Overweight Dogs Doing Dogs Sports

[Cosmolo]

Has anyone else seen overweight dogs competing and/ or training for dog sports? What are your thoughts on the role the training clubs/ groups etc should take in policing this sort of thing? I saw an overweight dog doing a very active sport recently and cringed at the thought of the damage to the dogs joints etc. Who should step in to say something? If anyone? Are you very conscious of your dogs weights/ fitness?

[FHRP]

Unfortunately I see far too many overweight dogs competing in various dog sports. Our club has a very strict policy on not allowing overweight dogs train in agility. We can't however stop them competing. If a judge thinks a dog is unsound or at risk they should say something IMO.

My own dogs are kept lean and fit, wish the handler was the same

[poodlefan]

Has anyone else seen overweight dogs competing and/ or training for dog sports? What are your thoughts on the role the training clubs/ groups etc should take in policing this sort of thing? I saw an overweight dog doing a very active sport recently and cringed at the thought of the damage to the dogs joints etc. Who should step in to say something? If anyone? Are you very conscious of your dogs weights/ fitness?

Yes, I've seen it.

Clubs should not allow overweight dogs to train. Ours doesn't and I'm the "fat dog nazi" for intakes .. if I can't feel rib, the dog doesn't get to train. No exceptions. I hear "but my vet says my dog is fine" every intake.

[Cosmolo]

If you were just another person training your dog, would you say anything? Especially seeing as the people in charge don't seem to mind?

[poodlefan]

If you were just another person training your dog, would you say anything? Especially seeing as the people in charge don't seem to mind?

Yes... a dog's welfare is involved. But I'd try to be diplomatic... maybe something like "you know, I think Fido would find these exercises easier if he was a bit leaner."

Option B is to print off Christine Zink's article on Corpulent Canines and give a copy to EVERYONE at training.

[Sayreovi]

There are a few in flyball that need to loose weight fast, plus there are ones that are old and probably arthritic so need to retire. I dont like watching them and it cant be good on them, while having fun are probably in pain.

I am in no position to say anything though......even if i know that heaps of people agree, even spectators think they shouldnt be doing it!

I liken dogs doing sports as athletes, they should be trim and fit, you certainly dont see fat unfit runners thats for sure!

[cowanbree]

They are allowed to train but only jump the lowest level at out club while reducing in weight. That said I have just as much issue with some of the dogs I consider way too skinny. There is a women here that has a sheltie that would be 5kg max. Should be around 7-8kg and is a bag of bones but apparently they run better when they are lean. While you should be able to feel ribs and the dog should have a waistline as far as I am concerned if you can see ribs the dog is too skinny

[poodlefan]

They are allowed to train but only jump the lowest level at out club while reducing in weight. That said I have just as much issue with some of the dogs I consider way too skinny. There is a women here that has a sheltie that would be 5kg max. Should be around 7-8kg and is a bag of bones but apparently they run better when they are lean. While you should be able to feel ribs and the dog should have a waistline as far as I am concerned if you can see ribs the dog is too skinny

If you can see ribs on a Sheltie, it must be emaciated... and have no coat.

Seeing the last three ribs (an impression, not starkly) is not uncommon on some of the leaner breeds. If I can see really obvious vetebrae or any hips, it's too thin for most dogs in my opinion. We have far more issues with overweight dogs than thin ones at our club.

[jesomil]

This is one thing that really makes me cringe. I hate seeing overweight dogs doing sports, it is so unhealthy.

But it is a problem with how to approach the subject as people get very defensive about their dogs.

I think it is up to whoever is running the sport to take the person aside and mention it.

I like to have the last rib or two showing on my adult Kelpies. They are not thin, just lean and fit.

[shoemonster]

I think its worse when the people know their dog is overweight and they do it anyway as "the dog loves it"

It's hard cos instructors really need to tell the people if they think the dog is OW, as they will probably be the first to get blamed when the dog starts having problems "you didnt tell me my dog shouldn't be doing it, etc"

[Miss Squish]

hi! i was told by my instructor that my rotty had to lose some weight asap as he is an althlete competing now & hes at a huge risk of injury!he was slow & lagging behind & thought it was just him! i didnt notice he was overweight but put him a diet & cut back on treats & he went from 55kg to 45kg in no time! now he has so much more energy & is keen to train not lazy at all! have seem quite a few o/w dogs but our instructors are great at talking to these owners & giving great advice!

[Guest Clover]

O/w dogs competing and training (and o/w pet dogs too) in dog sports is one of my biggest pet peeves . In patting a dog say at training i will often run my hands over their ribs and if their is some extra weight there say something to the owner . Or if there is extra weight needed.

There are a few in flyball that need to loose weight fast, plus there are ones that are old and probably arthritic so need to retire.

I cringe when i see some dogs run at Flyball and have to walk away .

