weights of your corgis

[Michael Romanos]

Obviously 17kg is too much - and doing no one any favours.
I would give Buta a large handful of dry food (kibble) rather than a cup full per day and no more than an extra 15 percent by weight of any additional food.
God knows what 'wet' food you are giving your Corgi because I can't work it out from your description, but it is great that you are giving her something else besides dry kibble. Maybe that wet food is too fattening. Try raw veggies and lean meat.

Power walking is just another term for fast, determined walking rather than a slow or slowish amble.

Physically able Corgis, show ponies or not, thrive on the kind of exercising that I previously mentioned for an overweight dog.

[fido]

For those of you in bad weather conditions, little time, or physical limitations--you may want to try a treadmill. Buddy loves using ours. We started slow. Buddy on leash with treat in hand waiting (several kibble bits) and lots of praise for 1 minute the first day. 3 minutes the next , etc till at 10 minutes. Speed was kept at 1/2 mph at first and also gradually increased to between 1 and 2 mph with no more than 3% incline based on the program selected. Then we did the same routine off leash, starting with just a few minutes and working up. Now Buddy walks for 20 -30 minutes at a time, off leash, using different programs while I am working on the computer next to the treadmilll and talking with him throughout. We do this 1-2 times a week (with shorter times whenever he wants) and the other days walk/play outside. Buddy is 14 months old and will climb up on the treadmill when we walk in the office. Every time he does this we turn on the treadmill and let him walk 1-5 minutes to encourage him. Now he walks without treats. Whenever any of us use the treadmill, he wants to do it after we do. I clip the safety key to me and can pull it at any time to stop the treadmill. Also, when we are on it, we close the gate to keep Buddy safe (I think this is why he always wants to get up on it after we use it). Also, it's a good idea to take your pup out for his business--otherwise you may have some clean up required due to the stimulation of the walking (a tip passed on by our neighbor)!

[darci]

I agree 3 hours of walking for an overweight corgi could cause a heart attack.

You have to adjust the excerise to the dog.

Just like humans start slow, and build slow.

Louwants.... What kind of food are you feeding ? How much ?

[Dillydoodle]

Michael,
The canned food that Hayashi Eri is feeding Buta has a website www.addictionfoods.com they offer holistic, alternative protein sources such as kangaroo, opossum, venison and salmon and Unagi (fresh water eel). She is feeding Opossum to Buta.

I would say to cut back on the amount you are feeding, maybe 2/3 of a cup of dry mixed with only a spoonful of the canned - how much canned is she actually consuming now?

Emilie

[Louwants]

Well, I went to an all natural kibble here lately, (can't think of the name, but it's "Lassie" approved...LOL) I give them about a cup in the morning with Shed Stop on it. I think that is where the extra fat is coming from. As soon as I'm done with this jug, I'm not getting them anymore. They will get the dry kibble with wet food about once a week. I also give them a 1/2 cup of dry when I go to bed at night, which usually only about half of it is ate. I try to limit snacks to a milkbone a day and two bully sticks a week.

Of course, I have to watch my husband like a hawk. He gives them the last two bites of his sandwich when he has one. And I've told him NO POTATO CHIPS for them during the games. He is doing better.

The exercise will come after winter, when my husband is out puttering in the yard. I do try to do a couple of fetches with him a day, just short distances, so as not to injure his leg any more.

[Dillydoodle]

The amount of food being 1 1/2 cups a day is too much for a corgi- Dillon gets 1 cup or a little less if he is getting other treats during the day - i feed half cup morning and half cup evening, and the evening meal is the one adjusted down if he has had cookies and treats during the day...I would start by cutting down to about 1 cup a day rather than a cup and a half
Emilie

[darci]

I agree with Emilie, cut back on the dry kibble.

Maybe 1/2 cup in am and 1/4 cup with a tablespoon of canned at night.

Or you could do only canned food at night as 2-3 heaping tablespoons.

If he feels like hes starving add fresh or thawed frozen green beans ( 1/4 cup).

http://www.peteducation.com/article....articleid=2612

http://www.mycockerspaniel.com/mer.htm

http://www.mycockerspaniel.com/mer.htm#waltham


Above are some great links to help you calculate how many calories your dog should have per day.

Good luck.

[darci]

http://www.lassie.com/naturalway/natural-way-flash.htm

Is this the food???

[Louwants]

Yep, that's the food. Only a cup a day? I thought I was giving them enough at 1 1/2 a day. Well, then.....1/2 cup in the morning with green beans, carrots or pumpkin, and 1/2 at night with the same. That's about what all the dog food packages say for around 25 pounds dog. Of course, he also sneaks his sister's food. The little pig.

[darci]

You will usually find that you feed less than what is listed on the bag. You'll also want to follow closer to the guideline of what your dog should weigh, not his current weight.

I couldnt find any kcals listed on their site, you may want to e-mail the company and find out.

Careful with the carrots, just not too many. They are a starch.

[Louwants]

That's what was on the bag for the weight I want him at. It says 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 cups. I was giving them the 1 1/2 cups a day. Maybe just giving that to them without the Shed Stop, may help. He may become a nibbler

[Dillydoodle]

Lou Ann- most dog food labels on the bags would have you feeding your dog into obesity... Never go by the labels on the bags...the amount of added fat from the shed stop is not the only issue here...really- corgis usually shouldn't eat more than a cup a day... I never ever follow what a bag says- they want us to feed a lot of their foods, afterall they want us buying more of it faster, right?
Emilie

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by Louwants

That's what was on the bag for the weight I want him at. It says 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 cups. I was giving them the 1 1/2 cups a day. Maybe just giving that to them without the Shed Stop, may help. He may become a nibbler

Lou Ann

I second what Emilie said. My Cody gets 1 cup a day total, split into two meals. Like her, I adust whether he gets the full 1/2 cup at supper time based on what other treats he got during the day, and also sometimes, based on how much exercise he got. He is 15 months old now and weighs about 28 pounds; so as you can see, he is not starving from too little. I would never feed a Corgi what they suggest on the bag.

And those last few bites from sandwiches and other things here and there can add up quickly, but I know it is not always easy to convince others of that.

[darci]

Darci is now down to 25.6 lbs wooooo hoooooo, you go girl.

Egan is at 24.7 .... my little man is growing up....

[Fluffypants]

Originally Posted by corgimom

but I know it is not always easy to convince others of that.

You said it sister!