2 year old Rottweiler looks lean?

I have a two year old Rottweiler. Can't tell you his weight right now. His appointment is next month.

He is very long bodied and looks really
lean. He eats good but is very active working cattle every day.

How do I put some weight on him?





Hi
At 2 years old your Rottweiler is getting close to being an adult, but the big males are the slowest to mature and he may not reach his full height/weight for a while yet.

I owned a very big (and tall) Rottweiler who didn't grow into his head and bone size until he was fully 3 years old, this is the top end of the growth spectrum, but it happens! Possibly your pup is going to be the same way.

Adolescent and young adult Rottweilers are often lean, and this is preferred as it helps protect their growing bones, ligaments and joints. Once their height/length slows down then they begin to add more weight and muscle mass.

As your Rottie is active every day, this will be contributing to his weight control, but is also good.

Attempting to make a big dog like this gain weight that he's not putting on naturally isn't a good idea as it puts strain on his skeletal framework, and can set him up for being overweight later on. This contributes to other health issues affecting these large breeds. You can check out my Caring For Big Dog Breeds page for more on these.

The most important thing to do is to make sure that he's eating a premium dog food that has been specifically designed for his size and activity level. Look for a food that contains extra calories for energy, plus highly digestible proteins and fats. One formulated for active dogs would probably be best.

Other than that, just be patient and let his body grow and develop at the rate nature intended. Adult height/weight is mostly determined by genetics and your Rottie's conformation is already decided, all you can do is help him to reach his maximum potential by making sure he gets the right nutrition and healtcare.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your Rottie.