Shaping Healthy Habits: How Your Actions Influence Your Dog’s Weight and Well-Being
Unlike humans, dogs can’t raid the fridge for a late-night snack, grab a quick bite from the pantry, or take themselves out for a walk. Their limited independence and complete reliance on us for food, exercise, and mental stimulation make them especially vulnerable to weight gain.
To address the issue of excess weight in our dogs, it’s essential to look closely at both our own behaviours and our dogs' behaviours and needs. Understanding this relationship is key to effectively preventing and managing canine weight.
So, how do our actions as caregivers influence our dog’s weight?
Here are some examples:
Overfeeding: exceeding the daily calorific allowance, for instance by not knowing or not measuring the recommended daily food allowance; reinforcing begging behaviour by giving food when the dog begs, resulting in us having a harder time resisting the dog’s request next time round.
Lack of Variety in Environment: Keeping a dog in the same space for extended periods (e.g. inside the house) with limited opportunities for exploration can lead to low activity levels. Moreover, a dog may be more likely to overeat if it is bored, finishing all the kibble even though it is not hungry. Dogs that don’t have opportunities to explore and exercise may also become anxious and/or frustrated, which can further contribute to overeating.
Skipping Walks and Playtime: Frequently skipping walks or play sessions results in limited exercise and enrichment, which are important for maintaining a healthy weight.
In addition to the above, anthropomorphism, or the human tendency to attribute human traits, emotions or intentions to dogs, may also impact a dog’s body weight.
For instance, the belief that not giving a dog food from the table each time the family sits to eat will make the dog feel excluded, can make it difficult for family members to resist sharing their food.
If this sharing is frequent, unplanned and uncontrolled, it can lead to the development of undesirable dog behaviour (e.g. begging, frustration-related behaviour such as barking if the dog’s expectation of receiving food from the table is not always met) as well as weight gain.
Also, similar to parents of children, dog caregivers may adopt parenting styles that may contribute to obesity in their dogs.
For example, some parents may use food to keep their children entertained while they focus on doing other tasks; similarly, dog parents may use food as a way of keeping a dog ‘under control’ e.g. routinely giving food to a barking dog to stop the barking. Unfortunately, doing so does not address the root cause of the behaviour, and it may not only contribute to the dog putting on weight, but it may also inadvertently reinforce undesirable behaviour, making it more likely for the dog to repeat that behaviour in future.(1)
It is clear that caregiver behaviour and lifestyle significantly influence a dog’s body weight and overall well-being. However, even if we’re aware of this and have the best intentions,
the demands of daily life can make it difficult to prioritise our dogs’ (and our own) health.
Carefully considering what our dogs eat may not always seem urgent and fitting in a longer walk can feel nearly impossible in our busy schedules.
Furthermore, the increasingly urbanized Maltese environment (2) restricts opportunities for daily exercise, not just for humans but also for their dogs, potentially leading to weight gain and related health issues.
In addition to this, individual dog traits can also increase or decrease the risk of weight gain:
breed, age, neutering status, gender, as well as personality traits may make it more difficult for some caregivers to keep their dog’s weight in check.
For example, a 2018 study found that dogs that were overweight were more likely to choose a more energy dense treat (e.g. a dog treat) over a less energy dense treat (e.g. a carrot), in contrast with dogs of normal weight.(3) Such food preferences in dogs may make weight maintenance or loss more challenging for their caregivers.
Excessive weight gain in dogs can lead to a range of health issues, including arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory problems.
But the impact of being overweight isn’t limited to physical health; it also affects behaviour.
A recent UK survey found that overweight dogs were more likely to exhibit undesirable behaviour such as food stealing, guarding, and aggression towards other dogs and strangers.(4)
While it's unclear whether these behaviours cause weight gain or result from it, the connection is evident. For instance, a dog that behaves aggressively towards other dogs may be walked less often, leading to weight gain. Conversely, being overweight might make a dog feel less confident and more anxious when it comes to social interactions, triggering aggressive behaviour.
Regardless of which comes first,
maintaining a healthy weight in dogs is crucial for both their physical and mental well-being.
Ultimately, weight loss is a crucial yet complex and sensitive topic for both dogs and their caregivers.
If you suspect or have been told that your dog is overweight, here are some tips to help you start your journey towards a healthier weight. Perhaps we cannot change particular traits in our dogs or the environment we live in, but there are other important aspects which we have the power to change.
I hope the tips below serve as a supportive starting point, and as always, feel free to reach out if you need further assistance.
My Tips for Canine Weight Loss:
Understand the Importance of a Healthy Weight: Review the information above and speak with your vet to understand why maintaining a healthy weight is vital for your dog’s physical and mental health.
Reflect on Your Own Lifestyle and Beliefs: To make positive changes, you need to be aware of your daily habits and beliefs. Keeping a diary can help, such as noting all the food your dog eats and identifying moments when you (or other household members) find it hard to resist giving extra bits of food.
Consult Your Vet: Your vet will check for any underlying physical or behavioural issues before starting a weight loss program. If behavioural factors are involved, your vet may refer you to a canine behaviorist. It's important to choose professionals who collaborate well to create a plan that addresses both physical and mental health.
For example, if your dog overeats or seeks food as a way of coping with negative emotions, simply cutting back on food without addressing these underlying emotions could cause stress, making weight loss more difficult for both of you.
Equally, if you have been using food to control your dog’s undesirable behaviour, being advised to cut back on food without receiving the necessary behavioural support will make weight loss challenging and less likely to be achieved.
Clarify the Weight Loss Plan: Make sure you understand your dog’s weight loss plan, including target weight, weight loss rate, diet, and how often to check progress. Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Be Honest About Your Challenges: Share your beliefs, habits, and challenges with your vet and behaviourist. Open communication can lead to better support for you and your dog.
Make Gradual Changes: It may seem overwhelming at first but start with small changes. Remember, even a small step can make a big difference.
Finally, here are some reliable online resources that can support you and your dog in your journey (please note that these are third party links):
https://www.petobesityprevention.org/weight-loss-dogs
https://caninearthritis.co.uk/how-cam-can-help/weight-loss-support/
References
1. Candellone, A., Morgan, D., Buttignol, S. and Meineri, G., 2017. Leaner, Healthier, Happier Together––A Family-Centred Approach to Weight Loss with the Overweight Dog and Her Caregivers. Veterinary Sciences, 4(3), p.41.).
2. Cauchi, D., Rutter, H. and Knai, C., 2015. An obesogenic island in the Mediterranean: mapping potential drivers of obesity in Malta. Public health nutrition, 18(17), pp.3211-3223.
3. Pogány, Á., Torda, O., Marinelli, L., Lenkei, R., Junó, V. and Pongrácz, P., 2018. The behaviour of overweight dogs shows similarity with personality traits of overweight humans. Royal Society Open Science, 5(6), p.172398.
4. German, A.J., Blackwell, E., Evans, M. and Westgarth, C., 2017. Overweight dogs are more likely to display undesirable behaviours: results of a large online survey of dog owners in the UK. Journal of nutritional science, 6, p.e14.
