Weight loss advice for my chubby dog
I'm absolutely determined to get his weight down, we went for a jog today, I bought him plain treats (no carob  ), and cut back on the people food. I'm open to all suggestions!! |
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| Bentley's favorite food in the whole wide world is carrots!
That's all I've got for now, LOL. |
I have friends who swear by green beans.They add them in the dish with the dog food. Most dogs like them and they don't add calories. They help hide the fact that they are getting less food. They still get to eat and feel full. 
Also, use part of the daily ration of dog food as treats. When Tazz's breeder was getting her min pins ready to show in obedience, she used the food as treats. When she was REALLY training alot, they got all their food as treats! Also, to help see how much food/treats add up try this. Put the amount of treats you like to feed in a big measuring cup. Then add dog food to bring it up to the amount you are feeding. Take the treats out, and whatever dog food is left, that's how much you need to be feeding! Of course, just like us people, exercise is great! |
| What about just giving him dog food for treats? That's what we do and no human food unless it's fruits and veggies. |
| Walter likes carrots sometimes, so I think I'll just keep trying with those. And green beans is a great suggestion, the chubby dog I dogsit for sometimes eats them and I think he likes em!
I wish I could give him his food for treats, but he wont take them. I think he's already spoiled from getting really special treats. I have to give them to him though because they are the only way to deter him from going crazy on me when I leave the house. I will use better treats though, I got him some honey oat treats that are definitely better than the carob! Thanks for the suggestions, keep em comin! |
| My dogs also love ice cubes.
Or, you could try feeding a little less and giving something like cooked boneless, skinless chicken instead of some of the food, for it's treat value. Most dogs like carrots, but not all do. The other thing to keep in mind is that unlike humans, tiny bits of treat are tremendously rewarding for dogs. So a tiny crumb of something terrific is enough reward instead of the whole thing. Also, if your dog is able, up the walks. Or play ball. It makes a huge difference. |
got sheep wrote: I have friends who swear by green beans.They add them in the dish with the dog food. Most dogs like them and they don't add calories. They help hide the fact that they are getting less food. They still get to eat and feel full.
Green beans worked for Chummie. She thinks they are a special treat. She is very food oriented and she dropped 20 pounds just by substituting canned green beans for some of her kibble. Reduce kiibble and add stingbeans slowly. I used a ratio of 1/3 can stringbeans to 1 cup kibble. I would generally only add stringbeans to one meal per day because too much fiber can disrupt the digestive system. She is now at 65 pounds (from 90) and she gets 2 cups kibble per day to maintain her weight. |
| Also - green beans are FANTASTIC any way, but if you're really watching diet get the unsalted kind. The taste it still great. Apples (without seeds) are great for your dog, too! |
| Add me to green bean diet. Glacier lost 60 lbs on green beans. She'd get 1/2 can and 1/2 to 3/4 cup kibble per meal, twice a day. She's still getting that, but a few more cookies per day. I've notice her weight creeping back up, so she needs to get less/smaller treat.
One thought for treats is Cheerios. Great training treat too. Longer walks, less or smaller treats, instituting veggies in her diet (try puree first) starting with a teaspoon at a time. Finally, check her thyroid!!! Many sheepies seem to need a boost there. Anyone have Dr. Dobson's address handy??? I do somewhere. There are two types blood tests, most vets only do the one......which often come up with showing no need for extra thyroid. It's the second test that is so important for our guys. Dr. Dobson is a specialist on thyroiod problems especially for sheepdogs. |
| Dr. W. Jean Dodds:
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-ang ... ctions.htm Your vet will have to draw and prep the blood. Some vets find this an affront to them, others are always willing to learn more and don't mind you sending the blood elsewhere. |
| I always thought Dodds was at Tufts. I guess I was confusing Dodds with Dodman. |
| thanks everyone!! we start the greenbean diet today, so ill let you all know how it goes.
The vet said if he is still overweight next year then we should check his thyroid, but since he is young and the weight isn't that bad that it could wait. |
| We hardly ever give ever give barney people food, but when we do, he LOVES carrots and he loves bananas and he loves ice cubes. He also loves dropped tortilla chips, but I don't think that would help walter's weight issues! |
| Green beans are the bomb. My two think they are getting and extra special treat. I put the water from the can with it too and they eat EVERY drop.
Also turkey hot dog pieces. And pieces of plain rice cake. Not to mention lots of different types of veggies. |
| How's Walty doing with his weight loss and fitness plan? |
| Hi,
Like Bentley, Merlin, Panda, Blue and of course the Bunny get a carrot a day. They race to the kitchen and thinking I'm handing out the worlds best treats and then go to their corners to munch happily away. If Lil Walty is not keen on them at first, (helps having 3 dogs as they always think whatever the other one has must be good) I'd smother the carrot in a bit of gravy and then eventually not use it at all. Good luck with the weight plan! Marianne and the boys |
| After I saw this original post I started giving more carrots. I
have always given some special things occasionally like melon and cucumber but the carrots weren't really a big favorite. Zeke didn't like them at all. He just rolled them around the floor and then a day later I'd find them all limp and wrinkly. Then Zeke watched Tucker vacuuming the pieces of carrot off the floor and now he eats his like it is candy! You gotta love the doggy influence at work! Now I substitute carrots for about half the treats they normally would have gotten. I have to say Tucker does seem a bit more spry, but then we are walking a whole lot more too. Shellie |
Murphy thinks the green beans are the ultimate treat  He even gets excited when he sees the can. |
| I started shoving apple and carrot pieces into Laika's kong last night, she had a tartar build up on her teeth; at 9 months. I think it might be the peanut butter. I cannot think what else it could be. Anyone see that build up on teeth and not even one years old! |
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