# Why is my dog so thin? Fuck you, that's why. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 22, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232 "2012-08-22T00:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/21 "2012-08-22T15:43:27Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Clearly you need to feed your dog until he reincarnates as a different breed. We always tell our Doberman that if she gets much fatter she’ll turn into a Rottweiler. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/22 "2012-08-22T16:12:20Z")
So why are these “thin” dogs so thin? I mean what is the biological/darwinian reason? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/23 "2012-08-22T16:13:20Z")
“Well Bless Your Heart for caring, but it’s the breed! Vet says he’s perfect!” ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/24 "2012-08-22T16:15:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I love the thread title, too, and would love to see it used IRL. > > Bravo!! Wonder if she also shows them her watch that cost more than their car. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/25 "2012-08-22T16:20:00Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > So why are these “thin” dogs so thin? I mean what is the biological/darwinian reason? Just curious. So they can better course prey? They were bred to hunt fast prey. A cheetah isn’t bulky either, you know? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/26 "2012-08-22T16:20:34Z")
Most of those leggy, super lean dogs are sight hounds - they were bred to chase their master’s prey by sight not scent. And as often that prey is large and leggier (antelope, for instance) they have to be very fast to keep within sight of it. They are built like cheetahs to run like cheetahs 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/27 "2012-08-22T16:24:26Z")
This guy checks into a hotel, and he asks the bellhop, “Hey, can you hook me up with a woman?” “Sure can!” “I want the tallest, skinniest whore in the world!” “Don’t worry, I know just the girl!” A bit later there’s a knock on the door of the guy’s room. There stands a six-foot-three blonde weighing all of 98 pounds. He invites her in. “Take your clothes off.” She does. “Now, get down on all fours.” She does. The guy goes into the bedroom of his suite and comes out leading a Great Dane . . . . . . and says, “You see, Fido! That’s exactly what you’re going to look like if you don’t eat your Gravy Train!” ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/28 "2012-08-22T17:10:06Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > So why are these “thin” dogs so thin? I mean what is the biological/darwinian reason? Just curious. They were bred aerodynamically I suppose. To chase after fast animals. My dog’s real breed name is Rabbit Hound and that’s what he’s supposed to hunt. If you have seen any of the breeds I mentioned in my OP they have a very long stride. And as I said, mine has no problems going over a 5’ fence. He only got hurt because he’s stubborn as hell and our barricades (wooden boards) wouldn’t deter him. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Wonder if she also shows them her watch that cost more than their car. First, I don’t own a watch. Second, I live paycheck to paycheck (and sometimes less than that). So I don’t see your point there. Pharaoh Hounds are rare and expensive but this one was free to me as a rescue. > [@Seanette](#): > > One thing about that general category of dog: watch out for that tail! The PH we had could leave welts on unprotected skin. We just worry that he’ll break the tail on a wall or something, his tail’s so strong. > [@Princhester](#): > > Short version of your OP: > > _I have a dog that naturally looks unusually thin. Sometimes people ask “why is he so thin?” I get really upset about this for no apparent reason. Sometimes people assume the worst and give me unwarranted criticism. This annoys me._ > > If you’d stuck to the latter occurrence, your OP would be a whole lot more coherent. I think the part you missed was the tone of voice and outright expressions of sheer scorn on the faces of these people, especially the one who told me I should take better care of my (spoiled rotten) dog. Also, this is the Pit. I can be mad here. > [@Gukumatz](#): > > I’ve always through the fabricated Maltese Pharao dog name was missing an excellent opportunity for a proper Falcon joke. (And lean dogs are lean dogs, that’s how they’re bred.) Thank you, yes, that’s how they’re supposed to look. When I go to the dog park I am amazed at all the fat dogs there. I am aware of the PH’s true history (not Egyptian in the slightest) but if I had my choice I’d never own any other breed. > [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > This is what I came to say. > > I’d love the OP forever if she got a recording of herself being asked the offending question and giving the appropriate response. Thanks for that and for the others who liked it. 🙂 The best I came up with on the spur of the moment was, “he doesn’t eat,” which incurred the response, “he doesn’t eat?! WHY?” :rolleyes: And the food that I mentioned that I fed him at 2:00 a.m. two nights ago was finally eaten in the middle of the night, last night. The Kong is still full. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/29 "2012-08-22T17:17:11Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > “Because I like my \*gaegogi \*lean.” Odd that you should say that. The one time I had boshingtong, the main complaint I had was that the meat was too fatty. