Body Weight

Last week I received a really great question:

“What is the most important thing a dog owner can do to ensure their dog stays happy and healthy?”

We all want our dogs to feel good and live a long and happy life – so I wanted to share my answer to that student with all of you!

“Apart from ensuring they have regular veterinary care – the most important contribution you can make to your dog’s physical wellbeing is to keep them at a healthy weight!”

Dogs being too heavy is a common and wide-spread problem: In North America, more than half of all dogs are overweight or obese!

And dog obesity comes with many issues … such as an increased risk for arthritis, kidney disease, heart failure and even cancer.

I understand very well how quickly it can happen that dogs put on a few too many pounds.

Two of my own dogs are big “foodies”. If I would let Shine and Fusion have as many cookies as they’d like … oh boy, they would become pretty chunky 😅

Everyday they think they should really receive double the food they do 😉

So – how do you find out if your dog is at a healthy weight, or needs to lose a few pounds?

A good start is to use the Purina Body Conditioning Chart. 

Look at the images and run your hands over your dog’s ribs. Can you feel the ribs? Are they hard to palpate? Or even not palpable at all?

When you view your dog from the side, can you see their tummy tuck? (In long-coated breeds, you will only see this if they are wet)

If you are unsure whether your dog is at a healthy weight, or you need advice on how to slim them down – please reach out to your veterinarian. They will be able to guide you in getting your dog into the best possible shape!

By the way: Even though we use a lot of food rewards in our courses, all of our dogs are slim and trim. Always make sure to account for the training calories when determining your dog’s food intake!

Is your dog at a healthy weight, or are you trying to help them slim down currently? Have you ever done the body conditioning test before?