When someone's dog is overweight...

I'm afraid I'm a little too blunt sometimes.  I'll laughingly say, my goodness, what a little PORKER, or look at the dog and say lovingly, good golly what HAPPENED to your girlish figure.

But, then, I can tend to be too blunt anda little on the witchy side when folks aren't doing their dogs any favors with overfeeding.

 Well considering they gave their dog another piece of chocolate after you mentioned chocolate is bad for dogs they dont care so I wouldnt say anything to them at all.

Up until this past summer Cheyanne was overweight. Not a big huge blob overweight but still overweight. JJ would make fun of her and everyone else would mention she sure wasnt missing any meals. She is now looking good I must say. Got her eating better foods, no so many leftovers thrown to her(yes I still give her some),and alot more exercise. Which she loves the exercise just not enjoying her new diet!!

Some people like fat dogs. For instance JJ's grandma complains because Lillie,Fynn,and Joker are soooooooo skinny. She thinks they need to add 50lbs on then they would look good. I have seen a fat IS and they do not look good!! Plus I could never get Lillie to put on 50lbs if I tried. JJ's grandma hated it when Cheyanne started losing her fat roll. She told me to stop doing whatever it is I was doing to her and let her get the weight I got off of her back on. No way!! 

Honestly I don't know that there is much you can say.  I am sure they know their dog is overweight and its unhealthy.  Hey, my BFF daughter has been EXTREMELY overweight since was 4 years old she is now 8 and she knows it and doesn't need me to say anything.  If they go to the Vet I am sure he has mentioned it too.  Unfortunately you can't be everyones guiding light.  However, I would be quick to point out that chocolate is fatal if given to much and at least make sure they are aware of that.

 Like others have said, I'm not sure that there is much that can be said.  I work with a lady who has a pair of poodle mixes, and those dogs are literally her entire world.  However, one is arthritic, they are both diabetic, and they are both also so fat that they cannot clean their own butts--she has to do it for them.  She was actually surprised that my dogs could reach their own butts.  I have mentioned before in passing that we were told that the best thing we can do for Jack's arthritis is keep him lean, etc.  However, from the response I've gotten it just seems like it's easier for her to not try to get the wieght off so she doesn't....You can lead a horse to water......

Agree. We had a client with a very obese lab.  He, the dog, lived in a very affluent neighborhood with his "loving" family.  The dog was let outside every day and he made the rounds of the neighborhood being fed by the maids at almost every house.  Once a year, until he died, he was brought to the kennels to go on a diet and exercise program for six weeks. The owner's preferred to pay someone to help their dog lose weight rather than take any steps to correct the situation. When you talked to them they were always in a big hurry to be somewhere else and it was obvious that we were wasting our breath.  At least he got to lose a few pounds and have some fun while he was at weight loss camp.  I think sometimes it a case of misplaced kindness when dogs are so obviously overfed but the owners have their own issues that have to be addressed.  Sounds like a case for VS.....

I'm lucky - as a trainer I am given a bit more respect.  Generally I'll mention something like Glenda to owners of dogs that are a bit pudgy (aww someone's a little pudge aren't they?!) and for those that are heading toward serious issues, I generally mention my concern (I notice that fluffy is rather heavy - have you talked to her vet about it?), suggest a consult with their vet, and mention how you can check body condition using ribs and fat pads over them.

I have had a number of students out and out ask me about their dog's weight and I will be honest, but I always refer them to their vets for followup on an appropriate exercise and diet program.

stardog85

I'm lucky - as a trainer I am given a bit more respect. 

I was a trainer too at the time I was talking about but most people I have ever met with obese dogs have been warned by their Vet at every visit and they just can't deny the dog the pleasure of food.  It's really an emotional problem with the person that has to be solved.

you know vets that speak up about fat dogs???? most in my experience say nothing until the dog is morbidly, disgustingly obese. As to the chocolate, well, speak up. It's not just "bad" for dogs it's outright poisonous. You should react as if the person was handing out rat poison.

