Pet owners might be tempted to give their canine friends unlimited treats and snacks but this can be detrimental to their health.
According to Gloucestershire Live, owners shouldn't always give in to 'puppy dog eyes' as they have a responsibility to keep their pooch fit and healthy, by managing their weight.
Pet charity PDSA have even launched their annual ' Pet Fit Club' scheme where they track down 15 of the UK's most overweight pets, helping them to shed the pounds.
The pets will be placed on a six-month diet and exercise programme that is individually tailored to their needs. The process will be overseen by vets and vet nurses at their local PDSA Pet hospital to make sure the weight loss is safe and healthy.
A variety of pets can participate, including dogs, cats, rabbits and rats.
However, the best way to keep your pet healthy is to prevent them from gaining weight in the first place.
Grain free pet food brand, Canagan, have given their top tips on how to keep your dog at a healthy weight.
Is your dog overweight?
The correct weight of your dog depends on several factors, including its breed.
There is a healthy weight range for each breed, and if your dog falls within this, there should be no cause for concern.
With humans, it's easier to spot weight gain; our faces might fill out and our jeans might be a little tighter than they were last month.
However, these changes aren't as noticeable with our dogs but there are some subtle visual indicators that they are under or overweight.
Dietary and lifestyle change
Here are some tips that can help with your dog's weight loss journey:
See the vet
While too many treats can cause your dog to gain weight, an underlying health condition, such as an underactive thyroid, could also be behind your pet's obesity.
It's best to rule these out before making any lifestyle adjustments.
Increase the exercise
Simply adding 10 minutes onto your dog's walk time, or buying new toys for your pooch to play with can make all the difference to your dog's weight.
Cut out the snacks
You might be tempted to treat your dog, but be mindful about how many they are having; frequent treats can soon add up to an entire meal.
Instead, weigh out a daily portion of treats and only limit your dog's snacks to this portion.
Choose your dog's food carefully
What you feed your dog is really important for their health and weight.
Older dogs are less active, so their food should contain less fat and carbs.
Other dogs have a propensity for joint problems so need food that can help with this issue.
Monitor your dog's weight
A healthy rate of weight loss is 1% body fat per week- anything more or less could indicate that something isn't right in your diet and training plan.
Visit a professional to assess your dog's current plan and to rule out any potential medical issues
How to stop your dog from begging
It's hard to ignore an adorable dog who is begging for food- and they know it.
More often than not, we have reinforced this behaviour, giving into their whines and begs but it's possible to break this cycle.
Use toys as a treat
Dogs will be just as excited about playtime as they will be about food. The next time they beg, throw them their favourite toy instead of treats.
Keep them out of the room while you eat
A dog's sense of smell is better than ours, so when they smell our delicious meals they can't help but beg for it.
Take your dogs away from the temptation and also stop other family members sneakily feeding them under the table.
Break up meal times
If you are only feeding your pooch once a day, consider separating their portion into two or three extra meals.
If you time these meals to be the same as your own, your pooch is likely to ignore your meal and focus on their own.
