Two new books to help dogs lose weight the right way
I lost 30 pounds by gaining 25. True, years ago I took off 30 pounds when a cocker spaniel entered my life and we began walking and playing together. There are two new books out to help dogs lose weight the right way.
WINNER IS MELINDA SMITH – THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!
Dogs, like their human counterparts, might be more inclined to pack on a few extra pounds over the colder, winter months. For us, the treadmill that serves as a clothes drying rack gets dusted off and come spring (or sooner), we can walk it off with a little motivation and determination.Dogs depend on us and have no treadmill. But those big ___ (insert eye color) eyes look up or over at us and beg for a morsel or two. Sneaking a tidbit now and then isn’t so bad. Perhaps one of us has a dog that could use to lose a few extra pounds. Dogs who are overweight are prone to:
- Knee injuries
- Pancreatic issues, liver disease, heart problems
- Trouble cooling off
- Snoring
We’ve even written about dog weight loss before, but recently Fidose of Reality discovered two new books to hit the market, just in time for the holidays and dipping mercury: The Amazing Treat Diet for Dogs by Katie Newman and Dieting with my Dog by Peggy Frezon. We’ve read them both, each have their own unique tips and angles on canines cutting calories. What we love about both, is their honesty, candor, and ease of implementation. These are the kind of books you read, refer to, and put into action. No funky ingredients, common sense, and expert advice. (keep reading, we’re giving copies away).
After a year of healthy eating, long walks and increased activity, Peggy Frezon lost 40 pounds and her dog, Kelly, lost six pounds (15 percent of her body weight)! The journey and how-to’s are detailed in Frezon’s new book, Dieting with my Dog.
Katie Newman’s dog, Hustler, suffered numerous ailments that led to a more sedentary lifestyle—and extra pounds. Newman wrote The Amazing Treat Diet for Dogs to help other dog parents with a how-to guide for canine weight loss done right. Love the appendices provided, including toxic foods for dogs and a super handy fruit and vegetable nutrition chart.
We’re sharing the wealth so dogs can stay fit and giving away a copy of each book to one lucky Fidose of Reality fan. You win, dogs lose (weight), and everyone’s happy. “Bone” appétit!
Just reply below and tell us what dog would benefit from these books.
Open to U.S. and Canada, starts 11/05/11, age 18 years or older to enter, one entry per person/email, and contest ends November 18, 2011 at 11:59 pm est.
WINNER IS MELINDA SMITH – THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!
This would encourage my husband to help himself and the 3 kids. He is charge of feeding and I feel he may be over feeding them . Everyone would benefit healthwise as it would break my heart to lose a dog or husband to over eating. 🙁
Schooner would benefit from these books. We are going into the winter months where we are in the house snuggling under a nice warm blanket that just came out of the dryer and eating treats on the couch which causes a us to gain a little weight. We tend to become couch potatoes because it is so cold out side with lots of snow in northern Indiana. We always get the lake effect snows. So Schooner and mommy who could stand to lose a little weight with her Schooner would both benefit from the books. The Amazing Treat Diet for Dogs and Dieting with my Dog would be perfect for us.
My dogs are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and prone to easy weight gain. Also this breed is prone to Mitral Value Disease so keeping them at a healthy weight is just good common sense! Both books look wonderful
Our dog really need to lose some weight.
Hello!
