New Year’s Resolution: Healthy Ways to Lose Extra Weight

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By Hilarie Erb, AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer

For many, enjoying the holidays includes lots of good things to eat and drink – like cookies, eggnog, and special meals. It’s normal to gain a little weight this time of year with the usual holiday indulgences, even for your pets because when getting a snack for yourself, it’s only fair that the dog gets one, too!

This makes now a good time to mindfully keep better track of the treats and meals you give your dog. You may want to replace some treats with kibble and reduce the size of her meals. You can also start giving green beans, carrots, apples, or frozen berries as safe and healthy treat replacements. Of course, these are good for you too! High-value treats like real meat and cheese are best for training but remember that these should be given in very small, bite-size pieces, even if you have a large dog.

We humans are usually very aware of whether or not we are overweight. But dogs don’t feel peer pressure, and they don’t care about how they look in jeans, so they need us to pay attention for them. Obesity in pets is a big problem, and many owners don’t know how to recognize it. If you are unsure, ask your veterinarian for an honest opinion at the next checkup. You can also read Dog Obesity: Why It’s Important To Manage Your Dog’s Weight for more tips on what a healthy dog should look like.

Most importantly, don’t forget exercise! January may not be when the weather is best in much of the country, but there are ways for you and Rover to get back on track health-wise and take off the extra weight. Unless there is a blizzard going on, most dogs don’t mind the cold, and they really enjoy getting outside. So, bundle up, put a coat on your dog if needed, and get out for a walk. The AKC Fit Dog program even rewards you for this!

When you just can’t get outside, you can get creative indoors. If you have a treadmill that is sitting idle, you can teach your dog how to safely exercise on it – read Use Your Treadmill to Exercise Your Dog to learn how. And then, of course, hop on and take yourself for a walk or run afterwards, as well!

Mental stimulation can also help dogs burn energy. Following are some activities that will keep both your mind and your dog’s on something other than grabbing a snack.

• Indoor Scent Games for Dogs – Dogs love nothing more than a chance to use their noses; it’s very intellectual for them! This article has lots of great ideas you can enjoy indoors with your dog.
• How to Keep Your Dog Entertained Indoors – You may not realize it, but your house is full of things that can be used to create enjoyable activities for your dog.
• The AKC Trick Dog program page has videos that show you how to teach tricks – perfect indoor fun for cold winter days.

By following this guidance you have many ways to make your dog part of your exercise and diet routine. And with a little training and exercise with your dog you both can be healthier and happier.

For more tips and advice on training your dog, join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers: www.akcgooddoghelpline.org.