hi i have two dalmations, a bitch and a dog. they are both fully grown and both very fat!! they are both walked every day for at least half an hour and only have two meals a day, how can i get them to loose some weight? we've tried cutting the food down, changing the food etc.

got click happy ;)

I don't know about Dalmations but are they getting enough exercise? My girl (G.Dane) is walked 2x a day, She has around an hours play in the park in a morning then after tea she will get just under an hour street walking.
I can normally tell if she hasn't had enough because she is more boistrous round the house.
She has two meals a day too.
Sarah.

Hi,
I'm very glad you are trying to do something about their weight - as you know an overweight dog generally has a shorter, more unhappy life than they deserve.

When you say very fat, how fat are they? How tall are they at the withers, and how much do they weigh? I would expect a male dalmatian to be no more than about 65lb and a bitch somewhat less (because she's smaller). Can you easily feel their ribs? Have they lost their tuck-up?

What do you feed them, and how much? Do they get any treats? If so, cut them out entirely. If they have got fat, it's clear they are eating more than they need, so you have two options - give them less food, and increase their exercise. Preferably both. To be honest, half an hour's walk is nowhere near enough - how many times a day do you take them out? This is a breed that was designed to trot steadily for many miles a day!

I have 4 dalmatians who are also fed twice a day, but mine are also walked for at least an hour and a half a day - the morning walk takes at least an hour and combines roadwork and free running, and covers about 3 miles or so, with a lot of playing with other dogs. The afternoon walk is almost entirely free running in friends' fields. And they could still do with more!

hi thanks for the help. i'm unsure of how much they weigh, but they're due their boosters on the 27th so we'll weigh them then and i'll let you know. you cant feel the ribs, and they seem to have excess flab!! we live in the middle of know where so we dont really get chance to take them on the road due to the fact that there isnt really one, we only let them free run. we cant really take them in public places because as you know the male is very unfriendly with other dogs and has on many occasions bitten any that come close. we've tried the muzzle but he just runs rubbing his nose on the floor until it comes off! they only have half an hour a day, if we go any further the bitch runs home. oh and they have lost their tuck-up. is that bad?    

It's very bad if they've lost their tuck-up. :( It means they are vastly overweight. :( Judging entirely from what you've said, they each need to lose at least 10lb, if not a stone. What are they being fed, and how much? It is clearly too much for them.

I live in a small(ish) village, so I know the problem of road walking, with the loony drivers who think lanes are Brand's Hatch. My dogs and I were actually hit by a car some years ago. Fortunately none of us had serious injuries, though the car was badly damaged - we're tough! But that is just another problem to overcome - the roadwork still needs doing.

How many times a day are they walked? They need at least 2 brisk walks a day, of a minimum of half an hour each - enough to make the walker out of breath. In that time I would expect you to travel about 2 miles.

Please take this matter seriously - if they are overweight as you say they are, their lives are being handicapped and shortened.

If your dog has managed to rub his baskerville muzzle (dogs should only run in a basket muzzle) off perhaps you need to look at a more robust version similar to that the police dogs use made from metal and leather your dog will not be able to rub that off!  They are available from places such as Karenswood on the net.

HTH

Uhm, yes, hi all again. My puppy seems to be too thin (she is 8.5 weeks GSD, she weighs aprox. 16.5 lbs, she is 13 inch in height) and I feed her 4 meals a day Bil&Jack (each is 1/2 cup), plus add some unslated beef or chicken broth, or boiled meat to it. Sometimes cheese. And in between meals some veggies to chew on. I can see her waist pretty clear, and feel her ribs. There is not much fat there. I am not sure if it is good or bad. Should I increase her food intake at each meal?
Thanks, Alina D.

Her weight sounds OK to me.  You should be able to see her waist and feel her ribs, but they should not feel sharp, and you shouldn't be able to see them.  With my own rather smaller5 breed I find that food intake increases up to about 10 weeks of age (as much as they want, at 4 meals a day, unless they are obviously plump). 

I then keep to the amount of food they are eating at 10 weeks until they are fully grown in height.  At about 12 weeks I will divide this amount of food into 3 meals, and then at about 5 to 6 months into two meals, and at a year to one, unless I prefer to stay on two feeds a day, when I will give one third as breakfast and two thirds as a main meal.

Also at a year I will re-evaluate the amount being fed.  If pup is a bit plump I will reduce this amount to what my adults eat (about 20% less). 

If pup is lean then keep the same amount of food.  This is of course assuming that pup stays a nice lean weight without being too thin.

Feel your own or husbands ribs (assuming you are a correct weight) this should give you an idea of how much cover the ribs should have.

With the skeletal problems GSD are prone to it is best to never allow them to get fat. :D

Half an hour doesn't sound like much exercise for a dog that's bred to run all day under a carriage..........  And even an hour on lead walking wouldn't be enough I wouldn't have thought........

Hi Georgina

Unless there is a medical reason (such as hypothyrodism) there is only one way to decrease weight be it dogs or humans, more exercise and less food.

Try cutting their food in half and doubling their exercise - you should soon see a difference

I agree with the others your dogs need much,much more excercise.I have 2 little 6 kilo shih-tzu's and they get 1 1/2 hours per day of free running, usually 45 min. in the morning and the rest on our evening walk,i would up their excercise before i decreased their food,how can they lose weight if they dont have an opportunity to burn it off.
Start off slowly at first so its not too much strain on their joints,look at this way you will become fitter and healthier with your dogs :D

Christine

i have to agree 30mins isnt enough, i take Toby out 2/3 times a day each walk takes 30/40 mins,
Heidi

Can you tell us what you are feeding them and how much?  Measure in cupfuls, this will give us an idea if they are having too much food.

Sandra