A big reason was the food we were feeding. I'm all about good quality ingredients and was feeding them Taste of the Wild, Wetlands formula. The dogs really like it and have done well on it, but it does have a protein content of 32% and fat of 18%. Feeding Rainer and Jenna just three cups a day was keeping them tipping the scale a bit.
So I started doing some additional research and tried a bag of Solid Gold's Wolf King. They also liked that formula (actually there's not a dog food they won't eat), but I noticed that after feeding them this food for a few months, the weight was starting to come off. They were still getting 3 cups a day, but I found that this food's protein and fat content of 22% and 9% was really helping them get back into the shape they were when they were 6 or 7 years old.
They're now at the point where they look lean and healthy again (and have both gotten their waists back) so we've decided to up the content again a bit so they don't lose any additional weight. We've gone back to a line we fed a few years back, but got too expensive for our pack: Blue Buffalo. At 24% and 14% protein and fat contents respectively, it should be just the right fit.
Now that everyone's weight has been managed, it's important not to blow the whole thing by feeding too many treats. The dogs don't mind, but we don't want to pack on the weight again. We've gone healthier with the treats we feed. A current favorite--dehydrated sweet potatoes! Rainer loves bananas and dried apples are also appreciated.
A dog treat that combines these flavors is carried by newbie Etsy seller, WaggingTailsGourmet
As someone who reads every label and hasn't fed my dog anything I can't pronounce well over 15 years, it's always nice to give your dog homemade food and treats that are better for their digestion, and overall health.
What's your dog's favorite treat?
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