Oh those puppy-dog eyes . . .who can resist them? There's a reason that turn of phrase "puppy-dog eyes" is used to describe the very deliberate emotional blackmail specifically tendered by basically anyone with the wherewithal to ride the cute train to anywhere. The phrase most assuredly originates with its namesakes. You know the look -- the slight head tilt, the pleading eyes, perhaps a barely perceptible whimper, just for emphasis.
From your pup, that look can say a lot of things, but often it's a transparent plea for a snack. He seems to be saying, "see how cute I am? Don't I deserve something special?"
So of course you yield to his entreaties, because what kind of a dog owner would you be if you didn't agree wholeheartedly?
Well, believe it or not, rejection would actually make you a very responsible and loving pet owner.
The fact is, digestively-speaking, your dog doesn't need extra snacks to get him through the day. Giving in and handing over a fistful of snacks, only contributes to the (literally) ever-growing issues with obesity that we are seeing in dogs. Obesity causes serious health concerns for dogs, including diabetes mellitus and orthopedic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, respiratory, immune and reproductive disorders. Fat dogs are more at risk in surgery, more prone to injury, and have more stress on their heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and joints.
Snacks do have their place, however. They can be a very effective training tool, for example. So, the key component here would be not to eliminate snacks, but to censure them.
It is very important to limit snacks to those of the healthy variety, and to always, always, always, and, without fail, include them in your dog's daily calorie count. You can see the results of snacking yourself (Dare we point out those "love handles" you've been ignoring?). It is important to remember that those same results will be seen in your dog, even if it is less evident at a glance.
When it comes to snacking, there are a few basic rules of thumb to follow:
Snacks should never account for more than 5% of the total daily diet, as measured in calories.
Avoid fatty snacks, such as the commercial imitation bacon and sausage types, which only serve to upset the digestive system.
Don't tempt your pet with easily accessible goodies around the house.
Remember that anything labeled as a snack should be considered supplemental in nature, and should never be used as a substitute for a complete and balanced diet.
Healthy snacks can include fruits and vegetables, and even some homemade "cookies" and biscuits. As a companion to our Delicious Doggy Cuisine, we have compiled such homemade treat recipes for your dog's enjoyment. They are fun to make, and even more fun to serve. Many can be made in "bulk" amounts, so you can store the extras for later use. Take a look, you'll find a complete listing if the recipes includes on this page!
So there you have it -- you now have our blessing. When he's giving you that look you just can't resist, go ahead and cave. But, for your dog's health, when you cave, please cave responsibly.
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