Your dog is at your mercy when if comes to meal and snack time, and the only discipline being exercised in doggie’s diet is yours. If you have a hard time turning away from those pleading eyes (and what dog owner doesn’t?) perhaps realizing that you are doing your pet much more harm than good with each unnecessary bite will help you. Statistics show that a recent pet population survey in the USA showed that 40 percent of the pets are overweight.

If your dog is overweight then it is eating more calories than necessary. Period! If your dog is overweight and is otherwise healthy then it is eating way too much. Certainly have your pet examined by your Vet to check for heart, thyroid or other metabolic disorders to rule out a possible medical cause. Be honest with your vet about how much or how little exercise your dog gets, and how often, as well as how much you feed, what and when you feed, and how often you treat.

DON’T MAKE EXCUSES

Are you giving your dog rewards for negative behaviors? Things like: He won’t go to bed until he gets his special treat, is something that you have taught him. You might think that it’s cute, but all you’ve done is teach him bad manners. Now he knows that if he makes a fuss, he’ll get a treat.

And the classic excuse for overweight dogs is the one that goes “Buster won’t eat dog food.” Oh really? Then what does Buster eat? You got it, table scraps and whatever it wants. Once again the dog has succeeded in training the owners to give it what IT wants. And it worked, but the dog is paying the price for it physically. Hard not to overeat when you’re getting the “select” goodies isn’t it? Remember this, it is NOT up to the DOG to choose what it eats in your house – it is up to YOU – the owner. And you choose the best high quality nutritious feed on the market or make it at home.

START A DIET PROGRAM

First take a good hard look at the food you are feeding. The FIRST ingredients present in the bag of food should be MEAT or meat products, NOT grains like corn.

Record your dog’s present weight and date and then start reducing his present intake of food by 1/3rd. This includes treats and snacks. Do not give in to any begging or whining. You are doing nothing to harm him and in time he will learn that begging won’t work. After two weeks, weigh in again.

If Buster has lost weight at the end of the two week dog diet, then stick to this schedule. If he hasn’t lost any weight, reduce his intake by another one third and also find out if someone else in the house is treating Buster.

If you’re wondering about low cal diets for dogs, you CAN get them, but many vets don’t like to recommend them as they have very restricted fat levels BUT because the fat is reduced the carbs are increased. Increased carb production produces extra insulin that tells the dog’s body to store the unused calories as fat.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

There are far better ways for you to let your dog experience your love than with too much food. Your pet will almost certainly enjoy spending more time on walks or playing games with you than he or she will when eating alone. There are plenty or nutritious foods which have loads of doggie palate appeal out there, so you should never feel like Buster is missing something by not dining at the family table.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist with a love of writing and dogs. She has a long and personal background with dogs and has studied what works and what doesn’t when teaching them. If you liked this article, check out a couple of her others, like Why Are Some Dogs Afraid Of Thunder? or Is Your Dog At Risk . . . Effects Of Sun & Heat On Dogs.

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Is your pooch pudgy? Should he go on a diet? Many owners don’t really notice that their canine friends are gaining too much weight. Being with them every day, we may not really notice the changes that are taking place.

Veterinary nutritionists generally agree that 25 to 40 percent of pet dogs in the United States are overweight (defined as more than 20 percent heavier than their ideal weight). As with people, the more excess weight a dog has, the higher the health risk. Some of these risks include diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, spinal degradation and difficulty breathing.

How can you determine if your dog has put on too much weight? There are some very basic observations you can make. When standing over your dog do you see an hourglass shape? If so, then he’s probably doing okay. However, if you notice his sides protruding, then its likely that your dog needs to shed some weight.

Run your hand along your dog’s ribs. If you can easily felt then he’s probably not dangerously overweight. However, if you have to press hard to feel his ribs then he needs to slim down.

Its always best to take your dog to your veterinarian before making any significant changes to his diet. Consult with the vet so that you can make sure that your diet plan will still include nutrients the dog needs.

One thing is certain: eliminating high calorie treats and table scraps is an important first step.

Daily exercise such as taking your dog for regular walks and setting aside time for play and exercise will help both you and your dog.

