My sheltie is fat!

It's only been a month but I seem to be fighting an uphill battle here...I didn't really expect to see any results yet, but if anything he's fatter. I got my husband to agree to feed him less, he swears he feeds him even less than I do, but then I catch him giving table scraps, like tonight he fed him the scraps from not one but two pork chops. I told him he doesn't need to be eating that and he said, "but look how happy he is..." He acts like he's starving and scavenges constantly now, two days ago he got a coffee cake off the counter and ate all of it, and he can't even reach the counter :confused2:. On the positive side I have the canned pumpkin and also apple sauce, and I had the idea to portion it into kongs and keep in the freezer for DH to give him if he feels like he needs to give him a treat. We have also been taking extra walks and going to the dog park in the mornings 2 to 4 days a week, so that has to help eventually.
 
I'm sorry to hear that its not going as well as planned. It is hard when not everyone is on the same page. I know, my mom likes to feed my two, as she says they are too skinny and they plead for food all the time - luckly for me, I don't live with her, otherwise, I would have two overweight shelties myself. I hope you find a solution. The walks and the kongs sound like a great idea.
 
I am so sorry you have having problems. It is really hard to refuse those puppy dog eyes - I know. But the difference between the happiness and energy of an overweight dog compared to good weight dog are huge and worth the effort.

Maybe you could have an 'attention' reward program instead. Sheltie are just as happy to get a hug and lots of attention and praise. So maybe your husband can just lean over and give him a hug or a butt rub or scruff up instead.

Besides, I know from experience if you start feeding them from your own food they will expect it all the time and drool while they wait for it. Deska dribbles everywhere and groans and moans as I eat, it is such a pain and pretty revolting. I was also surprised how many surfaces my dogs could scale to get at food. Darn scavengers.
 
It will work, it will just take time. I think someone said that it takes a lot longer for the dog to work off the weight than it took to put it on. My husband is a sap for giving the girls something off of his plate every night. I usually keep an eye on how much he is giving them and cut the canned food that I mix with the kibble back a little bit. I have also threatened him, he can go to the vet when they need their check ups and he can answer to Dr. Romine as to why they are as over weight as they are...... he doesn't like that idea at all! Actually, my girls are doing pretty good with their weight, it's just a threat!!
 
Sorry you're having such a hard time. It takes time I guess, just like with people who are trying to lose weight.

Does he by any chance like carrots? Sadie LOVES them and we give her peeled baby carrots as treats. That would be something that your hubby could give him on a regular basis, and he certainly wouldn't get fat from them.
 
That is a great cartoon, and says it all. Reminds me of poor Blazen, the rescue that SunChaser has right now.
 
What a cute cartoon with a good message.

After reading this thread, I think I may have to raise my hand and plead guilty.

Ariel may be getting too much food. I put her on a 3 meal-a-day plan in order to better predict potty times while I'm trying to housetrain her.

She is 12 weeks and 2 days old. In the morning she gets dry kibble. Ariel doesn't eat much dry, 1/4-1/3. For lunch she gets brown rice, sweet potato, chicken liver, carrots, and a tsp of yogurt with about 1/4 c kibble. Dinner is either turkey, chicken or salmon with brown rice, sweet potato, a couple of slices of hardboiled egg, and peas. Lunch and dinner are about 1 full cup each.

She always cleans her bowl. Is this too much food? When do you stop feeding a puppy 3 meals a day? This girl is addicted to lunch and the word send her into a frenzy! She is growing quite a bit and looks rather gangly at the moment.
 
Had to Work for it!

Think of it this way "blacknblue": The fluffy pup that stole the coffee cake off a counter higher than him/herself had to work hard for it! So at least there was some sort of exercise in it:yes:!!!

Too funny though. They are smart little guys, aren't they!
 
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