Not our resolutions!
Dear Fisher,
We are writing to you to see if you can give us an easy way to lose weight so our humans would quit obsessing over it all the time. We are Burt and Tammy and we really don’t do a lot of running type exercises because we have these short little legs and we look silly. We also enjoy eating good food when our humans gave us their leftovers, but then suddenly they decided that we were getting a little on the fat side. So now we have this kind of double whammy where we are expected to eat healthy dog food instead of macaroni and cheese with hamburger thrown in. And, we are expected to go outside and play in the back yard. That does not include a slow walk to the end of the fence and then back again. They want us to run around the entire yard.
Of course we want to please, but we feel we are too old to change our ways. What do you think we can do about this? It is not fun!
Burt and Tammy
Dear Burt and Tammy,
No, it is not fun to go from cheeseburgers to dog food. But, I have to tell you, it sure is better for your health. I am guessing your people have not brought out the new toothbrushes yet? Healthy eating goes a long way toward helping with dental hygiene.
You two will do well to reverse your thought processes. Instead of thinking you are being punished because your humans would like you to do a little exercise, you might want to look forward to the play time as just having fun. If you walk to the end of the yard on occasion, you might want to raise the number of occasions. It isn’t so much that they want you to start lifting weights or jogging down the street past that super-jock dog you know will laugh at you; it is that they are concerned for your health and want you around for a long time. Your humans will do well to offer you praise for your efforts. You might visit www.dogplay.com for fun ideas for you and your humans to get more exercise together.
When you and Tammy are put outside to play in the yard, think of something that is actually fun. Chasing a ball or Frisbee is good sport. Start slowly and then build up to the point where you can play longer with less exhaustion. Do not go straight for the strenuous exercise thinking it will work faster to get you fit. It will wear you out faster and increase the absolute dread of ever exercising again!
There are many maladies that can come from overeating and under exercising pets. You and your humans might want to start out by having a good chat with your vet just to do a check up on the state of your health.
As far as the eating goes, try very hard to eat well, eat less, and eat less more often. That way you have some time in between to digest your food and let some of the calories work for good. It is a change, but you might just find yourselves feeling better and more energetic. Then think about the fun it will be when you do your perky little dog jog past the super-jock dog down the street. Your confidence alone will stop his giggles.
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt* Tampa Bay