Eliminating high calorie goodies and substituting lower calorie treats isn’t hard to do. A few healthy snacks include apples, carrots, green beans, cottage cheese and broccoli. And yes, in most cases, your dog will eagerly devour these healthier choices. How about preparing your own healthy homemade dog treats? (see below)

Adult dogs, like adult humans, don’t lose weight easily or quickly. A proper low calorie, healthy diet will result in a very gradual weight loss.

For puppies, it is very important that you keep a close eye on your pups food intake. We all know that it’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes. However, in the long term, its one of the wisest things you can do for your pooch.

Veterinary nutritionists generally agree that puppies should be fed only dog food that is formulated specifically for puppies. For the first three months, they should be fed four times a day.Then, for the next three weeks, reduce feedings to three times a day. After six months, reduce feedings to twice a day and then to once daily feeding when he is one year old. At one year of age you should switch to adult dog food and monitor his weight regularly.

Dogs that are at the proper weight are usually happier and more energetic. At times, we may simply fail to pay attention and don’t realize the impact that our decisions about what we feed out dogs can have on their overall health and longevity.

Jim Navary has been a freelance writer and researcher for over thirty years covering a wide range of topics. He has also been fascinated with dogs for longer than he’d care to remember. Check out his DogBurg web site for canine friends at http://www.dogburg.com. Once there, sign up for his newsletter for dog lovers and receive the free ebook, “Pamper Your Dog: 130 Recipes for Your Canine Friend.”

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Is your dog too fat? Does he need to go on a diet? Many owners are blissfully unaware that their dog has gained too much weight. Since we see them every day, we may not really notice that they need to shed a few pounds.

Experts estimate that 25 to 40 percent of dogs in North America are overweight (more than 20 percent heavier than their ideal weight). The more excess weight a dog carries, the higher the risk to his health. Some of these dangers include high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart and liver ailments, spinal problems and breathing difficulties.

How can you tell if your dog is overweight? There are some very basic observations you can make. When standing over your dog do you see an hourglass shape? If so, then he probably doesn’t have a weight problem. However, if you see his sides protruding, then its likely that your dog needs to lose some weight.

When petting your dog, run your hand along your dog’s ribs. If they can be easily felt then he’s probably not overweight. However, if you have to press hard to feel the ribs then your dog needs a lifestyle change.

Its a good idea to take your dog to your veterinarian before making any major changes to his diet. Consult with the vet for additional tips and to ensure that your diet plan will still include essential nutrients the dog needs.

One thing is certain: no matter how much he might beg, you should stop giving him high calorie treats and table scraps.

Taking your dog for daily walks and providing regular play and exercise will help both you and your dog.

Eliminating high calorie goodies and substituting lower calorie treats isn’t hard to do. A few healthy snacks include apples, carrots, green beans, cottage cheese and broccoli. And yes, in most cases, your dog will eagerly devour these healthier choices. How about preparing your own healthy homemade dog treats? (see below)

Adult dogs, like adult humans, don’t lose weight easily or quickly. When done properly, the weight loss will be gradual.

When it comes to puppies, it is very important that you monitor your pups food intake. Undeniably, it’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes, but, over the long haul, its one of the best things you can do for your pup.

Veterinary nutritionists generally agree that puppies should be fed only dog food that is formulated specifically for puppies. For the first three months, they should be fed four times a day.Then, for the next three weeks, reduce feedings to three times a day. After six months, reduce feedings to twice a day and then to once daily feeding when he is one year old. At one year of age you should switch to adult dog food and monitor his weight regularly.

Dogs who are at the proper weight are happier and more energetic. Sometimes we simply fail to pay attention or don’t realize how much impact that our decisions about what we feed out dogs has on their overall health and longevity.

Jim Navary has been a freelance writer and researcher for over thirty years covering a wide range of topics. He has also been enamored with dogs for longer than he’d care to remember. Check out his DogBurg web site for canine friends at http://www.dogburg.com. Once there, why not sign up for his newsletter for dog lovers and receive the free ebook, “Pamper Your Dog: 130 Recipes for Your Canine Friend.”

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Technorati Tags: dog care, dog dieting, dog diets, dog lovers, dog nutrition, dog weight loss, Dogs, fat dogs, overweight dogs