I recently met a woman concerned about her adult Bijon Frise’s weight. We discussed the food brand she was using and the amount of exercise the pooch gets. She is feeding a high quality food and providing the dog with regular exercise. We continue to talk and she revealed that she throws some cheese on the dog’s breakfast and some chicken on top of her dinner.

She also gives many fatty treats whenever she leaves the house and shares her every meal with her dog. She told me she feels guilty if she doesn’t provide her dog with all the tidbits that make her tail wag. I suggest cutting out the extras - especially the cheese and possibly a grain free diet which would might help in a way similar to the Atkins diet. Toward the end of our conversation it was clear she didn’t want to change her dog’s diet or stop including extra treats. She just feels to guilty to stop.

Unfortunately, this is all too common. Overeating in dogs comes from feeding our dogs poor quality processed foods, feeding them large amounts of food, including fatty extras in their diet and feeding Fido out of guilt.

Our dogs learn all to quickly how to train us to give them any food that crosses the path of their sensitive noses. Food does not make up for a lack of attention. Any owner who cannot resist the allure of their dogs pleading gaze is contributing to their pet’s obesity and contributing to shortening Fluffy’s life.

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