Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

Okay, my dog is fat.

My kids feed him. I changed the scoop so there is less chance of overfeeding. We walk him in the winter but not as much as the summer (2-3 times a day in summer).

He likes hard boiled eggs, chicken, cooked carrots and cooked green beans), and bananas.

Suggestions on how to get him to drop weight?
Obviously more running on the walks. He's too big (91 lbs) for walking to do much, IMO. He needs sprinting.)
Feed him half his amount a few meals a week?
Give him a "diet" meal from the foods he likes 1-3 times a week? (He eats 2X a day.)
Anything else?

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

I would walk him on a bike or rollerblades.

But most of weight loss is diet. I wouldn't worry about how soon he drops it- the point would be heading in the right direction.

So you feed him only those things or also dog food? More vegetables is good for dropping weight (if it replaces other things). I'd try feeding him either less or else diet dog food (if you're feeding him dog food) but making sure there isn't a lot of crud in the diet dog food. I'd probably drop the bananas.

Can you get him to drink before he eats? Drinking a glass of water before meals helps people eat less- I see no reason it wouldn't work for dogs.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

Oh, goodness, yes, he eats an expensive corn-free dog food. He doesn't itch on it. 3 cups per day. Other stuff is just human food be happens to like.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

If his normal food intake would be 3 cups a day of the kibble, then he has no need for the extras you listed.

If you are going to feed him the 'extra' then skip 1 of the cups of kibble for that day.

My daughter's service dog was 110 and he is on a diet, we have cut out lots of extra foods that were snacks. He gets 1 cup of kibble 4x a day. We cut it back to 3/4 cup. If he does some good work, we reward him with a baby carrot or we allow him about 1 inch of a banana as the treat. He loves strawberries, so if we have some of those in the house, he gets 1 as a reward. (We cut out the GF/Corn Free biscuits for now.) We need him back to 100 pounds so he doesn't cost double for his heart worm medication.

We also take some of his kibble and use it for a treat and reduce his meal time by that amount.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

You mentioned less walks in the summer. Depending on his breed is there a place you could take him swimming? If not could you get him a backpack to carry around? The added weight would make each walk burn more calories.
I have always fed organic raw grass fed meat (whole processed rabbits) to my dogs so I'm not sure what the kibble amounts should be. But I agree with the previous poster that if they should eat three cups and are getting human food cut the three down too two. Using portions of food for rewards is great. With our herding dogs and hounds I would have a small cooler pouch with frozen chunks the size of an ice cube for training treats till they learned to be sensible and only run when working.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

I think he would kill a cyclist. His only flaw (other than shedding, which he can't help) is lease pulling. Sometimes. Like he'll walk nicely for an entire week with no effort and then pull like crazy on the next walk (same person walking). Or he'll be walking along nicely and then see a rabbit and take off. I need my husband to take him back to obedience school, I guess. He was 4 when he got him and the lease pulling came with him. I spent a lot of time working on it, but I'm not expert. Somebody just told me a bit of vinegar and water in a water bottle would train him out of that. I'm skeptical.

Might try the rollerblades though. Good idea. (for my husband)

.............

He does NOT eat a lot of human food. But we've had him for two years, so I know what he likes. He only gets it after ear cleaning (he had ear mites and they take 6 weeks to get rid of).


......

I've appreciated the hints.

We just saw the vet. She said not to let him lose weight too quickly, but I failed to ask her what that means. I'd like to give him 10 weeks (until my due date) :) to be back to his healthy weight. I just don't want to be worrying about it when I have a newborn. He could probably get away with just dropping 15 lbs and be okay. 20 better. but 15 okay.

I can try the weights too. He does walk a ton more in the summer. (started in March this year, really...such lovely spring weather!)

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

First, what breed (or mix of breeds) is he?

I once adopted a 6 year old yellow Lab from a family. When I asked how much she was fed, the owner said "my husband just fills their (2 dogs) bowls". :rolleyes I got her and measured her food, fed I think 1.5 cups twice a day and she lost 10#. She was 80# when I first got her.

I feed my 38# Walker Hound 3/4 cup twice a day.

I think you said he gets 3 cups total a day. Is this actual measuring cups or just a plastic cup you use?

I'd say feed him 1.5 cup twice a day and be aware of not too much other treats.

Good for you for noticing the issue and doing something about it! :D

Most dogs that are overweight are because their owners do not measure/regulate their food.

---------- Post added at 02:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:31 AM ----------

Forgot to add that a front hook harness is GREAT for helping to stop pulling! Still have to work with the dog but it is a huge help. I have an Easy Walk Harness. It's hard to get a correct fit though, I tried 3 sized and gave up and just got the one that fit the best.

A friend just told me the Easy Walk was one of the first front hook harnesses and now there are better fitting ones. Balance Harness being one of them.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

one thing you can do is one tbs of coconut oil over his dry food daily. He will probably freak out and not know what to do, but it is sweet and it'll cater to the sweet tooth.

