Quiz: Is Your Dog at Risk of Being Overweight?
Blue Dog Bakery believes that treats are a wonderful reward for your dog IF they do not compromise your dog’s weight and health. Our low fat treats, in conjunction with exercise and a well balanced diet, can contribute to the health and well being of your dog.
Research tells us if your dog lives at a healthy weight, his life expectancy is approximately fifteen percent longer than if he lives overweight or obese. For the average dog, that works out to about two extra years of long walks, tummy rubs, ball chasing and couch lounging with you.
Broken down into three parts – physical appearance, eating habits and exercise – this quiz will help you identify steps you can take to make sure your pup is getting the right amount of food and exercise needed to ensure a long and healthy life.
Part I: My Dog’s Physical Appearance:
Acting as your dog’s guardian, circle the answer that best reflects your
level of agreement with each statement:
1. When I look at my pooch from the side, her abdomen is tucked
up under her ribs.
a. Yes
b. No
2. When I pet my dog, I can easily feel his ribs.
a. Yes
b. No
3. When I look down on my dog’s back from above, I can see
at least a slight indentation between her ribs and her hips (like an hourglass).
a. Yes
b. No
4. My dog easily stands up easily from a lying down position and
climbs stairs without a problem.
a. Yes
b. No
5. My dog is about as active as he was as a young adult (1-3 years).
a. Yes
b. No
Here’s how to score Part I: Your Dog’s Physical Appearance:
If you answered “No” to two or more questions, extra weight may
in fact be slowing down your pooch, leaving him vulnerable to a host of veterinary
problems, including cardiac conditions, cancer, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and
painful hip and joint ailments.
Continue on to Parts II and III to determine which of your dog’s eating
and exercise habits (or your own habits in feeding and walking him!) are having
an influence in his long-term health.
Part II: My Dog’s Eating Patterns:
Acting as your dog’s guardian, circle the answer that best reflects your
level of agreement with each statement:
1. My dog has no structured meal routine (same time, place, and amount) from
one day to the next.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
2. The presence of food around my dog triggers him to beg, take
a bite, or attempt to wolf it down.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
3. I have a hard time consistently controlling my dog’s
portion sizes.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
4. Begging plays a big role in my dog’s diet.
Not us at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is us most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog and I! (3 pts)
5. My dog’s snacks are almost all high calorie treats.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pts)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
6. My dog finds food other than what I put in his bowl by begging,
eating the cat’s food, scavenging, etc.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
7. My dog’s appetite never seems satiated; he would eat
until he exploded if we let him.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
8. If my dog is slow to eat or refuses to eat a certain food,
I’ll make it more tasty (toss in some canned, add gravy, microwave, etc.)
or change diets to a tastier food.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
9. My dog gains weight when he’s boarded, when someone house
sits or when we have company because he’s so good at getting people to
give him treats.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
10. I make sure my dog has food in his bowl at all times.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
11. I often share my own snacks and treats with my dog. He loves
ice cream (or buttered popcorn, or oatmeal cookies) as much as I do.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
12. My dog knows just how to push my buttons to get an extra treat.
If you saw the way he hypnotizes me with those puppy dog eyes, you’d feed
him extra, too.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
Here’s how to score Part II: Your Dog’s Eating Patterns:
Add points from questions 5, 8 and 11 to get a Spoiled Snacker
Score: ______
Add points from questions 2, 6, and 7 to get a Garbage Gut Score: ______
Add points from questions 4, 9, and 12 to get a Shameless Beggar Score: ______
Add points from questions 1, 3, and 10 to get a Free Feeder Score: ______
The highest total score reveals your dog’s dominant eating personality type. If there’s a tie among the highest scores, then pick the one eating pattern that you most relate to. Each pattern description below includes steps you can take to make sure your pup is getting enough, but not too much, to eat.
Spoiled Snacker
What a lucky dog this is. Loved and pampered and given all the perks of full
family-member status. Congratulations on having such a solid, affectionate relationship
with your dog. Now we must tell you, as many a doting parent has had to learn,
that it’s easy to mingle food and love, offering treats as signs of your
affection—but that practice is generally not good for your dog’s
health. If your dog is overweight, try taking these simple steps to help him
get lean.
1. Cut treats by half. Dogs who regularly receive treats in addition to their meals are fifty percent more likely to be overweight than those who don’t. To save both you and your dog from suffering during treat cutbacks, we suggest you start off by cutting your treat offerings by half. Simply take whatever goody your dog is accustomed to getting and split it in two—half for today, half for tomorrow. Your dog will still get the same attention and sense of reward from you, but for half the calories.
2. Show your affection in action. You may think your dog would be miserable if you stopped sharing treats with him, but we’re willing to bet he would be happy to accept a substitute. Think of a favorite activity or game your dog enjoys with you—or make one up. We know one dog owner who plays a made-up game that combines hide-and-seek and tag for a few minutes with his poodle every night after work. The dog gets so excited about this daily game that he starts “hiding,” laying in wait behind the coffee table, as soon as the car pulls into the driveway. A short, scheduled play time is a great substitute for a shared treat anytime.
3. Substitute talk for treats. While we all know dogs love to do the furry tap dance at the sight, smell or taste of treats, fewer of us understand and appreciate how tantalizing talk can be to a dog. They simply lap it up when we baby talk them, get animated, and be silly. For years I’ve recommended clients give their pets lots and lots of “emotional Milkbones.” Many have been shocked at how readily their dogs accept this kind of melodramatic “treat” instead of an edible one.
