50 Dogs Who Don’t Understand How BIG They Are

The PDSA explained to Bored Panda that a dog’s food is “an essential part” of their fitness. So you can’t just focus only on getting lots of movement—you need to give dieting and nutrition some proper attention, too! Similarly, you can’t get just the diet right while ignoring the importance of exercise.

“Making sure they are fed on a complete diet which keeps them at their ideal weight is important to keep them fit and healthy. As a general rule, we tend to give our pets too much food which can lead to obesity and reduced activity levels,” a representative of the PDSA told Bored Panda.

It’s better to err on the side of too little food than too much when we’re living in a society of overabundance, then. What’s more, you should do a bit of personal research to learn what the ideal weight for your dog breed is for its age. If in need, talk to a professional to get their take on what’s what.

Getting serious about health means putting in the time and energy to make your dog’s life better. And that means treating your pet’s health like you would your own if you’re all about fitness. So get your kitchen scales out!

“The best way to monitor your dog’s food intake is to weigh both them and their food. You can discuss your dog’s weight with your vet and check their body condition at home. Once you have a starting point and know what their target weight should be, start weighing and monitoring their food and treats to see how much they’re getting,” the PDSA said.

“You might want to try weighing out their portions at the start of the week to make it easy to keep track of what’s being fed. Reweigh your dog after a few weeks and see if they’ve gained, lost, or maintained their weight, then adjust their amount of food to fit your goal.”

Just remember—you’ve got to take into account any leftovers of extras that you might be giving your dog. So no munching on cheeky treats in secret!