typing as Cheri posted

I'd much rather have a young dog on the thin side when the bones & joints are soft & growing. Ideally you want large breed pups to grow slowly & be on the thin side. Growth plates don't close on a GSD until around 2 years of age. You don't want any extra weight & stress on those joints.

If he is healthy & fit I'd not worry about putting any weight on him. Like Tracy said most dogs looks gangly at that age. My male looked like a skinny coyote until he was about 1 1/2 or so & started filling out some. He actually didn't really look great & well filled out until he was almost 4 & those hormones really did their job. He is still on the thinner side, as he never stays still. He is very fit...like a marathon runner.

I would not worry unless you start seeing pronounced hip or back bone.

 Quote: Anne Jones

I'd much rather have a young dog on the thin side when the bones & joints are soft & growing. Ideally you want large breed pups to grow slowly & be on the thin side. Growth plates don't close on a GSD until around 2 years of age. You don't want any extra weight & stress on those joints.

Agreed 100%. From the laying down with the toy picture I see some a triangle shape where his hip should be. If you can see hip bone very easily and there's not a 'bridge' of muscle/fat across them then I'd say he's too thin. If that bridge is there, then don't worry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KXyqzwx-4U&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Duke and supper time

Gosh, I wouldn't want to add ten pounds to him. As Samantha said, I want to see the hipbones covered, and in the first pics I wasn't 100% sure, but in the video he looks OK to me.

JMO, of course, but for me, I'd be OK with him putting on a couple pounds but I'd be OK with him not, too. That is, he looks to me to be on the lowish end but still well within acceptable.

I sure don't see any place to put another ten pounds.

I will be interested to read others' opinions. I tend to keep my dogs quite trim, and it may be because I've had so many seniors, some with HD and OA, whose hips and other joints I wanted spared from any extra poundage.