Instead of speaking "personally" and pointing out the dog is a bit fat our club trainers like to talk about the general necessity and benefits of daily exercise. Since most of the owners are a bit pudgy as well this is usually more acceptable than saying things about pudginess.

I would never go up to a stranger and point out their dog is overweight.  Maybe they already know and are working on it.  Once I was walking a severely emaciated dog I had pulled from a shelter and was getting looks.  When I took her to a pet shop to groom her I made sure to explain that she came that way the day before, *I* was not starving her.  Also I'm a non-confrontational person in most respects.  I would certainly never walk up to an obese person and tell them they are fat.  I think in dog's it's pretty obvous, and if they choose not to care then they wouldn't listen to me anyway.

A friend or relative?  Sure. I'd drop hints and make some suggestions.  My in-laws 13 year old cocker suffers from chronic yeast infections in his ears so I said "you know, sometimes yogurt can help and even prevent the next ear infection..." so they started giving him a little bit each day.  I could have said "your dog food is killing your dog" b/c it's probably true but that just gets people's backs up and they do love their dog, they just don't know better.

The thing is weight is a very touchy subject for a lot of people.  So, I think I would just mind my own business. 

bah, my boyfriend's friend has a cocker who's overweight. they have seen moca (who is finally back up to a healthy weight, and the vet is always so happy about her figure!) and they know she weighs too much, but they just dont get it. they take "some" of my advice (like giving her a different water) but they arent at all interested in talking about their dog's weight (even though she has hip issues - hello?) so i dont mention it. these are educated people and if they wanted to do something about it, cutting down on food is easy and you dont need a phd to know that it will help her lose weight. they just really dont get that it's an issue. i have  alot of problems with how they keep their dog, but unless they ask or mention a problem, i dont open my mouth. the dog is in a loving home, is treated with nothing but love and get's groomed and vetted regularily. that's already more than you can say aout a lotta people, so i let it go. who am i to judge people...

This is a touchy one.  I think we should (for the sake of the dogs) make mention of anything we see that is harmful.  But, in a non-confrontational way, like the suggestions mentioned here.  The problem with this is when downplaying the comments, the owners will likely not take it seriously, and nothing will change.  It depends on how close you are to the people as to how serious of a conversation you can have.

I had to chuckle about "not needing a PhD.  You'd think even someone with a doctorate would have the common sense.  Oh wait, that is book sense, not common sense right?  LOL  My sister (PhD) was over for Christmas and she brought her little doxie, Molly.  Sis fed her some chocolate and I said that chocolate was bad for dogs.  She said..."Oh I know, its just a little bit."  

Good grief!   This is the same sister who feeds her dog Science Diet (Yikes).  I tried to explain to her why I believe SD is not good, and she responded with "Oh, how do you know!"  You see, I'm not as edumacated as she is.    Sigh.

 There's also an important age dynamic here - most "adults" don't take kindly to getting advice from "kids."

If you were in a position to be heard (IMO in this case you're not), I would personally phrase it something along the lines of, "Oh, I see your dog does _________ [sleeps a lot, smells funny, whatever]. My dog did that too until the vet told me to put him on a diet - now he's sooooo much better! It was amazing!"

mudpuppy

you know vets that speak up about fat dogs???? most in my experience say nothing until the dog is morbidly, disgustingly obese. As to the chocolate, well, speak up. It's not just "bad" for dogs it's outright poisonous. You should react as if the person was handing out rat poison.

You have experienced your Vet not giving you advise on your obese dogs???  That is weird and time to get a new Vet!  Our Vet watches both my Pug and Swissies weight very closely and ALWAYS reminds us when they are teetering and should take off a pound or two.

OP:  What I have found with my friends who's dogs are overweight is this.  They give treats constantly!!!  Those treats are so fattening and table scraps too.  If you do decide to say something why not just mention that stopping dog biscuits and substituting with carrots, cutting back food and add frozen green beans for bulk and no table food will probably cut back the dogs weight easily without alot of work.  Also of course, increased exercise will help move that weight faster and make the dog healthy.