My dog is overweight. What sort of exercise would you recommend?

Question

She's very lazy when it comes to playing fetch. She loves to run around at night, but during the day she's very slow and doesn't do much.

We live right next to a field, so she gets walked very often. She is much more active at night, because she can smell foxes and she likes to chase the torch when it's dark. She hasn't been out much recently, because of the fire works, so that hasn't helped.

We've NEVER given her chocolate, but she does get lefteovers. Is gravy very unhealthy for a dog?

She's a border colley-cross. We're not sure what she's mixed with. Even the vets aren't sure, so she's always looked a funny shape. Even so, I'd like her to be a funny thin shape, rather than a funny fat shape!

Answer 1

Long walks are good to calm down a hyper dog. If your dog is extremely over weight start out slow and let her work up to it . Walks will tire her out and give her beneficial exercise.

Answer 2

Depending on the type and size of your dog, you should look at what you are feeding her. You should give less than the daily recommendations on the bag for 4-5 weeks and consider buying a top quality dog food that is not full of processed empty calories. A 20 minute walk everyday is generally recommended for all dogs. Once or twice a week, a good 30-40 minute walk, run, or visit to the park. More exercise and less food and your dog should begin to lose weight. Overweight dogs are susceptible to all kinds of health problems, including torn ligaments from the added stress on the joints. Health problems means more expensive visits to the vet and shorter life span so you should definitely get out and walk you dog, right now, go!!!!

Answer 3

Exercise at night is just as good as the day time. So I'd try to get her to run around and play as much as possible as often as possible. Talk walks everyday, even just for 15 minutes. It will help her build up energy and eventually, hopefully, she'll want to play and walk for longer.

Have you tried switching to a healthy weight formula food?

We have a pug that loves to take walks and eats only healthy weight food (we even have a prescription for it) but he is still very overweight no matter what we do. And we have a Ches Bay Ret / Aussie Sheppard that eats the same food, gets the same exercise and he stays at or just below the recommended weight.

Every dog is different. Have you talked to your vet? S/he might have some suggestions that are particular to your breed.

Answer 4

She may not like running around in the heat. Try taking her for walks in the evening (4:00-6:00) or early in the morning (6:00-8:00).
Try taking her some place new, so she has more fun. You could also get her a new toy, filled with healthy treats.
What food are you giving her? Check the ingredients to see if there is anything fattening in there.
Good luck!

Answer 5

The vet put my dog on K9 WD by science diet. The food wasn't very tastey but he had a bad weight problem and he was old so physical activity wasn't our first option. You need to make an effort to go outside and play with your dog and take it for walks even at night if you have to. No table scraps or treats. Also contact the vet to ask for their opinions on feeding and what extra stuff you can do.

Answer 6

gravy contains too much salt for dogs. What do you feed her, and how much? she may not be fat it may be that she is a big boned, however, if you need to cut her food down, but she will be hungry you could supplement some of her food with vegetables, as they will fill her up without putting on weight. Lots of walking in the day when she is less active will also help.

Answer 7

As long as you are walking it and exercising it for the recommended amount for that breed then any obesity is probably caused by feeding it things that are not suitable... sweets? chocolate? potatoes? gravy?

Decide where you are going wrong.

Either stop feeding it crap OR give it the exercise it requires.

Some dogs need walking miles per day and really working...

Check out some care guides for whatever breed you have or what ever breed it most resembles.

Answer 8

i would suggest switching to weight loss food, or just a different brand.
and not leaving her food out all day
like feed her twice a day at a specific time, and feed it the same amount each time

i have a lab, and hes only about 5 months, so in the morning at about 6 am i feed him 2 cups then at night at about 5 i feed him 2.5 cups.
before i go to bed i give him a couple treats too.

Answer 9

Simple...

1. Feed less.
2. Walk and exercise (running about).

Do it (increasing exercise, decreasing food intake) gradually.

Check out (Vet or other good source) the recommended food intake for your breed/weight of dog.

One meal a day is usually sufficient for a dog.

Answer 10

Feed it 2 meals a day (breakfast and dinner). I find that my dog gets the most amount of exercise when I play with her, she loves to run (a lot faster than I can run).