Perspective is wrong as photo taken from above. Her legs are actually longer than they look and it does not show how skinny she is, but it was the best photo out of nearly two dozen before she tried to eat the camera!
Shoulder muscle? Her rear thigh muscles would give Kim Kardashion a run for her money! Well she will do her Meerkat impression when she is outside so she can see a bit further, and dances on her hind legs! Tikki weighs 5.5kg - was just about 450gm when I brought her home at 3 weeks old [I know, I know, she was far too young but still...] But she really is skinny apart from her muscles - you can see all her ribs and frequently all of her spine shows. She is broad and deep chested and has a waist to die for - and not one of the photographs I took really showed her shape. If you compared her with the size chart she definitely looks underweight. Ah, but she is a healthy little booger and Michal, her primary vet, reckons that her weight is mainly in her bones and muscles. As she is a Doxie/Minpin cross, both breeds tending to gain weight, I am very happy with her weight and size, especially since she was spayed when she was 6 months old. Her dam was the largest standard Dachshund I have ever seen, and when Michal first came here to check Tikva and sort out her worming and vax dates, she thought that Tikki would probably end up around 10kg. Boy was she wrong! But as she says, Tikki is much healthier at this size and weight. But I think she is allergic to the camera as it is impossible to get a decent photograph of her standing. Little Booger!
If Photobucket will work [TinyPic does not now] here is another one of the mini Monster taken at the same time. Even though she is laying on the couch I think that it shows that her legs are longer and back shorter than a full Doxie. Ah, but I do love that little puppy so much.
She will probably gain weight with age Malka. Puppies just run, run, run (and don't forget the bouncing) . As she calms with age, the weight will most likely stick more. She's happy, healthy and cheeky as well as quite delish x
Chris - I know it will not hurt her to gain a bit of weight, but if she does it will not be much. She is clipped on her tether all day, with the door open - just as LO and Pereg were, and she certainly gets enough exercise. But she will not come out for walks. I have tried her on my electric wheelchair - she climbs up on my lap and has hysterics before I am even half way up the ramp. The same if I try with my little pavement scooter. She has yet to see The Silver Monster. Most of this is because last year although I took her out on my lap as much as I could, I obviously had to keep her off the ground because of too many loose and dumped dogs who were not vaccinated, and she was just too young. I do try nearly every day but if she starts having hysterics there is no way I am going to force her. She definitely is getting enough exercise - she would not have the muscles she has if she did not. I leave it up to her. She wants to come out with me then she can, with pleasure. She does not want then I am not going to force her. You are right. She is happy, healthy, and definitely cheeky and very delish! And I love her.
If these photos come out, they show her actual shape, including the length of her legs, her waist in the last picture which also shows her thigh muscles - and her ribs, all of which are a lot more visible when she is standing. None of them really show how high her tuck is, but at least the first two show her shape. I have not measured her height but the last picture shows her next to one of the rear drive wheels of Xanadu, and that wheel is 13" diameter, so it should give a rough idea.
Nice pictures Malka. She is slim, but looks very well on it. Spayed bitches always gain a kilo or so in their middle age, so much better to be slim as youngsters. I just wish I could get a pound or so OFF Merry before we hit these Veteran classes in June!
At last - I managed to get pictures of her showing her shape! I know I have always said she has longer legs and a shorter back than a Doxie, but these pictures are the first that actually show it. But her front legs are so Doxie-like, wonky knees and turned out feet, and she looks far more like her Doxie dam than her Minpin sire. @6JRT's - Tina you are NOT having my Tikki Tikva! @CaroleC - Little One never gained weight but then she always had kibble and I did change her to one for older dogs towards the end - no idea why but of course I did not know anything about raw feeding then, and Pereg's weight gain was due to her medication and the non-stop screaming gimmee gimmee munchies following a seizure. And the only way to calm her was to give her food - and more food until the post-ictal stage wore off. Tikva has been raw fed since being weaned and it is so easy to keep to roughly the same amount every day. She does not get treats for nothing although does have a chewstick once she is up, to keep her occupied while I get washed and dressed. The few tiny treats are for her twice daily training sessions. It is taking time but she is a stubborn little booga - Tikki The Terrible!
Thank you both for your nice words - all that hard work bottle feeding her then teaching her that her baby cereal was to be lapped up from the saucer and not paddled in, paid off.