by Angelina Brown

Created on: February 20, 2009

I see it every day as I walk my dogs around town: dogs, big and small, too fat to do more than waddle out to the sidewalk. I want to knock on their owners' doors and offer them tips on how to trim the fat from their dogs' diets. What would I tell them?

1. FORGET DIET FOOD. Lower calorie foods don't make dogs lose weight. They just don't. Dogs have evolved to thrive on small amounts of calories. Switching them to diet dogs foods doesn't do a thing. And don't worry what brand of food you're feeding your dog. Instead, look for a good nutrition label. Read the ingredients that go into the dog food. Like human foods, the ingredients are listed from greatest amount to least amount. Reject any food that has corn or wheat listed as one of the first five ingredients. You want the first five ingredients to be protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The protein should be a meat: chicken, lambo beef. By products and meal are not meat. They are skin, sinew, and ground bone. They do contain protein and fat but not the quality that your dog needs.

2. NO TREATS. There are a lot of hidden calories in treats, and absolutely no human food. If you must give your dog a treat, peeled baby carrots are a good source of a satisfying crunch without adding a lot of calories to your dog's diet. I know a lot of you are asking, if I can't give my dogs treats, how do I show her I love her? Touch your dog, talk to you dog, teach her a new trick. Dogs LOVE food but they love attention and praise almost as much. I give my dogs massages to show them how much I love them.

3. FEED LESS FOOD. Buy a set of measuring scoops. Follow the feeding instructions on the bag. If it says 4 to 6 cups a day, feed 4 level cups and when it's gone, it's gone. Of course, you can always divide that up and feed in the morning and the evening. If your dog doesn't lose any weight, cut back to 3 cups a day. If your dog loses a little weight and plateaus, feed 2 cups a day. Your dog will beg, I'm not going to lie, but your dog IS NOT starving to death. You just have to ask yourself, what's more important, a healthy dog that's going to live a long, full life, or a momentary satisfaction of a treat? Remember, you're the boss and you're stronger than a pair of liquid brown eyes staring up at you.

4. EXCERSISE YOUR DOG. Your dog evolved from wolves who spend a part of every day traveling their territories. Your dog was made to walk, even the tiny Chihuahuas and Teacup Poodles. If your dog can't walk at a moderate pace for half an hour a day, then he's overweight and needs more exercise. The walk will do you both good. You'll be outside in the fresh air, growing more attuned to one another and sharing an activity that will benefit both of you. If you own a tiny dog, buy a coat and tailor your walks to your dog's abilities, but don't underestimate them. My fourteen-pound Shih Tzu with the four-inch-long legs walks an hour every day and she's still trotting when we get back to the house. Your dog just wants your attention, so don't think that every time he cozies up to you, he wants a snack. He probably does, but he'll settle for a belly rub and a game of tug-of-war, happily.

Fat and sassy isn't the best life for any dog. They're healthier and happier when they're lean and fit. So, remember to read the label of your dog's food to avoid grains (they're not sheep, for pity's sake) and fillers (feathers are not a good source of protein), substitute attention and play for food and remember to exercise your dog every day. You'll be both be happier for it.

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