I have to disagree with post. There is a range of ok weights for dogs and, IMO, fat/overweight is not in that range. Pet people are probably the WORST to ask about weight on a dog...I've seen dogs that are supposedly "skin and bones" according to a pet person and the dog is actually in pristinely perfect racing condition. People tend to see fat as normal...and it's not.
These are SUPPOSED to be skinny dogs.
I tend to agree, KennelMom. Although I do feel that within a very small area (say, 5lbs or so) you have some wiggle room. For instance, I like my boy to weigh 75-77lbs. Right now, he's at 80lbs. My vet says it's fine and he certainly doesn't look fat but I'd feel happier with him getting back to at least 77lbs again. I'm sure others would be okay with where he's at. I know some people like seniors to have a few lbs spare in case of illness but those few lbs must be within the healthy weight range, IMO. After all, extra weight puts stress on the joints and does no favours for those of us with older pups who have pain issues. I think MP_the4pack might be talking about that small amount of wiggle room; not a legitimately overweight dog.
I do mean that. I specifically said not to have a striped lab.
In a 2 week time frame when Brindle was hospitalized with a fever of unknown origin, she went from 65 lbs pet weight (61 racing), down to 51. In just 2 weeks. They thought they were going to lose her because of organ failure from weight loss, not the fever.
I'm not even going where I was with Pearl a couple weeks ago.
Also. A racing dog is pure muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. Most pets are no longer at that kind of muscle build. (same with human athletes). So a pet that looks to be the same weight as it did while racing will weigh more.