What can I do to get this weight off my dog???

Question

My dog is a lab, and she is a little over weight. I take her for walks almost weekly now, but every time it looks like she's loosing weight, she gets into the garbage, or eats some large amount of human food. Don't get me wrong, we try to keep this stuff away from her, like when we go somewhere and leave her at home we put the garbage away, and make sure evey piece of food is out of sight. But some times she gets in the garbage outside, or finds some way to get into food, and yes, she is already eating diet dog food. What can I do to help her relize that she has to start being good???

Answer 1

Try adding a handful of raw greenbeans to her dinner. The greenbeans give them a full feeling longer. As for the outside garbage you might have to move it another location out of her reach. Also try taking her for more than a once a week walk. Boredom is the biggest reason people and pets overeat.

Answer 2

First of all a weekly walk is not nearly enough exercise for a labrador retriever. Labs tend to be overeaters and to get heavy when they are not running regularly (daily) I do not mean walking. Is there a place you can take her where she can swim? That is good exercise, and labs love it. Then there is the fact that labs like to run after tennis balls, sticks, whatever you throw for them. That way she can exercise and you don't have to. Keep her going every day until she is quite tired. Chances are she will need a higher protein dog food if she is doing a lot more exercise. She should not be allowed any people food except meat and bones, no potatoes, no cereals, no breads, no cheese. A vegetable is okay as long as it is cooked and she will eat it. Remember, in the wild dogs eat nothing but meat and bones, none of the fillers that are put in all dog foods, even lower calorie kinds. You can actually get meat from pet stores that may be eaten raw without any problems. (Don't give your dog raw meat you buy at the supermarket; it needs to be cooked because it may contain salmonella or other such things that need to be cooked out.) I guarantee, if she gets more real meat and less fillers (cereals, grains, etc.) she will be much more satisfied and will lose weight too. As for the garbage, it won't seem so exciting once she is eating real meat and chewing nice juicy bones, but try a can with a tighter fitting lid. Remember, too, that a lab is supposed to have a heavy chest. Her figure should be heavy in the chest only though.

Answer 3

Hi :) The first thing to do is to cut back on treats and snacks. These are generally high in calories and may contribute to weight gain. The second step can be to feed less of the animal's regular pet food. This usually means measuring the amount of food that's put into the pet's dish to prevent the serving size from increasing over time. Thirdly, owners can increase a pet's exercise with additional walks or playtime each day. This helps the pet owner as well as the pet, and has the additional benefit of increasing the amount of time the pet and owner spend together. Finally, a pet owner could consider switching to a low-calorie food. These products are designed to allow an owner to serve a nice-size portion while still reducing the calories the animal eats. It is always a good idea to consult with a veterinarian before putting a pet on a weight-loss program. The veterinarian can help tailor a weight-loss program for an individual pet and can track progress and help troubleshoot along the way. Good luck with taking the weight off your dog. Hope I helped, Sadie :)

Answer 4

Make sure you have a good brand dog food (Purina, Science Diet, Eukanuba, IAMS) and get the light/diet formula. Then go to the back of the bag, there will be a chart with weight and food amount ranges. Feed her for what she SHOULD weigh and feed her the lower end of the amount. Instead of giving dog treats, try fruits and veggies (green beans, carrots, broccoli, apples, etc--only no grapes, raisins, or onions-toxic). Those should help with her appetite a little, they are more filling. But if she's getting into the garbage, you just need to find a better place to put it where she can't get it. In a shed, on the other side of the fence, garage, somewhere that is out of her reach. Good luck

Answer 5

You need to take her for walks daily, not weekly. She is not getting enough exercise. Spend at least 20 to 30 minutes every day walking her. P.S. very good for your health too!

Don't let her near human food. Get a garbage can with a lid that doesn't open easily, put the can on a table or chair to put it up high, whatever.

I think you need to take more of the responsibility. When you get human food out, stay with it, don't let her near it. If you must leave, put it in the microwave (off) or refrigerator. Don't store food in low cabinets, or get those cabinet locks they make for people who have toddlers. Or lock her in a basement or bedroom when you cook.

She does not have enough mentality to figure this out - and food is confusing - since it is what people use to give dogs incentive - she has positive reinforcement all the time. She does not understand that this is not good. It is possible, but not easy to untrain this.

You might also take a behavior class with her - sounds like this might be an issue.

Answer 6

If when you leave she still finds the garbage and food, you are not doing a very good job of keeping it out of her way.
If after keeping her from finding something to eat you have to feed a little less. Don't expect to get the weight off really quick, it takes time. I have a chubby big Beagle and was able to get him to drop about 8 pounds in the last year, the vet. was pleased. He still has to get rid of some more. If you give her treats, change to giving her baby carrots.
Lots of luck.

Answer 7

You can't get her to realize it, she's a dog. Just keep it away from her as best as you possibly can.

And you can't take her for walks weekly and expect her to lose weight, it has to be DAILY and it should be for a few miles.

Answer 8

Sounds like you need a fullproof method to keep the food away. Is there a room that she stays in overnght that has no food access in it? If you have caught her in the act, have you disciplined the dog appropriately to show consequence? Are you giving her long enough walks? if they have short walks and not daily, they can get bored and start scavengering your house. Good luck.

Answer 9

you walk her WEEKLY??? how about at least twice a day every day. this is not a bad dog problem it is a bad owner problem.

keep the garbage out of her reach.

Answer 10

Like NOBODY said ^^^^