I am pedantic about my dogs condition. At nearly 9 years old Clover is kept as lean as possible, even though she is carrying a little extra atm she is not at all over weight. Elvis was very thin when we got back from Nationals about a month ago, i am only just happy with how much he has put on now and dont want anymore on him. Tinny could lose a tiny bit more or just tone up a bit now.

[Vickie]

I never hesitate to tell people that their dog is overweight. I try to be tactful, but denial is a very common response from some, others seem to take it on board & make it their business to bring their dog up to me each week so I can have a feel . I will not let a dog that is overweight jump & give them other exercises to do instead.

I am noticing a few dogs competing lately who I think are either lame or truly getting past it. This I find the saddest. They are not newcomers who know no better & I don't think there is any excuse for it. I was very pleased at the last trial I went to, to see a judge actually stop a dog running & speak to the handler about the physical difficulty it was having running. This is in the rules, judges are entitled to do this & I fully support it.

Edited July 27, 2007 by Vickie

[sidoney]

I'm not sure whether people actually realise that their dogs are overweight. Dog obesity is a big problem and a growing one.

Re vertebrae - sometimes you can see a few on the top of my Vizslas' spines. I keep them lean but covered (a bit like how I wish I was). It can depend on how they are standing.

[Vickie]

I'm not sure whether people actually realise that their dogs are overweight. Dog obesity is a big problem and a growing one.

I agree, people don't know that their dogs are overweight. My dogs were overweight (for agility) years ago when I started, people told me & I fixed it.

The 2 most common excuses I hear are:

We went to the vet last week & they said my dog's weight is perfect and

This is the weight I need for the showring

and how could I forget...the best of the lot:

"but I feed exactly what it says on my (premium) bag of dog food...oh, and a bone or 2 a day...oh, and table scaps/leftovers...oh, and training treats..."

[J...]

Unfortunately there are a few dogs out there competing that are bordering between slightly overweight to fat...

A lot of clubs have rules as to what age pups/young dogs are allowed to do equipment, no questions asked. Why can't the same thing apply to overweight dogs? I remember reading on here a while ago that up to 40% of dogs were rejected from intake to one club's beginner class due to weight

I am noticing a few dogs competing lately who I think are either lame or truly getting past it. This I find the saddest. They are not newcomers who know no better & I don't think there is any excuse for it. I was very pleased at the last trial I went to, to see a judge actually stop a dog running & speak to the handler about the physical difficulty it was having running. This is in the rules, judges are entitled to do this & I fully support it.

This is so sad - seen a dog recently that was entered in just about every available section at a trial. Dog was struggling to get over the course at the start of the day, let alone after it had been hawked around every course it was eligible for. Poor dog was trying so hard to please his/her owner

[Seita]

I was recently told a story (from a few years ago) where a judge actually refused a competitor from trialling in agility because their dog was too fat. In my opinion more judges should be doing that!

[2tollers]

O/w dogs competing and training (and o/w pet dogs too) in dog sports is one of my biggest pet peeves . In patting a dog say at training i will often run my hands over their ribs and if their is some extra weight there say something to the owner :D. Or if there is extra weight needed.

There are a few in flyball that need to loose weight fast, plus there are ones that are old and probably arthritic so need to retire.

I cringe when i see some dogs run at Flyball and have to walk away .

I agree with the flyball dogs. There's quite a few who are overweight and I hate seeing them run. As for some of the older dogs I find that really disturbing, I think when a dog reaches a certain stage in life you have to adjust their activities. Tracking provides great mental stimulation, plenty of walking but nothing that would tax the average older dog physically.

Clover didn't you tell me Todd needs to lose weight ages ago.

[bridgie_cat]

certainly we have overweight dogs coming through our club and the instructors always talk to the owners about adjusting diets etc. We had one such dog training in agility - the dog was not stopped but the instructors made sure (through constant nagging) that an effort was made to take off the extra weight.

dog clubs should be about educating owners in how to look after their dogs (like diet etc) as much as it is about training them. Whilst there is the damage being done to ligaments through jumping an overweight dog, I think the importance of keeping dog and owner in a positive learning environment outweighed this - had they been stopped from training in agility it is highly likely that #1 the owner would have gone home and made no effort with the weight prob as there was noone checking progress/nagging etc AND #2 would have gone away with a negative attitude towards the club and would be unlikely to come back, which is bad for the dog because training would also be exercise, socialising & further education for the owner!

we do train at lower jumping heights than would be at competition for each dog up until pre trialing weeks as a general rule (exceptions being the fit dogs that are already trialing and have bar knocking tendencies)

[Purpley]

The person you are referring to is well aware that there dog has a weight problem. Unfortunately they don't seem to want to do anything about it. You could mention it, but I wouldn't hold my breath that things would change.