My Name is TaraBear and I'm a Chubby Doodle

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

 Don't let this happen to your doodle!

Last time you saw Tara she was partying hard on her 4th birthday. Well all that has come to a quick end. Yesterday I posted a video in the Grooming Group for a DK'er who was concerned about her doodle's weight. After watching it I gave Tara the exam. OMCD! (Oh My Cubby Doodle!) I'm guessing she is about 2 pounds overweight which is quite a bit for a 20 pounder. The equivalent of your 100 pound doodle being 10 pounds over. She has lost her hourglass figure and her ribs have disappeared.  So the diet started yesterday, right in time for the Holidays! :(

Here's the video (please ignore all references to Purina!!):

Then I received a Newsletter from Tara's vet today which contained this article (excerpts as I removed the parts about having your vet advise you about diets and food :) stressing the importance of proper weight for our dogs. Also giving me a jab for killing Tara with too much food!!!!  So "we" at least the "me" part of  "we" are determined to find Tara's ribs and get her hourglass figure back. Tara on the other hand is threatening to rehome herself! I see I have my work cut out for me!!

 

Obesity in Dogs

Is Your Dog Overweight?

Obesity is on the rise, and not just for humans. Dogs are increasingly overweight and even obese. In the United States, an estimated 43 million dogs are overweight or obese - that’s over half of all dogs! And it is not just dogs in the United States that need to lose a few pounds - canine obesity is also a problem in Canada, Europe, Australia and other countries worldwide.

Canine obesity increases the risk for osteoarthritis, insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory problems, kidney disease, some types of cancer, and cranial cruciate ligament injury. Thanks to these increased health problems, overweight dogs face a decreased life expectancy of up to 2.5 years.

Even if your dog is just a couple pounds over his ideal weight, those few pounds could make a big difference to your dog's health. For example, a 7lb Pomeranian is considered to be a “healthy” weight and the equivalent of a 145lb, 5’ 4” human female. An extra five pounds on the Pomeranian, however, is the equivalent to a 249lb female, which is more than 100lbs over the female’s ideal body weight. Just a few extra pounds really will make a big difference for your dog’s health.

Why are so many dogs overweight? Unfortunately, some pet owners are literally killing their dogs with too much food and too many treats! For example, only one ounce of cheese for a 20 pound dog is the equivalent of 1.5 hamburgers for the average woman! While dog owners may never intentionally mean to hurt their pet, overfeeding, lack of exercise, and poor dietary choices have led to a pet obesity crisis.

A lack of outdoor exercise is also a problem. Busy pet owners who work long hours simply don’t have the time to take their dog for longs walks, runs or play fetch. Together, too much food and a lack of exercise is the perfect recipe for dog obesity.

Early intervention will help overweight dogs get healthy. 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Should we start a Green Beans Anonymous support group in the Food Group? Lots of talk there lately about some doodles who need to watch their weight!

Tara, trust your mom and don't leave her! She has your best interests at heart! Extra avoirdupois = knee and back problems, along with a lack of dates for the Doodle Valentine Dance!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thank you for your support, Karen, unlike LISA some people around here! :)

I think "we" will set Valentines Day as our target date for achieving our weight loss goal which will be a one pound a month loss.  We are ready to join the Green Bean Anonymous Support group until Tara is a string bean. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think Tara will love the GBA group! There are a couple of hot boy doodles in So. Cal (and one's a mini!) who will probably be joining, among others!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Are they Ned and Clancy the Beach Boys? Tara will think she is Queen Bean with all those hotties!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, Nancy has been asking about green beans in TFG, now that Ned has fallen in love with Orijen!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Karen, I was unaware you were the Yenta on DK!, What ya running a Shidduch?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lisa, I have no idea what that is, lol! My family didn't speak much Yiddish...you may know more words than I do!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Well I grew up in a prominent Jewish area in Michigan....I know you know a Yenta is a gossip but only if she is not connected to a Shidduch which is a Jewish matchmaking group at which time the Matchmaker is referred to as a Yenta.

Ha - I finally knew something you didn't.

:o)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, you can be the DK expert on Yentas, I don't mind!

[Sheila & Finnley]

WOW, I knew what a Yenta was when I read that !! LOL. Don't know how I knew it being a Catholic girl and all, but I feel so in the loop now ! LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I knew what a Yenta was too, it was the Shidduch part that threw me, lol!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I didn't follow this logic although I know both words, yentas and shidduchs. I never know how to spell some of these words though. Yesterday I got into a conversation with a young man working at Panera bread. He had been conversing rather well, I thought, with coworkers in Spanish but at times he would note corrections they made. It turned out he had learned all his Spanish on the job. What a great way to learn a second language. We should all pick up as many words/languages as we can especially when no effort is really involved.