Regimen working OK?

[pittychick]

Ok here's a pic from 3 weeks ago. We were feeding raw again for a week when this was taken

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i302/PittyLova/dogs062.jpg

These were taken today, sorry for being fuzzy it's a camera phone. I figure they show the basics.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i302/PittyLova/j.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i302/PittyLova/java_edited.jpg

Does it seem like he's looking better? You think I should keep up at the pace we're going or up it? Any advice? I just want him to be the healthiest possible, feel and look his best :-) I'm not looking to do conformation or work him, but am doing it for us.

[chloesredboy]

He does look good!you can really see a huge difference between before and after.Mine are getting a little pudgy too.I need to get on.lol.

[pittychick]

Thanks, glad it's not just me haha! You know, wishful thinking that me working my lazy butt out is actually paying off lol! I'll say the diet has helped a lot too. He always had this funky fish breath no matter what kibble he ate, now there is NO smell at all. His coat's much better too.

[Fedor23]

yeah u can see the difference he got some tuck on the stomach.

[jeoestreich]

He is looking really good. You can really tell by the tuck in the stomach and in the face.

[pittychick]

He's much happier now too. Even more energy before, and we just doubled the running starting yesterday. He was tired at the end of 1 mile when I first started, we went 5 today and walked 1 and he was still rearing to go. Me on the other hand...lol!

Do you guys who work your dogs out typically keep the regimen the same or typically increase. Right now we're doing 3-5 miles running every other day or so (depends on my time), walk five miles (or 1-2 if I run them that day), spring pole for an hour a day total, and an hour of playing tug/fetch/agility training. Should I just keep them at that or start upping things?

[14rock]

He's looking alot better, still got aways to go, but don't overdo it. He's definetly got the fat to cut to be healthy, however you went a long way in 3 weeks, and shouldn't be cutting the weight too fast. Generally, it's best to increase work, and if need be, decrease food only a 1/4 cup a week to allow them to adjust naturally.

Looks like your headed in the right direction, keep it up, and keep us updated. Your pets going to be alot healthier, and happier as you can already tell, imagine just a few more months ;)

[pittychick]

Thanks 14rock, good to hear coming from you :)

I have him weighed monthly to decide where to be as far as feed, and increase/decrease daily as needed. I feed raw, so go by weight of the food. Right now he's at about a pound a day.

I figured I should pretty much keep him where it should be as far as the amount of work. I do need to get a new flirt pole because he LOVES it. I made mine from a horse lunging whip, but it got bent all up so gotta get another.

[14rock]

Coming from experience, a extendable pool cleaning rod works great. Simply buy one without, or remove, the net on the end, extend out, and hook the tug to the holes already in it. I used bungee straps (on hand) and closed the loops with vice grips so they wouldn't come of. If you let the dog grab the tug, thats not a good choice, as it does have a metal "S" on the end the dog can grab, as well as the bungee cord might break. A flirtpole isn't designed to be grabbed and pulled against however, so this isn't an issue if used correctly and kept out of the dogs mouth.

[pittychick]

I never let them actually have it, and they got a rope tug at the end of the work out to play with instead. But one day he got a good hold and just bent the darn thing in half! I liked it because the elastic end of the whip had a lot of bounce that drove them nuts. I'll have to look into the pool pole though!