probably for the same reasons people look like over-stuffed hot dogs. plain and simply, we are. we eat too much crap, and even everything that is low-fat and low-carb and all that fad stuff is full of fat making preservatives. i don't doubt that they do the same with dog food, not to mention the amount of people who give dogs their leftovers.

I know Lola is ok (she could stand to lose one or two pounds), but its because someone here *coughmomcough* decides she looks so sad and gives her too many treats and human food that Lola shouldnt be having. Dogs arent like us humans, they dont really have self control. They will eat anything and wont always stop when they are full. I know Lola would eat the whole box of milkbones if she could... So really, it's the human's fault. And us humans arent exacly all healthy. Look at the obeseity issues and "epidemic" as it was once said. IF we cant even eat healty and know our limits, I suspect we wont exacly know our dog's either, and so the dog gains weight...

Also some dogs dont get the exercise that they need. Yes walking is good, but its hard to get your dog to run around and play when he/she is on a leash.

i've noticed this trend too. i thought that perhaps the BT's i've been seeing around just had more bulldog in them or something. my pup definitely has a boxer's build, very slim and athlectic and i am very proud of her! she actually can't stomach commercial food at all so she eats a very strict diet of human food and i really credit that with consistent portions and regular excercise for her being so svelte. when i see huge, rolly-polly bostons i thank my stars she didn't turn out that way... whether it's genetics or diet or both!!

I think it may just be the diet -
i'm happy to say, that my boston has the trim figure they're supposed to have, too:)
yippee for fit and trim bostons' :)

*nod* I usually assume the bulldog idea, too.

My boyfriend's dog's skinny lil legs combined with his short stature (I'm used to german shepherds and golden retrievers) remind me so much of a little bunny. lol

I caution you against only human food. Commercial dog foods have things dogs need and we don't include in our home mixes. This isn't anything against you or your love for your dog. I learned this the hard way (I almost lost my dog) and I will say food like Science Diet, Sensible Choice etc are very good and that alone will be healthy for your dog. Trust me your BT will eat it when she/he gets hungry.

well, i tried many, many different brands of commerical food and they ALL made her vomit violently. she wasn't keeping any food down and was miserable. i was also sick of cleaning up vomit every ten minutes! after reading many books and consulting my vet i went with an all human food diet and she's being doing wonderfully- no more vomit, she keeps food down, has a beautiful coat, bright eyes and more energy than any dog i've ever met!

her vet agrees that she's in perfect health and after bringing her in so many times to rule out pancreatitis and blocked intestines while she was on commercial food he agreed that the new diet was fine. i do give her dog vitamins though, which ironically don't seem to bother her stomach.

i appreciate your concern but after dealing with her on commercial food and after reading what's actually in the stuff (specialized brands as well) i am convinced that feeding her human food is the absolute best thing for her. also, for clarification, she does not eat what my boyfriend and i do, she has specifically planned meals made for her and her only.

I understand about special diet. I cooked for my dogs for years.
Good luck I hope you are able to keep her happy and healthy. It sounds like you know what you are doing.

I've noticed that here also!
Maybe it's just that their metabolisms are different?

I know my little guy is as fit and trim as they come, but he eats a little more than is recommended for his weight class each day, for the most part will NOT eat dry healthier treats and I've even been known to cave and give him a tiny piece of human food every now and then. He doesn't get more excersize than is normal. Through all this, he is still buff and lean as ever. Crazy!

I understand what you mean about "hot dog" bodies (I usually call them "sausages", hee) but I don't think Bostons need or are supposed to have as much definition as a boxer.

Here's a good example of proper Boston build:



The chest isn't quite as deep as a boxer's but the there is definitely an upslope into the pelvis.

As for individual Bostons, well, they're as varied as we are :) I think diet can be to blame for some of it, but there are also just genetic differences. For example, here's a not great but the best picture I have of Daisy's parents side by side. The dad is closest to the camera.



Definitely different body types there. They were both healthy with mama being a little pudgy as she had only just weaned a litter. And those parents produced this:





Daisy has the same body length and head size as her mama but the longer legs and trim physique of her dad. (And who knows where she got the brindle!). I can barely get her to eat what she's supposed to eat for her age and weight (18 pounds) and she runs all over the place, yet she's still very solid and has a little pooch of a belly when she sits. ;)

I think each dog is gonna be different, especially when most pets aren't "show quality."

(I liked this post 'cause it allowed me to share more pictures, hee!)

hehehe!
great pictures -
and i completely agree with you -
and people wonder why these dogs have genetic problems - its based on weight.:)

What a beautiful bitch... just look at her tuck. She knows what she needs to eat and she knows how much exercise she needs. Just look at her, She's beautiful.
PS who cares about show quality? It's the love you want

too much food, too little exercise. that said, my bt eats as much as my boxer and she gets plenty of excercise jumping up into her chair once or twice a day *snicker* but she's a somewhat slender gal. I don't feed any of my dogs table scraps or too many treats. They occasionally get to lick some plates or a small piece of fat from something I've cooked or a little pan grease, but somepeople are shoveling treats and snacks into their dogs as much or more than they are shovelling it into themselves.

grease and fat are the worse thing you can do to your BT. It clogs their arteries and contributes to hot spots. NO TREATS. Period. My BT's taught me that not my vet.

terries need exercise, lots and lots of exercise. They could run till their hearts bound out of their chest and keep on running. NO snacks, no food scraps. Kibble only and lots of excercise. Oh this means the human must get up and run, walk, toss the ball, pull on the rope, give lots of time to the terrier. All they want is ALL OUR TIME. Is that a problem. It is if we have a life...... I love my LUCY and she's keeping me slim.