08/10/2025
🐾 Happy National Dog Obesity Awareness Day🐶
Today is a great day to celebrate the love we have for our dogs, which means focusing on their health and happiness! We all know our furry friends bring so much joy, and as their guardians, we're always doing the very best we can for them.
Let's be clear: This day is not about body shaming or dog parent shaming. We understand that seeing our dogs be overweight can cause health and physical problems down the road, and sometimes it can feel tricky to manage their weight, especially when we want to train and reward them often! It's a balance we all work to achieve. Me included!
Here are a few gentle suggestions to help keep your pup in top shape while still enjoying training and cuddle time:
Smart Snacking for Training
Use Their Daily Food as Treats! If your dog absolutely loves their daily kibble or food, use a portion of this for your training and rewarding behaviours throughout the day. This way, you're totally aware of exactly what your dog is consuming, and you won't accidentally overfeed them.
Deduct the "High-Value" Treats. If your dog isn't keen on their daily food, or you choose to use higher-value treats for tough training, that's okay! Just be sure to deduct that amount from their daily allowance of food. Think of it as an exchange, not an addition.
The Hands-On Check
The best way to tell if your dog is at a healthy weight is to get a hands-on feel!
Gently but firmly bring your hands down your dog's body. You are looking for a noticeable incline or "tuck" where the hips are (their waist).
You should be able to just feel the last two or three ribs without having to press hard. If you can see the ribs easily, they might be a little underweight; if you can't feel them at all, they may be carrying a few extra pounds.
A healthy dog is a happy dog that can enjoy more long walks and exciting adventures with you! ❤️
What's your favourite healthy, high-value reward for your pup? Share your tips below! 👇
