Yesterday as I walked to our local tesco I met a woman with two terrier crosses, as one was a bedlington whippet cross I took more notice of them and ended up talking to her.  The dogs were waddling along and panting fit to bust, the smaller one was about 10 inches high and over a foot wide, the beddiexwhippet was a little overweight but not much.  I was stunned to find that the oldest was 6 years old and the youngest was 4 (the beddi x ) but I thought they were at least 14 and 16 years old!!!  I've never in my life seen such unfit dogs (and no they hadn't just been for a good run ;) ) the woman obviously cared for them but why would they look so very old?  Its so sad to see two dogs who should be very fit and active looking like penshioners at that age :( :( 

That's actually classified as cruelty, not mere unkindness. I'd be tempted to call the RSPCA to have a word.

It's amazing how being fat makes a dog look old. Of course it is shortening their life.

I met an 8 year old Irish Setter on the beach a couple of months ago, she was enormous, she could hardly keep up with her owner at a walking pace, she looked 15 except she wasn't grey. My Bailey (Irish Setter too) is 9, he was flying through the waves having a thoroughly good time, and looks about 3. He is correct weight though, and is correctly exercised and it makes such a difference. He had a little operation three weeks ago for a sebaceous cyst, and the vet was surprised he was as old as 9, so I rest my case.

Dawn R.

Our dog is fat, but even though we feed him less he is still not losing weight. We now think its a thyroid problem. I hope people don't think that we are being cruel because he is overwight. Maybe these dogs have a health problem and she hasn't thought about that.

It is really sad how many people overfeed their dogs.  I have some truly lovely dogs who can barely walk due to being so fat.  I have absolutely gorgeous cavalier who comes to me and I have seen the woman keep stopping when she is out for a walk it is so depressing.

poor dogs :-(
and the type of cross they are you would expect them to be quite slender and fit, there are some really irresponsible people out there who are literally killing their dogs with "kindness" :-( :-(

>Maybe these dogs have a health problem and she hasn't thought about that.

What both of them? Also, I think it likely she would have mentioned if her dogs were ill. I personally couldn't have kept quiet. I hate seeing really overweight dogs, there is rarely an excuse. :(

>Also, I think it likely she would have mentioned if her dogs were ill. I personally couldn't have kept quiet. I hate >seeing really overweight dogs, there is rarely an excuse.

My mother in law's dog is extremely overweight. We and the vet have tried all we can to get her to recognise she has to DO something, down to supplying her with what he should be fed on and saying he isn't allowed anything else etc etc. No joy. :( When I have to take this dog to the vet (hubby and I do it) I feel so ASHAMED, thinking people might think it is my dog and I have done this to him. Really makes you wonder why the owners of these dogs don't feel the same! I always try to speak up and comment on how it isn't my dog etc.

>Maybe these dogs have a health problem and she hasn't thought about that.

One, possibly. Both - extremely unlikely. Their greatest health problem is their owner. :(

Unfortunately a lot of people can't say 'no' when their dog gives them the 'please, mum, I'm starving' look. My boss, I found out, was feeding her Cavalier the same amount of food that I give to my 7 year old speyed Large Munsterlander In fact, I think she got more!!! Unfortunately she died this summer. I'm convinced it was being overweight, as well as being a very hot day, that killed her. She was only 6. :(

I can say 'no' to my dogs - it's me I can't say no to :(

At 13 years old, Bonnie weighs the same as 6 year old Missy - 13kgs and she's weighed the same since she was 4.....  It's not hard to keep a dog fit for heaven sake - less excercise means less food!

My mum struggles to keep her lab's weight down.  The main reason is she can't bear the small amount of food in his bowl that he needs to keep his weight down.  "It doesn't look enough" and other such comments are forthcoming, so she slips him a little something extra "but only a tiny bit, hardly enough to hurt"!!

It is a bit like us when we deceive ourselves that we don't really eat much, when infact we are obviously eating plenty according to the scales!

None of my dogs could be accused of being overwieght...

I know how it feels to be fat and unfit, and thats my problem, im in charge of what goes into my dinnerbowl.. my dogs have to rely on me, so they get what they need, and they get what i think is the best they could possibly have.

However ... it seems somewhere along the line the great british public have forgotten what a lean fit dog should look or feel like. The amount of people who have petted my dogs and then said 'cor he/she's a bit skinny', whilst their breathless, waddly hound takes half an hour to catch up to them is unreal.

They are fit, they are hard and yes, you can feel some ribs. They also have boundless energy, shiny coats, clear eyes, and DONT collapse at the first sign of a walk!!!

Em

Well the only sign if being old to me would be some sort of arthritis limping and pains , also a fading muzzle and face. Skinny or fat isn't really the right way to classify age , and whippets can be extremely skinny to begin with.

>I can say 'no' to my dogs - it's me I can't say no to

LOL I have the same problem. When I am fussing over what the dogs can or can't eat my mum says, I wish you took as good care of yourself as you do them...:D

I don't know why being fat would make them look old.  My Mum always said she wanted to get fat as she got older so her wrinkles would stretch out.  LOL, LOL.  Mum's not fat though, and nobody believe she is as old as 87, wrinkles and all.