Is your dog very fussy about what he eats? Or is he so greedy that he steals food from your plate when you’re not looking? Food is such a staple of life that when we offer a meal to our dogs and they turn up their noses and refuse to eat, we can be left feeling guilty and frustrated, almost as if we’ve let them down in some way.

On the other hand, it can be very annoying if you are just about to sit down to lunch and turn your back for a moment, only to return and discover that your dog has helped himself! However, whatever the problem, there is always a solution.

FUSSY EATER

Owners who resort to spoon-feeding fussy eaters or constantly tempting them with different flavors and varieties of food, will actually be making the problem even worse.

To encourage your dog to eat, try putting down a daily allowance of balanced, complete food in a clean bowl. If he doesn’t finish it, don’t offer him anything else (particularly not snacks and treats), and just before you go to bed at night dispose of any food left in the bowl. Repeat this the following day and most behaviorists predict that you will see an improvement within a few days. Remember, you have his best interests at heart, so don’t worry that you are being mean.

Bear in mind that a puppy will have growth spurts and his appetite will vary from time to time, so try not to worry too much.

CANINE THIEF

Some dogs are very tempted by the smell of food and the best way to stop them thieving is to store all food away whenever they are unsupervised.

As dogs grow bigger, some get into the habbit of standing on their back legs and investigating worktops in the kitchen – sometimes referred to as ‘counter surfing’. Trying to interrupt this behavior with loud voices or squirting from a water pistol can traumatize an anxious dog and may not be the best solution. Instead, you could try sticking a strip of adhesive parcel tape or fly paper along the edge of the worktop: the dog will put his paws on this and associate the behavior with something that feels unpleasant. You will have to change the sticky tape or paper on a daily basis, but within a couple of weeks he should lose interest in this behavior.

If your dog persists in trying to steal food, put him another in another room while you are eating or preparing food. Seek the advice of your vet, or ask for a referral to a professional animal behavior consultant for management tips.

If your dog is overweight he could suffer from serious health problems including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and respiratory problems. He may also be lethargic, sleep more and ultimately have a shorter lifespan.

RESEARCH

Studies show that more dogs than ever are classed as overweight. Some of this is attributed to their owners feeding too much of the wrong kind of food; in addition, an increase in demands on owners’ time makes it more difficult for them to exercise their dogs adequately. A combination of exercise and altered eating habits (not one or other on its own) is the most effective way to achieve and maintain weight loss.

If you take your dog for an annual check-up, his weight will be assessed and your vet can tell you if he is piling on the pounds. This is definitely not a happy situation, but thankfully it can be remedied.

Doggy Diet Tips

Many veterinary surgeries run weight-management clinics for pets, but if you prefer to work alone there are few dieting guidelines you should try to follow:

1. Avoid giving food treats as rewards, as these can soon build up extra calories. Use verbal praise, toys and play instead.
2. Give him more exercise. Relying on food deprivation will make your dog very unhappy.
3. Look for food that is high in fibre and low in fat. Your vet can prescribe canine diet food if necessary.
4. Be realistic about how much weight you expect your dog to lose. As with humans, a slow, steady weight loss is better than a rapid one.
5. Don’t try fad dog diets. They are nutritionally unbalanced and will deprive your pet of the essential vitamins and minerals he needs for optimal health.
6. Don’t forget that your dog may slow down and exercise less as he grows older, so you will need to make adjustments to his calorie intake.

Is He Fat?

A healthy canine body should look as if it is in proportion. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs and not see visible folds of fat. If he is too fat, you will not be able to see his waist and his tail will look and feel thick.

It Takes Two

Chances are that if your dog is overweight from overeating and lack of exercise, you will be too. Why not join him in a weight-loss programme by slimming together and increasing your exercise regime so that you both adopt healthier lifestyles and become fitter and happier?

Party Time

During certain holiday periods, such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, we can all become prone to over-indulgence. However, make sure everyone in your family understands and sticks to your dog’s diet or all the hard work can quickly be undone. If you can’t resist giving him treats, provide some low-calorie ones such as carrot sticks (surprisingly, lots of dogs love these) or rawhide chews.