Preventing your dog from
becoming overweight is much easier than loosing
the weight once it is there. Dogs, like people can put on
the pounds if they consume too many calories. Age and
activity level are
the two most important values
in determining how much
we should feed our dogs.
The calorie requirements
change for all dogs during
their life. Younger dogs and puppies require the greatest amount
of calories, proteins, and minerals due to their
growth and almost
unlimited activity. Older dogs require less due to their lowered activity level.
The exceptions to this
would be dogs that spend most of their
time out of doors especially during colder weather.
Feed your dog like you would another person.
Provide food as
a meal instead of having a full food bowls all the time. Dogs have different personalities; some are finicky eaters, while other eat everything in sight. The quality of the food should be considered next. Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of a long and healthy life. Not long ago, most pets were fed mostly table scraps which were
usually too high in calories for their metabolism.
Today our dogs spend more
time indoors with us, and it has become more practical to feed them commercial dog foods. While the quality of nutrition for dogs has
improved considerably with prepared pet foods, there remains a great deal to consider when choosing the proper diet plan or formula. Choose a food that best matches your dogs age group, size, and activity level by reading the manufacturers label.
Next, try to limit or eliminate
treats and table scraps. If you cant resist the
temptation when their begging begins, at least
find a treat that is high in nutrition, such as liver treats that trainers use. And last but never least, plenty of exercise! Most dogs would rather have your attention than a treat any day. It releases their energy, keeps muscles toned, relieved boredom, and keeps their minds active. Best of all, you will both enjoy it.
Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed
http://Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and more.
Check them out at
http://www.joncopets.com.