This could not have come at a better time! I have two dogs, Fiona a Lab/Pit mix and Cody a Rottweiler/Akita mix that I adopted in April. During their first Vet appointment on May 5th, they were weighed. Cody was 129.5 lbs and Fiona weighed 58 lbs. Now Cody weighs 174 pounds and Fiona weighs 68 pounds! Yikes! I do try to exercise them with dog jogs at least once a day. Neither arethe best at running and that is my fault for not being consistent with the training. However I am the only one who does exercise them despite having a 15 year old son and a husband…sigh…but I digress. 😉 I am changing their food regularly in my never-ending quest to find a food that both of them like. I do treat them but try to subtract that from the food I feed them. Cody’s weight gain is attributed in part to Hypothyroidism but I know it is food-related as well. I am clearly at a loss on what to do and how to do it and these books would help me so much! Thank you very much for the opportunity to enter and win! 🙂
Shauna
@SeekerMommy
My cocker spaniel Jack, or “Jumbo Jack” as he is known, would benefit from these books! He came to us a little over a year ago at 41lbs. He has skin allergies, and the steriods for that pushed him up to 45lbs. In the last 15 months, we have only been able to reduce him back to his original 41lbs! He is a big-boned boy, he gets exercise (limited due to his heartworm+ status) he gets one small meal a day of diet food, limited treats (added up it’s only equal to 1 jerky treat and a 1/3rd of a turkey weenie a day), but while his allergies are control, he remains our Jumbo Jack!
My Jack Russell, Ella Jane, is not huge yet, but has gained 3 pounds since moving next door to my grandparents. My Papaw feeds anyone on two or four legs that walks in the door from the time they walk in until the time they leave and my dog LOVES it! The vet says she needs to get those three pounds off. I want to make sure her weight doesn’t get out of control. I want her around for a long time to come. Thanks!
I’ve been reading Peggy’s book and plan on reviewing it. It’s quite good.
My girl Gracie and I could BOTH use these books! She and I both put on weight far too easily . . . . and we could use some motivating ideas for how to shed a pound or two. Both books sound great!
I FINALLY talked my husband into getting a second dog..a shitz-zhu/beagle mix named Jackie-Blue. Our older dog,Jill9Jilly)is an OES/Beardie mix and is 6 yrs.old. She has been overweight for 2 yrs. An accident this summer(she didn’t know a trailer hitch was in her way when she chased a BAD KITTY out of our yard) kept her from getting her summer fav-sport,swimming. We hoped that a puppy and all the energy it brings would help…it HAS to some extent,but now bad weather is coming and I won’t be able to walk them as much. We NEED these books!!! Please help my Jilly!!!
ps. Jilly weighs 87 lbs. Jackie-Blue weighs 10lbs.
My Scottie Cara would definitely benefit. lol I don’t know exactly how much she weighs but she is extremely lazy and overweight. I have to FORCE her to walk. XD And she also snores loudly. I could really use these!
othila1985@msn.com
Coco and I could both benefit from these books. I’ve gotten lazy lately and haven’t made it to the gym and I am at the heaviest I have ever been. I definitely want to lose some pounds. Coco has been told by the vet that she needs to lose weight because of her knee. She had surgery on her one leg already and now the other leg is starting to pop out of its socket and might need to have surgery. Her little body is too heavy for her little legs right now. She needs to lose at least 5 pounds. She doesn’t like to go for walks all the time either. I think its because her leg is bothering her. So I need to find different ways for her to lose weight!
Nelson, my handsome 6 yr old French Bulldog could benefit from these books.
He is huge for the breed, weighing in at 37 pounds. But both his holistic vet and his traditional vet say he is NOT obese but could stand to lose 3 to 4 pounds. Nelson and I strenuosly hike about 10 miles per week. He adores hiking; his motto “the steeper the incline the better”. He is built like a front-end loader. The more he climbs the more muscular he becomes.
He is raw fed about 6 to 8 ounces per day. And his treats are homemade so I can control the fat and calories. But no matter what he will not drop those pounds. I am worried about his joints, back, etc.
He is a bulldog and loves to chew so at night he does have sweet potato chews or what I have been told are all natural, low fat chews such as beef trachea. Because of Nelson I have lost 35 pounds; sure wish I could help him as he is truly the love of my life and I want him to be climbing and hiking for many more years.
My parents dog,Julie, would definetly want them to read the books. Their dog is overweight,I believe from table (people) food and lot’s of treats.
Although my dogs weight only goes up or down one pound each year (55 or 56lbs),I would still be interested in reading the books myself,too.
I am a dog lover,so I love your site.
Barnum and Bailey!