Greedy Girl! Becoming overweight!

[Becky and Wilson]

Hi Everyone,

Paisley has always loved her food and when training will do anything for a bit of kibble!  We only use sausage and cheese etc on her training classes each week, the rest of the time I just take a handful of kibble out on walks!

I've recently cut her down to 2 meals a day and she in the process of changing to her adult food (She's nearly 7 months).  She has a handful of kibble in each meal and finishes it no time!  She also has a raw hide chew everyday and when we go to work we stuff a couple of toys for her but generally only with natural treats like dried fish, chicken necks, liver etc.  No high sugar dog biscuits!

Yesterday my OH caught her eating Wilsons dinner, he's not a good eater and it takes him forever to eat his 3 big scoops of kibble (which is in a raised bowl and I was under the impression she couldn't reach it!)  Well OH said it looked like she'd eaten almost half of what was in his bowl!  Probably 10 times more than her usual dinners!  She looked like a barrel when I saw her! 

I don't understand why she's so hungry!  I think stealing from wilson last night was a first so I also don't know why she's putting so much weight on, I don't think she eats all that much!

Should we cut out all treats for a while?  Also is raw hide fattening because she LOVES to chew on it and we'll need to leave something for her to do while we go to work!

Thanks

Becky and podgy Paisley!

[joanne_v]

Does she need to lose a lot of weight or is she just looking a little bit porky? I dont think rawhide chews are fattening as they aren't technically food but I'm pretty sure one a day is too much. I'd give her nylabones instead and maybe cut down on the other treats or give carrot instead.

[clairep4]

Bella got tubby at around the same age and she wasn't actually eating masses so I think sometimes it's just down to their natural metabolism. Rawhide can be fattening I think, as can tripe sticks and liver, so I'd maybe look for some low-fat natural treats (try www.zooplus.com as they have lots of things like dried lean meat etc).

Also if she's eating Wilson's food then I'd feed them separately so she doesn't have access. Do you free-feed or do you take their bowls up after a few minutes?

[Cob-Web]

Also if she's eating Wilson's food then I'd feed them separately so she doesn't have access.

I agree  Most dogs (particularly gundogs, it seems  ) have not evolved beyond their scavenger ancestry; they will eat until they can eat no more when the opportunity arises 

If her kibble meals are only a handful each, but she is still gaining weight, then you could cut out her meals completely and make her work for ALL her food 

[Cazzie]

I agree  Most dogs (particularly gundogs, it seems  ) have not evolved beyond their scavenger ancestry; they will eat until they can eat no more when the opportunity arises 

Add JRT's to that description 

[Becky and Wilson]

She does enjoy getting her kibble out of her treat ball!  So maybe at least one of her meals can be given this way for a while! 

No none of them have free access to food, I'll make sure she has no access to Wilson's food in the future!  We always wait in the kitchen while they all eat but she managed to pinch wilson's in the split second we were in the other room! 

She's not huge or anything just got a porky belly, so hopefully it will be easy to loose!