Sunday 8 June 2014

Share It Sunday, Slimdoggy!

Nominated by last week's guest blogger Life With Dogs & Cats!

5 Tips to Help Keep Your Dog Fit and Healthy

working out with dogs
Last week we discussed the high cost of having an overweight dog.  This week we provide 5 tips to help keep your dog fit and healthy.  You will notice that most of these have to do with food and feeding.  That’s because the amount and quality of food you serve your dog is the single biggest factor on their weight!  As we often say in the human fitness world, “you can’t out exercise a poor diet!

1. Provide proper exercise for your dog.  Dogs need exercise!  They thrive on it.  Most dogs need 30 minutes or more each day of vigorous exercise depending on their age and medical history.  They will feel and look better.  So will you if you join them! Putting your dog out in the back yard does not count either.   And don’t let excuses get in the way.  Winter weather?  No problem.  Use a dog treadmill, try alternative exercises like core and balance training using balance cushions and wobble boards, or simply bundle up and get outside.

2.  Determine your dog’s daily calorie requirement to achieve or maintain their ideal weight.  Most people have no idea how many calories they should be feeding their dog, given their dog’s age, weight, and activity level.   The SlimDoggy iPhone app was created to supply this information. Or use the soon to be available SlimDoggy website Tracker Tool.  Remember that the more active your dog is, the more you can feed them.  If you exercise your dog more on the weekends, they can be fed differently than on the weekdays.

Slimdoggy App

3. Measure, measure and measure.   It is crucial to accurately measure how much you feed to make sure you stay within your dogs daily target range.  Use a measuring cup.  If you are a ‘high-tech’ person, or are not at home for long periods of time, there are actually some pretty amazing technologies and devices being created to help with the measurement problem.  PetNet.io is one company that is building an intelligent pet feeder that will help people address the overfeeding issue.  Definitely check them out!

4. Account for treats.  We all love giving or dog treats and table scraps and there is nothing wrong with it.  You simply have to account for those calories and adjust your regular feedings accordingly.
    • Bonus tip: use small treats or break your treats into small pieces.  Your dog’s will get the satisfaction of a treat reward with only a fraction of the calories.
    • Bonus tip 2: use raw veggies as treats if your dog likes them.


5. Learn to read dog food labels.  Your pet’s overall health is greatly impacted by both “how much” and “what” you feed your dog.  Spend some time examining your dog food labels and learn to spot healthy and unhealthy ingredients.   Use your analysis to buy the best food possible given your budget.  For more tips on how to read a food label, check out our food category. Or visit our soon to be published website dog food page where you can search and view dog food calories, ingredients, and more.

    Of course, check with your vet whenever you are considering a marked change in your dog’s exercise routine or diet.

    Follow these 5 tips and your dog will be a “lean, mean, fighting machine” in no time! (With apologies to the late, great John Candy).



Slimdoggy!

Continuing to give something back on my 'Share It Sunday'. We all share and we grow together. Pop over and say hello and make a new friend.

From the author Molly The Wally.


27 comments:

  1. we have managed to keep Baby and Jake at 48 to 50 pounds for their whole adult life by doing all that is mentioned here. i just wish i could get Bob to manage my food so i would be trim like they are. i told him i can keep the dogs but not myself

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  2. A LEAN-MEAN-FIGHTIN' MACHINE! That's what you are Miz Molly! Go get 'em, girl...you slim thang, you!

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  3. I never thought that overweight could be really a problem for us, till we got it written on our rating :o) I learnt so much things about food from Slimdoggy, I can only say: THANK YOU! and thanks to you, Molly, for sharing (specially the quote LOL), have a super sunny sunday!

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  4. That is great advice, but it isn't always easy...but so worth it!

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  5. Thanks for sharing our post Molly. Let's hope lots of folks read it and take our advice! Have a great Sunday.

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  6. We have gotten our weights much more under control the past few years. Good info here!

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  7. What a wonderful informative post. Of course now mom is thinking on an exercise program for me. MOL. Heck my litter box is on the 2nd floor and my food/beverage station on the first ..I do not need any more exercise
    Hugs
    Madi your bfff

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  8. What a great post .....it is something Mom keeps a close watch

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  9. Great advice from Slim doggy...Forrest and Doc have had their weight stable for 11 and 12 years...no easy task when Forrest s a labxstaffy..or Labrastomach as I refer to him..he would eat until he burst if we let him hahaah :) diet exercise and regular vet checks..which is usally where I get my only weigh ins ;) thanks for sharing Molly :) hugs Fozziemum xx

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  10. SlimDoggy always has the best advice. Awesome!

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  11. i am bad about overfeeding for their age and caloric requirements. thanks for the urge to do better.

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  12. It is pretty obvious that ERNIE needs MORE exercise and less food. BOL

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  13. hehehe mummy says I need to be slimmer,xx Speedy

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  14. Those are great reminders. We are lucky that we are both currently our ideal weights!

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  15. Great information, Molly!
    Enjoy your Sunday!
    Stewey

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  16. Yrk, raw veggies ..... I'm not a fan :-)

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  17. Molly thanks for giving SlimDoggy the opportunity to share this info with us. We figure they are all good suggestions for kitties as well. XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  18. We love slimdoggy! Fit pets are happy pets!

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  19. We love our vegies! We're happy to have them as treats. Our favorites are cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes.

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  20. Those are great reminders for everybody to be careful what they give us doggies. It doesn't take too many treats before we get chubby!


    Your pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  21. Dear Molly,

    My person says we do pretty well on the "lean, mean, fighting machine" part! We do major big Walks, except when something is wrong with Ojo like vomiting or bad shoulder. And we still get treats! (Did you know that carrots and broccoli - as long as they're cooked - are super yummy treats??)

    This post is a good reminder because some of our Dog friends are not very lean. I feel so much better when I am lean. I can run and jump and fly like the wind!! I wish all Dogs were lean so they could do that too!

    Licks,
    Cobi

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  22. Thanks for all the tips, and mostly for John Candy

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  23. Great post! We must keep our figures lean and trim for the show ring!

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  24. Love Slim doggy!!! I never miss a post over there!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  25. I had to go to the vet's this past week for my annual check up. They said my body condition was "ideal" and then Dr. Blevins gave me 6 VERY LARGE cookies. I love Dr. Blevins.
    Cammie!

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  26. Slim Doggy is GREAT for all kinds of pawesome tips to keep your pups in trim. :-)

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  27. An excellent post from SlimDoggy!

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