Cut out the extras. If you do canned food, stick with that, about a cup a day and stick with 2 of the dry food feedings. Get an anti-bloat feeder, or make your own. Switching things up from time to time by rolling out his food to him in a kong also helps. (Ex: Wet food Kong today, Dry food Kong with coconut oil on the outside to keep it from rolling out -- he'll sit and play with it until he has all the food out)

If he doesn't have a water fountain, you can add a couple dashes of ACV to his water. If he does, give him a bowl with ACV a couple times a week

More Outside time. He needs to also be eating grass for his tummy.

I think 10 weeks is kind of fast to drop a lot of weight. Think like a human, how much weight is safe to drop in that time without having a yoyo effect?

Kids will need talking to as well as anyone else in the house as to what he can have, when and how.

IF he is not food aggressive, the kids could make him work for kibble. (mine do "treats" of kibble and make our dog do her run through of tricks) This would also slow down meal time and give him something to do.

How is he doing afa listening to ya'll? Pushy? Might need to also re-assert your alpha-mom position.


DH was feeding mine all kinds of things she should not have and she had a health crisis that scared me so badly. I talked with our breeder and she recommended all of the above.

Slowly, we're slimming down since the crisis 3-ish weeks ago.

Due to how sick I was, she got away with murder, so I've been re-asserting my space and when she can come and where she belongs. Anxiety was making her more picky about food, as well as binging. :/ I do the same thing so... :/

We're working on the getting out more, but she is following me all around the house and that helps lots too. I hadn't been very mobile and her and me in the bed sleeping 8 hours a day and 5 hours at night really messed with both of our health.

AFA no pull leashes, I've heard good things about every single one there are out there, but it seems different dogs need different types, so it may be worth asking at your local pet stores what they have and taking him in to try them and see what works best.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

Dogs need a lot of exercise. I'd focus on increasing exercise and making sure his kibble is properly rationed. I don't like the weight loss dog foods unless all else fails. They're high in fiber and dogs don't digest fiber very well. While dogs do scavenge they are still primarily carnivores. For treats I buy the chicken jerky for dogs with only 2 ingredients-- chicken and glycerin. I break it into small pieces so a bag lasts awhile. That and hard boiled eggs are their treats.

For leash pulling, we have a prong collar. It gets their attention so they learn not to pull. My dog happily puts his on because he knows it means a long walk past the horses (the only time we use it).

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

I appreciate all the advice!

I think I already said he was walked a ton last winter. My husband took him running most nights. But it made me super mad b/c he was gone an hour and didn't help with bedtime and didn't spend time with me. So this winter, I made the dog a lower priority. Kids and I tried to walk him during the day. We have plenty of nice winter weather. It was only about a month during my 1st tri where he was truly neglected by me and the kids. And I am sure my hubby walked him then.

He typically gets 3 miles a day in the 6 months a year of nice weather.

The biggest issue was overfeeding b/c our scoop was easy to fill and then have lots on top of the "full." It says 3 cups a day for elderly/lazy dogs. So just making sure that is all he gets does seem like diet enough.

2 lbs a week is about the most humans should drop; that's where I got it from. :think He does he grass.

---------- Post added at 03:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:53 PM ----------

He's a huge Golden. Vet recommend 70-75 lbs as perfect for him.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

Will he fetch? A Chuck-It and a tennis ball are great exercise for dogs. I have one dog who won't chase a ball, though, she just watches it. :lol. My other dog eats 4 cups of kibble a day and is underweight at 75-80 lbs. I bet he covers 5-10 miles a day. He just loves to run and fetch. He won't eat any more, though. Just like with people you'll have to figure our the best approach for your dog.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

No fetching. :( We've tried and tried. He was 4 when he got him. He was a chicken dog. Out with the coop and the chickens. :) He wasn't a pet. But he's a great, lazy dog now. He walks and runs with us (and does not leash pull every time!) and then comes home and sleeps. Lazy!

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

I have one like that. :yes

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

Woohoo! So great that your husband was taking him running!

My female Golden was 70#. I cannot remember how much I fed her, but I know for sure 3 cups would have been max.

I'd say precisely measure his food for 2-4 weeks at 3 cups a day. Then see how he looks and possibly cut back to 2.5 cups a a day. From what you said it sounds like he was getting well over 3 cups a day.

Re: Diet for dogs? 2 lbs a week?
 

We just saw the vet. She said not to let him lose weight too quickly, but I failed to ask her what that means. I'd like to give him 10 weeks (until my due date) :) to be back to his healthy weight. I just don't want to be worrying about it when I have a newborn. He could probably get away with just dropping 15 lbs and be okay. 20 better. but 15 okay.
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I'd be concerned about loosing 15 lbs in 10 weeks. That seems very fast to me. If he looses 3-5 lbs a month that would be healthier imo based on what our vet told us. You might want to give the vet another call just to clarify how much is a good weight for your dog to loose at what pace. If you get him (and the family) into a healthier routine before baby arrives, it shouldn't be too hard to continue in it even when there is a new baby in the family.

Putting some of the kibble in a kong is a great idea. Tobi loves his kong. We also carry some of his kibble when we walk Tobi to encourage him not to pull on the leash. We just hold a hand full of kibble at our side and give him a piece every few steps. It still takes time and practice but it is helping us.