4. Choose treats you can feel good about. Your dog may be accustomed to dog treats that look like miniature steaks, pieces of cheese and Fig Newtons, but if you really want to share your food with him, he’d be far better off to be getting bits of fruits and vegetables instead. This might sound silly, but we’ve never met a dog yet who doesn’t enjoy at least one fruit or veggie treat. A few favorites we’ve seen are whole baby carrots, frozen green beans or peas, grapes, blueberries and apple slices. You may be surprised to find that your dog also enjoys broccoli, bananas, or even lettuce. Try a few of these low-calorie, nutrient-rich options and let your dog choose for himself. Unlike small children, most dogs aren’t especially susceptible to choking. If your dog (or more likely, your puppy) chokes on a particular food, though, either cut it into smaller pieces or choose a different treat altogether.
Part II: My Dog’s Exercise Patterns:
Acting as your pet’s guardian, circle the answer that best reflects your
level of agreement with each statement:
1. If my dog doesn’t get enough exercise, he does things
like dig holes in the yard, bark too much, chew up household items, or nervously
pace by the door.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
2. I seldom walk my dog because of his osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia,
lethargy, low stamina or other medical condition.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
3. My dog is equally happy parked on the couch or speed-walking
through the park, as long as he’s with me.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
4. My dog’s behavior definitely takes a turn for the worse
if he doesn’t get a walk for a day or more.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
5. My dog is too small, too chubby, or too old to walk for 20
minutes or more a day.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
6. My dog would rather sleep than walk or chase a tennis ball.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
7. My dog likes to walk and play, but he’s just as happy
to hang out around the house.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
8. It’s been at least a week since the last time I walked
my dog for 20 minutes of more.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
9. My dog could walk or run or chase a tennis ball forever. I
rarely see any signs of limits to his energy.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
10. I don’t exercise my dog much because I’m afraid
I might push him too hard or that the effort could hurt him.
Not at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is me most of the time (2 pts)
That’s me (3 pts)
11. My dog might sleep the day (and the night) away if he didn’t
have to get up to eat and go outside to relieve himself.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
12. When I’m on an exercise kick, so is my dog; but if I’m
on a stay-inside-and-take-it-easy kick, my dog loves to live that lifestyle,
too.
Not my dog at all. (0 pts)
This is true quite often (1 pt)
This is my dog most of the time (2 pts)
That’s my dog! (3 pts)
Here’s how to score Part III: Your Dog’s Exercise Habits:
Add points from questions 1, 4 and 9 to get an Energizer Pup Score:
______
Add points from questions 6, 8, and 11 to get a Passive Pooch Score: ______
Add points from questions 3, 7 and 12 to get a Good Buddy Score: ______
Add points from questions 2, 5, and 10 to get a Fragile Fido Score: ______
The highest total score reveals your pet’s dominant exercise personality type. If there’s a tie among the highest scores, then pick the one pattern that you think best fits. See pattern descriptions below.
Energizer Pup
If this dog could talk, he might tell you, with remarkably little malice intended,
“If I don’t get enough exercise, I’ll make your life miserable.”
He might be a bigger dog, maybe a breed with “retriever” or “setter”
or “collie” in his name. He may or may not be an actual “puppy,”
but he certainly acts like one at even the thought of a walk or a game of fetch.
Whether he’s a purebred or mixed-breed dog, his ancestors were bred to
be high energy hard workers. There’s a good chance a short daily walk
doesn’t make a dent in this dog’s needs for exercise, and you may
even find he has more energy when you get home than he did when you started
out. It takes a little extra creativity to meet the exercise needs of a dog
like this, but in Chapter 6, we’ll show you exactly how to wear out your
energizer pup without running yourself ragged. If you’re embarking on
Fitness Unleashed to help lose weight off your own frame, too, you’ve
got an incredible, motivating workout partner in this dog. Once he knows your
routine, he’s never going to let you forget, postpone, or cut corners
again.
Passive Pooch
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the dog who just loves to lay around.
Maggie Morgan, who lives in West Michigan, lovingly described her golden retriever
Holly as a docile girl and a “living rug” before they undertook
an exercise regimen together. “Holly moves slowly, she’s gentle,
and she’s a great big armful to hug,” Maggie smiles. It’s
all-too-easy to let a dog like this lie—after all, sweet, docile dogs
are the ideal pet for many of us, and we don’t want to stir up a good
thing. Unfortunately, with that lifestyle comes extra weight. “There’s
a poster on the wall at our veterinary office that illustrates the various states
of health for dogs, from severely undernourished to extremely overweight,”
Morgan explains. “Maggie has reached the ‘no waistline’ stage
of that chart, and if she keeps gaining at her current rate, she’ll resemble
the last ‘bulging at the waist’ photo before long. Her veterinarian
says she has to lose at least eight pounds.”
Motivating your Couch Pooch to want to get moving and to stick to a routine
are the keys to getting this dog to want to exercise. This dog may never want
to tag along on a ten-mile hike with you, but we’re willing to bet you
can use the tips outlined in Fitness Unleashed to help him want to get off the
couch and out with you.
Excerpted and adapted from FITNESS UNLEASHED: A Dog and Owner's Guide to Losing Weight and Gaining Health Together by Marty Becker, D.V.M. and Robert Kushner, M.D. Copyright © 2006 by Marty Becker, D.V.M. and Robert Kushner, M.D. Published by Three Rivers Press, a division of Random House, Inc.
"If your dog is fat, YOU aren’t getting enough exercise."
Close Window