The Ultimate Guide To Managing Your Dog’s Weight 

We’re going to delve into the crucial topic of managing your furry friend's weight to ensure optimal health and happiness. Let's explore some essential strategies for keeping your pup in tip-top shape!

Understanding Your Dog's Weight

As responsible pet parents, we all want our four-legged friends to be as happy and healthy as possible. Understanding your dog’s ideal weight and ensuring that they are not carrying extra pounds can avoid preventable illnesses and hefty vet bills as well as improve their quality of life. 

Worryingly, it is now being reported that up to 65% of dogs in the UK are overweight with as many as 64% of owners not even realising their pooch is carrying extra pounds because they are unaware of what their dog’s ideal weight should be. 

Why does this matter? Many pet parents remain unaware of the big difference a small treat or some leftover human food can add to the recommended daily calories for their pooch.

 As we have explored previously, obesity in dogs can lead to a plethora of medical issues and make daily activities far more challenging for them, so here are some tips to help you keep track of your dog’s weight. 

Regular Vet Checks

Your pup should be seen by a vet at least once a year - this can be done at the same time as their annual vaccinations - or more regularly as they get older. This will allow you (and your dog’s vet) to check your dog is an ideal weight,  as well as check for any other health issues. You may be feeding too much (or too little) or your dog may not be getting enough exercise. If your dog has a healthy, balanced diet and is active, your vet can run simple tests to find out if there are any underlying medical issues. In between these visits you can also check your dog’s weight at home to ensure it is not creeping up beyond the ideal level. 

Prioritise Exercise

Making sure your dog gets plenty of exercise is so important, not only to their physical health but also to their mental health. Many dog parents think of exercise as just going on walks - which is the primary activity for most people but, you can also take them swimming, play fetch, practice some obedience training, and take up dog sports, like agility or flyball. We’ve previously shared some ideas on how you and your dog can get fit together - read more about it here. 

Sometimes we, as dog owners, can’t take our dogs on long walks in safe, open locations.  So, it is absolutely fine to take your dog on several shorter walks a day, especially if they are very young, old, or are a smaller dog. If you live in a city, finding off-lead areas where you can let your dog run free is better for their mental and physical health than only walking a dog on a lead.

Where you do have to keep them on a lead, you can make your walks more interesting by making a pit stop at a friend’s house, a dog-friendly coffee shop, or even a pet shop. You could arrange walks with someone who also has a dog, so you and your pet can both socialise on your walk, explore a route you’ve never taken before or spend some time training - bring your Caboodle treats (they are conveniently portioned and low calorie!).

Balanced Diet and Portion Control 

Almost a quarter of owners overindulge their dog because they don’t know how much food their dog needs and only 20% of dog owners always measure their dog’s food. Vague feeding guidelines can be confusing and not take into account the metabolism of dogs that are not within the normal ranges.

We understand how confusing it can be trying to work out how much to feed your dog, not only in terms of their food, treats, and chews but also from brand to brand (as nutritional value and calories will vary).

Your vet can help you work out how much to feed, and now, so can Caboodle!

If you tell us a few details about your dog - like weight, activity level, and body condition - we will find the ideal portion sizes for your dog.  We measure and tailor each daily box so that it's the right amount for your dog every day.

We believe that a mixture of wet and dry food is the best way to offer your dog a balanced diet.  Each daily box includes tasty wet and crunchy dry food, tempting treats, and a dental chew. It's everything your dog wants and no more than they need. 

Mindful Treat Giving - watch those extras!

If you are someone who likes to give your dog lots of treats, this will contribute to your dog’s weight. If you are a softie with your dog and find it hard to resist those big eyes, they will very quickly learn that begging works. It's important to gauge when your dog is genuinely hungry and when they are being a touch greedy.  With smaller dogs especially a little overindulging like a pig’s ear can be the equivalent of all the calories they should eat a day!

Caboodle removes the guesswork of feeding the right amount, our pre-portioned daily trays give your dog the right amount of calories they need, so you never have to worry about over-feeding. 

Managing your dog's weight is a crucial aspect of responsible pet ownership, with numerous benefits for their health and happiness. By prioritising regular vet check-ups, exercise, balanced nutrition, and mindful treat-giving, you can help your furry friend maintain a healthy weight, leaving you more time for the important things in life, like games and cuddles!