๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ ?ย
Just like humans, extra weight can lead to a variety of health problems for your dog, including:
โข ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ:ย Excess weight puts extra strain on your dogโs joints, leading to painful conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia.
โข ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ญ & ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ:ย Overweight dogs are at a higher risk for heart disease and breathing difficulties, making exercise harder and reducing overall energy.
โข ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ:ย ย Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, affecting your dog’s quality of life and longevity.
โข ๐๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง:ย ย Studies show that dogs at an ideal weight can live longer, healthier livesโmeaning more years of tail wags, belly rubs, and adventures!
๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ’๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ , ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฒ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐.
๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ (๐๐๐)
The BCS is a helpful tool to assess whether your dog is underweight, ideal weight, or overweight. There are two commonly used BCS methods for evaluating a dog’s weight and overall health:
ย
๐. ๐๐ก๐ ๐-๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ
โข This method uses a scale from 1 to 9, with 1 being extremely thin and 9 being very obese.
โข Ideal Range: A score of 4-5 indicates an ideal weight where the dog has a noticeable waistline and ribs that are easily felt but not visible.
ย
๐. ๐๐ก๐ ๐-๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ
โข This method uses a simpler scale from 1 to 5, often used by veterinarians for quick assessments.
โข Ideal Range: A score of 3 represents an ideal body condition where the dog has an observable waist and ribs are easily felt with a slight fat covering.
ย
๐. ๐
๐๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ
Ideal (4-5): You can feel the ribs easily, but theyโre not sticking out.
Too Thin (1-3): The ribs are very visible and easy to feel.
Overweight (6-9): You canโt feel the ribs easily because thereโs fat covering them.
ย
๐. ๐๐ก๐๐๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ
Ideal (4-5): Your dog has a clear waist when you look from above (it should taper in behind the ribs).
Too Thin (1-3): Thereโs no waist, or itโs very sunken in.
Overweight (6-9): No waist, the body is round or straight.
ย
๐. ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ (๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐)
Ideal (4-5): The belly tucks up a bit after the ribs.
Too Thin (1-3): The belly may be sucked in too much.
Overweight (6-9): The belly sags or hangs down.
ย
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐
Ideal weight: You can feel the ribs, see a waist, and have a tummy tuck.
Too thin: Waistline could appear overly concave or very thin, ribs and hips visible.
Overweight: There may be little or no waistline visible, with the dog appearing more rounded or cylindrical from above.
This should help you quickly assess if your dog is a healthy weight!
Maintaining an ideal Body Condition Score (BCS) helps prevent health issues like obesity, joint problems, heart & respiratory issues & diabetes. If your dog falls outside the ideal range, adjusting diet and exercise with the guidance of your vet is key to achieving a healthier weight.
๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ
I started dog sports with Millie in 2013, at the time we thought she was at a healthy weight. ๐๐ญ ๐๐.๐ ๐ค๐ โ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ . When you know better you do better.
ย
We changed her diet, and introduced a fitness program to prepare her for her sporting life, and a healthier life in general, strengthening her core and increasing fitness, joint mobility and flexibility.
ย
Initially we trained in agility, but in 2015 we were introduced to the world of Flyball and this became our sport of choice. Throughout her Flyball career she maintained a weight of 27kg, a much more suitable weight for the rigours of flyball.
Millie retired from Flyball at 10 years of age after surgery for cancer and some arthritis in her carpus, and now at the age of 12 and a half she is enjoying her retirement. Although she has definitely slowed down, she still does an age appropriate fitness program to keep her strong and mobile in her senior years and is living her best life.
ย
๐๐ก๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ , ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐ญ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ .
Now you have established whether or not your dog needs to lose weight, you need a plan to reach your goals. Reducing your dog’s weight involves a combination of diet, exercise, and overall lifestyle changes. Like in humans, gradual and sustainable weight loss is the key to long-term health and well-being for your pet.
ย
๐. ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ
Before starting any weight-loss program, itโs important to consult with your veterinarian to:
โข Assess your dog’s current health status.
โข Determine an ideal weight.
โข Rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to weight gain (e.g., hypothyroidism or arthritis).
โข Recommend a suitable weight-loss food plan
ย
๐. ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ ’๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ
โข Measure Food portions – divide between Kongs & slow feeders etc.
โข Avoid free feeding ( leaving food down all day)
โข Stick to the recommended amount on the dog food label, but adjust for your dog’s weight loss goals. Your vet may suggest a caloric intake to target weight loss.
โข Limit treats – if you struggle not to give your dog treats, reduce the food portion amount to allow for treats
ย
๐. ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
โข Start slow and gradually increase intensity
โข Daily Walks โ gradually increasing duration
โข Playtime โ Frisbee, ball and tug play,
โข Increase stimulation โ puzzle games, scent work, training games
โข Monitor your progress with weekly weight checks
ย
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐:
โข Starving your dog: Cutting calories too much can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
โข Overestimating portion sizes: Always measure food to avoid giving too much.
โข Not providing enough exercise: Food reduction and increased activity.
ย
๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ
โข Losing weight requires time, patience, and consistency, but with the right plan, your dog will not only shed kilos, but also become healthier, happier, and more energetic.
๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ , ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ . ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ . ๐๐จ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
In addition to a calorie controlled diet, by combining hydrotherapy in an underwater treadmill and canine conditioning we can help your dog adjust to the new regime in a gentle way, increasing cardiovascular fitness, strengthening muscles and stabilising joints. Hereโs how the two modalities work.
ย
๐. ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ: The buoyancy of water minimizes the stress on your dogโs joints, making exercise less painful for overweight or arthritic dogs.
ย
๐. ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ: The water’s resistance and adjustable depth create a highly controlled and customizable workout environment.
ย
๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐จ: Walking against water resistance helps build muscle mass and improves cardiovascular fitness, essential for weight loss.
ย
๐. ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ: Warm water can soothe and relax muscles, aiding in overall recovery and increasing mobility
ย
๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ: These programs are tailored to improve flexibility, balance, and overall fitness through various exercises.
๐. ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ : Weight loss programs focus on building core strength and joint stability, which are crucial for an overweight dog.
๐. ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ : These exercises not only help physically but also mentally by fostering stronger relationships and reducing anxiety.
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ก
Combining these approaches can accelerate weight loss by providing low-impact cardio through hydrotherapy and targeted muscle-building and flexibility through conditioning. It’s a holistic approach that addresses both physical and mental well-being of your dog, ensuring they stay motivated and happy during their weight loss journey.
ย
๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐.ย Normal price $299 currently discounted by 30% to $209.30 which equates to $20.93 per week as an introductory offer.ย To register complete the form below.ย Challenge will begin the first week in March 2025.
ย
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
ย and 