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/30 "2012-08-22T17:40:07Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > Now greyhounds usually have some muscles going on due to mostly being bred for racing, so no one really remarks on those if they happen to show up at the dog park. Actually yes, yes they do. We’ve had greyhounds for almost 20 years and the weight thing comes up on a pretty regular basis. If someone asks me why my dog is thin, I remind them he’s an athlete bred to run fast, and you don’t see fat guys winning the 100 meter dash at the Olympics, now do you? Then you’ve got the other side of the coin - hang around with other people who have greyhounds and they’ll be checking your dog out to make sure he’s not putting on too much weight as a pet (and you’ll hear about that if he does). I’m so used to having skinny dogs by now even normal-weight dogs of other breeds look a bit pudgy to me. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/31 "2012-08-22T17:43:47Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > First, I don’t own a watch. Second, I live paycheck to paycheck (and sometimes less than that). So I don’t see your point there. Pharaoh Hounds are rare and expensive but this one was free to me as a rescue. I think he thought you were making a reference to a [particular movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/quotes?qt=qt0295092), and was [following suit](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/quotes?qt=qt0295091). ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/32 "2012-08-22T17:58:10Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Um, six cups of kibble, plus treats, into a forty pound dog? Doesn’t sound like he needs to be tricked into eating. Like the OP said, Pharaoh Hounds are SUPPOSED to be skinny. Really, really skinny. He couldn’t clear a five foot fence if he weren’t. Per the OP > [@](#): > > My dog’s ribs show and many backbones show. His hip bones show. So, I don’t think it is the build of the dog’s breed that people are reacting to. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/33 "2012-08-22T18:03:46Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I think he thought you were making a reference to a [particular movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/quotes?qt=qt0295092), and was [following suit](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/quotes?qt=qt0295091). Good BOY! \<_tosses Liv-a-Snap_\> ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/34 "2012-08-22T18:41:20Z")
Thanks, but I’m watching my weight. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/35 "2012-08-22T19:28:55Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > So, I don’t think it is the build of the dog’s breed that people are reacting to. But that breed’s ribs and such are supposed to show in a perfectly healthy dog. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/36 "2012-08-22T19:51:19Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > I think the part you missed was the tone of voice and outright expressions of sheer scorn on the faces of these people […] :dubious: Can’t imagine how we managed to miss that in a typed messageboard OP that said: > [@](#): > > I can hear and understand the difference in tone of voice and inflection between the terms “Wow he’s thin!” and “Why is he so thin?!” Since we couldn’t hear that the tone of voice was reproving or see that the expressions were scornful, and since your OP didn’t do a very good job of describing them, it was understandable that a lot of us weren’t quite sure what it was about the mere question “Why is he so thin?!” that got you so pissed off. Now that you’ve explained it, I’m happy to heartily concur that nosy strangers should not be jumping to the conclusion that your naturally thin dog must be suffering from neglect. Or if they **are** jumping to that conclusion, they should conceal their thoughts about it while discussing your dog with you. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/37 "2012-08-22T20:30:14Z")
Sorry, I actually didn’t get it from that movie. But I have heard it or read it before. I should have been more clear, sorry. I thought the “?!” would do the trick. And he may be thin. Maybe a bit underweight, but within the weight range for the breed. He is also a bit small for a male of the breed. He was an oops breeding. And the food is right there, all day long, until he eats it, and then I refill it. I can’t force feed him. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/38 "2012-08-22T20:37:12Z")
I believe the correct answer to the thread question is “Because the police asked me to stop letting him rip out the throats of annoying busybodies.” ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/39 "2012-08-22T22:01:20Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > But that breed’s ribs and such are supposed to show in a perfectly healthy dog. Here is the OPs original link to the Wikipedia page on the dog’s breed: [Pharaoh Hound - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaoh_Hound) Look at the picture provided. Would you describe that dog as having it’s ribs, spine and hip bones showing? I personally would not. If I were to look at that dog, I would not think that it was unhealthy. Unless the OP posts a picture of the actual dog in question, I can only go on the OPs statement that the dog’s ribs, hips and spine are prominent. That is a sign of emaciation or some illness. I’m NOT saying the OP starved the dog, but the general public doesn’t know who starved the dog and so they react to what they perceive as a starved dog. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232/40 "2012-08-22T22:04:32Z")
The pictures in your link about the breed don’t show particularly lean dogs. No ribs showing at all. No hipbones, even. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-dog-so-thin-fuck-you-thats-why/632232.md?page=3)