over here, the bully's tend to be too beefy! The standard is 25kg's (55lb's) for a male and I try to keep all my bully's as close to that as possible.

I cannot stand a fat bully that doesn't have the correct gait because it is overweight.

We beef our bully's up as puppies and as they get older (over 6 months) we increase the exercise so that the puppy fat goes and muscle tone develops.

I am assuming the judge meant more muscle tone not more fat!!! so I would change your bully's to an active formula of food and increase their exercise.

Hey Cathy:
Judges told us that about Tequila(too small) but everytime he gained over 55 pounds he looked like a little pig running around=his weight gain was all in the "pear" shape so we continued to show him at 55 lbs. He eventually finished, you just may need to find judges who like a more standard dog. Or add moderate exercise in with your food intake. Some judges are putting up really big dogs and its especially hard when you have a standard dog showing in a class with oversized dogs. Of course, our Butkus is now around 60-65 lbs so he will soon be in with the "oversized" dogs. But you've seen him-lots of substance, very little fat, he's just a large boned boy. Good luck and look forward to seeing you at the shows in 2008.
Laura

if anyone is in a hurry to show, then perhaps do puppy matches while the young ones develop and then switch over to the point shows, by then they'll be pros and will present very well with their new mature figures.

Annise

As soon as my boy turned 2, like his sires breeder told me, he filled out, matured and started winning. Also, as soon as I started focusing on other factors; our ring procedure, team work, studying judges, and mostly having FUN in the experience of it all, we won or placed much more often. I had fallen into the newbie 'gonna show and win them all' mind set. Now, second time around, it's all about fun...spending time with my dog and my friends, if we win, awesome, if not, maybe next time!

Paula~

EXCELLENT Post -- Thank you very much, E.

Sincerly, Kim

It's all about patience.
You cannot beef up a young dog with food, it just is not going to happen. If it happens in time, chances are it is more about the "in time' than about the food and all your effort and frustration.
Give these young dopgs as chance to mature. Have patience. We all want to win, but look at reality;
The dogs do not look their best until they are over two in most cases.
We spend all of our time and money on dogs as young as 6 months old and yes, by the time they are two we are burned out and impatient.
Understandably, when we are new and excited we want to hit every show, but truth is, bulldogs, particularly males, in most cases need maturity and nothing else. Do not compromise your dog's health and well being trying to make him "fat" to be competative.
Really, they have enough problems as they get older staying in condition. Too many older specials are grossly fat with "fake" substance and it affects the breed. Some of those fatsos really do not have natural substance or true fronts or rib and people breed to them thinking they are gonna get a boatload of substance or front fill or big ribs, when in reality they are often breeding to an over fat piggie with no rib and a shallow front.
Good substance is not the same as fat.
If they have it they have it and will keep it.
If they are young and racy, just give them time. Have patience.
They are allot like young boys who eat and eat and eat and eat and don't get fat. Don't get too concerned. Wait it out. There is nothing wrong with starting to seriously show a dog at age 2 (early ring tiome is important, I mean seriously at shows far and wide) or with finishing a dog at age 4.
Ask yourself if the judge who told you the dog needed more weight was worth listening to.
I like dogs to be muscular with the substance they have coming purely from themselves. Roly poly babies are cute and some of them are awesome, but some of those roly polies fall apart by the time they are two.
Power, Fitness, yet with mass expected of a bulldog. These are words that should come to mind when looking at a bulldog. That's my view anyway.
Patience kids.. Patience.
E

Some are great and never miss a beat and some are PITA!! I have 5 males here of the 5, Vito is the big PITA! He goes out of his mind and doesn't eat well at all. The others could care less.


Just-LoneStar Bulldogs

www.2008nationals.homestead.com

I add the food and the vitamins and the supplements that aid in digestion (well actually I am giving them vitamins that are more for immune system as they grow up as well as giving 'preventive' maintenance by adding a supplement for cartilage, ligament growth with Ascorbic Acid in it as well as glucosamine and chondroitin, esp if the pup is heavy boned like a lot of my kids are) Exercise is just walks a few times a week besides their play in the yard chasing toys.
After a year or so olc, I add some effort to the exercise by putting on a doggie camping harness and put a bottle of about 16 oz of water on either side and we take our walk with that instead of just our regular walk...a few days a week...it makes more muscle out of leftoever puppy fat or the need to add muscle and bulk which entails adding food and use of the digestive enzymes so they get the most out of their food...if they are picky I will add grease or drippings from my husband's pan...I don't like meat but he does...I'm a chicken person, so I will save the fat from backing my chicken. I haven't needed the recipe for fat balls yet.


Lorraine
If only I was as good a person as my dogs seem to think I am!
Find us on:
www.karismakennels.com

Almost to the day I finished Otto his appetite was insatiable....all he wants to do now is eat, LOL!
I'm sure that will take a back seat as soon as my Boo puppy comes into her first heat! That will be a new experience for both of us.

Paula~

There are several different recipes for them but basically they are hamburg with added starchs and proteins. Make a bunch up freeze and thaw as needed. Some people feed them raw, I microwaved mine first.

Paula~

lol

if you add items to their food moderately and give them good exercise you get bulk and not fat. I do fat balls, mac & cheese, pb & j's and burgers. But not allot, and only once a day. Just don't over due it. I do this when I have bitches in season and the dogs won't eat well. I used to have to do it with Scarlet all the time..she is hard to keep good weight. It seems after you finish a dog and don't really need to worry anymore they seem to gain and maintain just fine..LOL..


Just-LoneStar Bulldogs

www.2008nationals.homestead.com

1.Exercise
2.Food...I add extra protein, not much but some at each meal.
3.Exercise.


Wild West Bulldogs

Pictures property of Wild West Bulldogs.

Cathy I wrestled with this same issue for quite some time. My boy, like most, matured late and EVERYONE, including judges told me to put weight on him. I asked my vet and he said basically the same thing, it's ok within reason and moderation. My concern was health over winning....so, long story short:
I added carbs; mac & cheese, peanut butter sandwiches, mashed potatoes, fat balls, to his food, not much just extra. And I started a daily workout schedule; after putting non-slip treads on my stairs, we did our version of the 'stairmaster', roadwork around the yard on the grass for better traction and less stress on joints. I'd like to say it worked like a charm but, in my humble opinion, they will be what they will be, whenever it happens. His sires breeder told me not to worry, he'll turn 2 and blossom....well he did. He finished in 6 months going BISS.....


Paula~

but i have been trying to figure this out for some time now. And have finally came to he conclusion it isnt going to happen for us. No matter how much I have tried I can not put the weight on Mia. Today the decison was made to retire her from the ring. I am so sad and heartbroken but she has given me a great start and foundation. I came to the realization that she just doesnt have the rib and chest. So even with 10 pounds added i am only fooling judges to make her look better. A good judge knows better, IMO.
Not saying thsi is your case at all. Just saying that i sympathize with what your going through.