Being a dog trainer isn’t just about helping owners learn how to achieve a well-mannered pup. We also should be able to educate owners on non-behavior topics as well, such as food and weight. This is a pretty serious pet peeve of mine, seeing overweight dogs and their owners being oblivious to the dangers they are subjecting their beloved pet to. Food is NOT love. The recommended serving size on your dog’s food bag is just that, a recommendation. Every dog is going to have different needs when it comes to nutrition and while 3 cups a day might be good for one dog, it’s going to be considerably too much for another. There are also so many options when it comes to what to feed your dog and what you feed your dog counts just as much as the amount you feed your dog. The higher quality dry foods have more valuable nutrients in each piece than a lower quality food and therefore they don’t need as much. There is also so much information out there and accessible, there honestly is no excuse to not know better.
The more weight your dog carries, just like us humans, the more at risk they are for certain illnesses and ailments. Heart disease, breathing issues, diabetes, skin issues, and ACL tears are just a handful of the serious and often expensive health conditions you risk subjecting your dog to.
I’ll step off my soapbox now, but please do your dog a favor and stop overfeeding. He/She will thank you and you may just extend their time with you ❤
Lady & The Leash K9 Training 