What are the Odds of Obesity for Specific Breeds

Obesity is the enemy of the health of our dogs. A recent UK study looks at 16 breeds and their odds of obesity against crossbred dogs. Yorkie, Bichon, Goldens, German Shepherds, Chihuahua are some of the breeds studied.

Not all purebred dogs have higher risks of overweight than crossbred dogs. In fact, certain breeds have lower risks; two breeds showed a much reduced risk compared with crossbred dogs.   

Age-wise, dogs between 6 and 9 had the highest risk of overweight status (x 2.99) compared with dogs under 3 years old.


Breeds with HIGHER risks of overweight than cross-breeds:

 

Odds of overweight against cross-breed dogs
(multiple of times)

Pug

3.12x

Beagle

2.67x

Golden Retriever

2.58x

English Springer Spaniel

1.98x

Border Terrier

1.72x

Labrador Retriever

1.70x

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

1.50x

Cocker Spaniel

1.32x

West Highland White Terrier

1.30x

Border Collier

1.18x

Chihuahua

1.09x

Bichon Frise

1.03x

 Breeds with LOWER risk of overweight than cross-breeds:

 

Odds of overweight against cross-breed dogs
(multiple of times)

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

0.95x

Jack Russell Terrier

0.90x

Yorkshire Terrier

0.74x

German Shepherd

0.55x

Shih-tzu

0.53x

 

Excerpt from: "Frequency, breed predisposition and demographic risk factors for overweight status in dogs in the UK" by C. Pegram, E. Raffan, E. White, A. H. Ashworth, D. C. Brodbelt, B. Church, D. G. O'Neill. Published March 2021

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