Note: This is a guest post from Apryl DeLancey who writes the blog “Women Like Sports.”
Gus is a big dog. His breed is large but he’s got a few extra pounds and is somewhere around 120 pounds. Gus was at the Norco, Calif., shelter for somewhere in the neighborhood of two years. The poor fellow has been with at least four other families before he got to us. This gave him a very sweet disposition (amazingly) and he’ll go with anyone. He loves all humans and other animals. Unfortunately, he’s also a bit lazy. I can picture that he sat around the front office in Norco for quite a while.
His foster family did an excellent job of getting him on the right track. They fed him only a specific amount of food and vegetables twice daily. We continue to feed him only two times a day. He gets either chicken or turkey with broccoli or green beans. Yes, before you gasp – we have no human children so the dog is quite spoiled and catered to. We do get him cans of “large breed weight management” as well and are very strict about how many treats he gets. Depending on the amount of physical activity he has in a day will dictate the type and amount of treats.
We take Gus on at least two walks every day. He’s become leaner in the few months we’ve had him. He goes hiking several times a week. When I say hiking, I mean serious inclines in the hills of Southern California. No matter how much weight he loses, he will always have folds of skin since he’s a bloodhound.
In spite of my incessant and nearly obsessive care for the dog, I still get very judgmental comments about him when we are out. A trip to the local “pet superstore” means that the full-time animal lovers will give me a lecture on how I should watch his weight. I’m not talking about the employees – I mean the other patrons! They know nothing about me or how long I’ve had Gus and will tell me what I should feed him. They will also so kindly inform me that he’ll eventually experience serious health issues if I don’t watch his weight. They proceed to look down their nose at me as if I am a horrible animal parent that is in need of intervention.
At first, I was a bit defensive and would explain that I just became his person and he’s lost a few pounds since I’ve had him. Not anymore. If ignorance is bliss then who am I to ruin someone else’s happiness? I really am not concerned with what a complete stranger thinks of me or my Gustav.
My husband isn’t always so kind. We will be in Runyon Canyon or another steep hike and folks will stop with a very concerned demeanor about Gustav’s weight. Hubby will reply with a “that’s why we’re here” or something far more sarcastic. You would think that if we are dressed in sneakers and sweats that other people on the trail would get that we are all there to exercise. Go figure.
So there you have it – the weight-obsessed world includes telling complete strangers that they have fat dogs. I would think there were more productive ways to spend one’s time.
Apryl DeLancey is a Los Angeles native and sports fanatic who maintains a blog called “Women Like Sports.” Check out Apryl’s other That Mutt appearances: Freako on a leash, How do I know when my pet is sick?, A new addition, Cat bites are serious and Our dogs lead us to others.
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December 4th, 2008 at 7:38 am
My golden retriever has a few extra pounds and I just changed him to Royal Canin Light. We exercise him at least an hour or an hour and a half every day but he does sleeps a lot the rest of the time.
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December 4th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Now I just need to teach him to growl at rude people that call him fat…just kidding…sort of…
December 4th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
We rescued Tudee from the streets when no one claimed her. She is a Chihuahua mix with a Chihuahua head and a linebacker body. The vet said she is not fat, just has a body of a pug or bulldog. And yet strangers will tell me she is fat. I’m tired of being tactful to these oafs.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I wonder why people think it is OK to make comments like this to you about Gus!? I certainly wouldn’t think to say that to you. (Gus looks awesome by the way!)
I certainly wouldn’t presume to know how things are for you and Gus… and I wouldn’t say something like that to a human about a human, so why would I say it about a dog?! Sheesh. People can be so rude!
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December 4th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Yup…my dogs are fat too. Well, three of the four. We didn’t even realize that Trooper had gained extra weight since he’s so fluffy already. We know our dogs are fat and don’t need anyone to tell us.
I do feel bad for dog I see out and about who is clearly overweight. But I’d never say anything. People need to keep their noses out of other people’s business. Sheesh.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
oh man that must be sooo annoying- Maybe you should get a shirt that says: my dog knows he’s a fatty- no advice needed kthxby!!
December 4th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I’m not one to tell anyone their dogs is fat.. or anything else for that matter. Unless it’s a good friend of mine (who has a fat dog) and I try to gently let her know that her dog would be much healthier if skinnier.
This dog was a foster of mine one year and ten pounds ago, and was at a perfect weight then! I hope she soon understands…
Otherwise I leave people alone about their dogs’ condition.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I have thought of interesting shirts to wear like “My fat dog will eat your little ankle biter” and what not but I’ve just become accustomed to taking the high road. Of course, I’m thinking far worse things to myself! Mostly I just sort of figure that they are just trying to make up for something in their own lives they are lacking.
December 5th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I think Gus looks great!
December 8th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Does anyone remember that Boynton cartoon, with a pouty cat that says, “I’m not fat. I’m just fluffy.”
I like to say that Biggie is “big-boned” – he is a solid dog but he’s not all lean muscle like the dobermans or rotties. But he did tend to gain “fat” weight (as opposed to staying healthy and muscular) when we had him on kibble, even a high-quality one like EVO, even when feeding him the required amount for his weight. But on raw he pretty much stays “lean” (for a kuv) and healthy.
Another friend of ours finally bit the bullet and switched his 2 dogs to raw. One because his elderly dog wasn’t eating enough and had digestive issues, and the other because he needed to lose some weight.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Ha! I do remember the “fluffy” bit – very cute! Gus has lost a bit since this post but has a naturally large chest and folds that will always make him look large!