Weighty Matters

Gracie weighs 20 pounds.  I knew she had put on a little weight over the winter; don’t we all?  My suspicions were confirmed during a recent trip to PetSmart.  They have a clinic in the back of the store.  Beside the counter is a scale which the staff let me use. 

While it was difficult to get a precise weight, the average was about 20 pounds.  Gracie weighed 16 pounds when she joined our little furry family almost four years ago.  I prefer her weight to be in the 17 to 18 pound range.

Obesity is a problem for everyone in this country.  We all need to keep a close eye on our weight so that we can live long, active lives.  Unfortunately, our pets are only here for a short time.  Don’t you want to spend as many years with them as you can?

I would like for Gracie to lose two pounds.  That may not sound like a lot of weight.  It is 10 percent of her body weight.  Imagine how much weight you would lose if you lost 10 percent!

How will I accomplish this?  For starters, I have reduced the size of the treats I make her.  They are now about one-third of the original size.  I am also reducing her wet food intake.  I suspect the new “grain free” food has some extra fillers that are fattening.  The pounds seem to creep on after she began eating grain-free wet food.

The next step is the hardest:  exercise.  This was not an issue until recently.  The zap from the electric fence has left Gracie totally frazzled.  She still refuses to take the usual route for our walkies, preferring to stay on our property.  It is not enough exercise for her.  In the coming weeks, I will try harder to help her overcome her fear so we can resume our long walkies.

Yes, it is hard to help your pet lose weight.  It is not easy for us humans to do it.  We must try, though.  While I am helping Gracie get more exercise, I will help myself in the process.  I want to be here for every moment of Gracie’s life too. 

If you have been a little slack with your or your pet’s health, take this opportunity to put on your sneakers and go for a walk.  You do not have to take a 10-mile walk.  Just start with a few steps.   You can do it!

Rescue Mommy

A Tired Dog is a Happy Dog

While I was at the vet’s office with Maddy, I met a nice lady who had a terrified dog. We chatted a bit. I mentioned that I have a Jack Russell mix. She said they had Heelers and wondered what I did to keep Gracie happy. Both breeds are known for being high energy. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity for a lengthy chat. I hope you are reading!

I have found that consistent exercise is a big helper. Gracie gets two 20-30 minute walks each day. In the summer time, we usually go out again for a romp in the yard. She is older, though; this level of exercise satisfies her. A younger dog might want more play time.

Gracie is an exceptional dog. She is content to play with her toys and has not been destructive. Some dogs need a bit more to do, though. I have heard that dog puzzles are great tools. Here is a link to the Doctors Foster and Smith website so you can see what they are:

http://pet-supplies.drsfostersmith.com/search?p=Q&lbc=drsfostersmith&uid=533543874&w=puzzle&isort=score&method=and&stateid=s2A12C12A1U9Mg40KS&ts=results&ed=dogs&modaf=r:cat1:dogs

A trainer I visited a few months ago recommended these sorts of toys as great tools for your dog. I have not tried them with any of my dogs, so I cannot give a personal recommendation.

You could also try hiding treats around the house and telling your buddy to find them. I would recommend that your dog know and listen to the “stay” command first, though. I did this trick with Perdy and Dino who were not pros at the “stay” command. By the time I hid the last treat, they were two steps behind me. It sort of defeated the purpose of the exercise – to keep them entertained for awhile.

Active dogs might enjoy agility training too. (It is great exercise for you too!) A training facility in the Asheville area called “A Good Dog’s Life” used to offer agility classes. You could also try an Internet search for facilities in the area. Agility training is a popular thing.

No matter what course of action you take, the key is to be patient. A high energy dog can drive you nuts sometimes. Just remember – it is in their genetic makeup to do what they do. They cannot help it! They were bred to do a job, not sit on the couch and watch TV. We all need to move more, so put down the remote and take your buddy for walk. You will both be glad you did!

Rescue Mommy

Move!

The feeding frenzy that is Thanksgiving happens next week. We will gorge ourselves on all sorts of goodies, piling our plates high and consuming a week’s worth of calories in one afternoon. Everyone knows the calories do not count at Thanksgiving and Christmas, right?

It is easy to pack on a few extra pounds during the holidays. I have a theory that the extra weight acts as insulating blubber during the cold winter months. Unfortunately, last year’s winter was particularly brutal, and it took me several months to carve off that blubber. I am trying hard not to repeat the same mistake this year.

The best fitness routine I have found is walking Gracie. Perhaps I should say running with Gracie. When the weather turns cold, she turns into a wild beast. She LOVES to run, charge up mountains, chase squirrels. The legendary Jack Russell terrier hyperactivity kicks in, and she wants to run, run, run!

The following article from thebark.com contains very interesting statistics supporting the idea that dog walking is great exercise:

http://www.thebark.com/content/why-walking-your-dog-great-exercise

So, after you have had Thanksgiving dinner next week, don’t plop onto the couch and slip into a turkey coma. Slip on your sneakers and take your furry buddy for a walk.

Rescue Mommy