Okay, so it's obvious your dog's weight does matter. Now here are some things you can do to either help your dog loose weight, or maintain a nice trim figure.
Don't Free Feed
Having your dog's food out all the time is like having a bag of potato chips by your computer desk at work. It encourages grazing. This is great for cattle and other livestock but bad for humans and dogs! If your dog is over 6 months old, feed two meals a day: once in the morning and once at night. There are a ton of other reasons why set meals are a great thing, but we'll just mention the weight aspect for now.
Measure
Measure your dog's food. Just because they look hungry or they inhaled their meal doesn't necessarily mean they need more food. Look at the recommendations on the back of the bag and talk to your vet. Make a chart and track their progress. Are they losing weight like you want? You may need to consider cutting back their food intake.
Sidenote: PetsMart now has a scale available for you to use. While it's not the most accurate, it's better than trying to guess your dog's weight.
Watch the Treats
Giving a lot of treats? This may be adding on the pounds too. If I'm going to be doing a lot of training with Cheri, I skip her dinner and use her kibbles as reward instead. Or, I give her half a meal and fill in the gaps with dog log or whatever other reward I'm using. Don't just give your dog treats for fun-they need to earn every one.
Feed More for Less
If you're dog still looks and acts hungry after they've eaten, you can always give them more to eat without adding a ton of calories by giving them things like whole carrots, canned green beans (no sodium please!), or a kong with a LITTLE bit of peanut butter in it to keep their brain and tongue occupied.
Consider the Brand of Food
You may be feeding your dog a terrible food. Puppy Chow, Kibbles and Bits, and typically anything that you buy at WalMart (or other grocery-type stores) are usually not good. Remember how nutritionists are always talking about empty calories? Hey, same applies to your dog. Ask your vet for recommendations (if you're in Utah, they'll say Science Diet), and/or do some of your own research online.
Exercise
Can I just say, no duh? Agility, walks, flyball, running, jogging, hiking, fetching, frisbee catching, etc. Pick an activity a day and do it. Exercise isn't just for weight; it will positively affect their behavior as well.
No Table Scraps-Ever
Besides the amount of behavioral problems this creates, it also adds to their waste line. Bacon, other meats, leftovers and anything that you prepare for you is terrible for your dog.
Toughen Up
Yep, that means stop being a pushover. Don't feed excess treats, don't give in to begging, don't let those big brown eyes tell you that they need just one more cup of food.
Get tough and exercise your dog-physically and mentally (go agility go!). You'll see the results with yourself as well. Take responsibility for taking care of your dog.
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