Corgi Hams

[bajoiner]

Since Sassy has been on her diet and we have been increasing the exercise outside, playing chase, ball, whatever game she decides she wants to play the hams on her corgi butt are really getting big. I am hoping this is normal. I was brushing her and and holding inside of her back leg to get the long hair and WOW what muscle. If only my thigh muscle was that tight

She is doing super on her diet though the weight has slowed a bit. She only lost 1/2 pound in the past week or so. She is doing good though.

Barbara

[glencorgi]

Just like "human" diets, they will plateau for a time and you won't see as "dramatic" a weight loss during those times. IF she is muscling up, then that could account for her not losing as much as well. Muscle weighs more than fat, so her "fat" percentage could still be going down as her muscle mass increases. Use the "feeling her ribs test" a little more now than focusing on the numbers of how much weight she's losing.

GOOD JOB!!!!!

Debbie

[Fluffypants]

Sounds like she is doing great!!!!
Jackie has those "ham hocks" too!

[Jespah]

A half pound in a week for a dog is an amazing amount to lose - that's great!!

I know what you all mean about the ham hocks - my two go up the equivalent of 15 flights of staitrs everyday - so you can bounce quarters off their hocks!!!

[disraeli]

Yay for Sassy's weight loss!

I know what ya'll mean - my dogs have such strong little legs. They can both do standing jumps onto my (rather high) bed. I wish I had that kind of strength - not to mention the tone, taut thighs that go along with it.

[Michael Romanos]

If you are into conformation showing you would build up your Corgi/s weight before an important show, and then tone down the Corgi/s bodies with vigorous exercising and other muscle promoting ploys such as hill work, pushing against their chests (or the slapping method) so that you build up muscles including those hams out of the extra fat. So muscular hams are to be commended.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

If you are into conformation showing you would build up your Corgi/s weight before an important show, and then tone down the Corgi/s bodies with vigorous exercising and other muscle promoting ploys such as hill work, pushing against their chests (or the slapping method) so that you build up muscles including those hams out of the extra fat. So muscular hams are to be commended.

You can't make muscle out of fat. Muscle tissue is different than fat tissue. What it sounds like Sassy is doing is building muscle tone and mass and reducing her body fat percentage.

Conformation dogs will have a higher body fat percentage than say agility dogs and yes they are conditioned - road work and treadmills being two of the more common ways in the States. Pushing against chests (or the slapping method) must be a NZ thing? The posternum either drops into a good depth of chest or it doesn't and front end assembly is definitely a factor in that. I don't understand how "slapping" a chest is going to change skeletal structure.

Debbie

[Bayoucorgi]

Liam has those big thigh muscles too. In horses, I think it would be the gaskins. It seems weird compared to other breeds. Good for Sassy. Wish I could do as well on me!

[Michael Romanos]

In response to Glencorgu who disputes that dogs can gain muscle from extra weight: Dogs and humans are the same when it comes to building muscle.

Muscle building supplements are available for humans and dogs but the best way of building high quality muscle tone is in doing intensive exercise including hill running and in exercising in gyms with specific routines and methods and in using resistance equipment and other natural methods with use of the limbs. Dogs would need to use equivalent methods to what humans use though both can utilise treadmills and dogs are able to pull special strength and muscle building weights.
An extra build up of fat for humans and dogs is an excellent source of bone, cartilage, muscle and blood cells ie excellent source of stem cells which can be prompted to develop into bone or muscle.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

In response to Glencorgu who disputes that dogs can gain muscle from extra weight: Dogs and humans are the same when it comes to building muscle.

My many years of biology classes must have all been based in fallacy then and I guess I should forget all the work I did with nutritionists to get my health back on track.

Muscle building supplements are available for humans and dogs

Yea, called protein ...

but the best way of building high quality muscle tone is in doing intensive exercise including hill running and in exercising in gyms with specific routines and methods and in using resistance equipment and other natural methods with use of the limbs. Dogs would need to use equivalent methods to what humans use though both can utilise treadmills and dogs are able to pull special strength and muscle building weights.

That's muscle, and conditioning and training ... and yes that is done with dogs.

An extra build up of fat for humans and dogs is an excellent source of bone, cartilage, muscle and blood cells ie excellent source of stem cells which can be prompted to develop into bone or muscle.

To quote the caveman in one of the GEICO commercials, MDH says: "WHAT?????" So all the actor Michael J. Fox needs to do is get fat and he can produce more stem cells to use in treating his Parkinson's disease then????

Debbie