I’m happy to say that Keeda is now the ideal weight and is looking much healthier. Her endurance and energy levels have also improved greatly and she’s much more active in general. Here is a before photo of her, and a current photo next to it:

Before - Keeda was one fat dog

After

After

On a different but dog exercise related note, I got Keeda a frisbee a few days ago at Better Pets & Gardens and she’s already doing really great with learning how to catch it. She knows the “Catch” command for tennis balls and toys and such, so we’re building on that. What I did first was tell her to “Get” the frisbee while it was in my hand, so she’d latch on to it like she does a stick. Then I started almost throwing it, but still not allowing it to fully leave my hand. Then we moved on to the “Catch” and Keeda can now catch the frisbee at very short distances. We’re hoping to increase the distance bit by bit. I’ll try to get a video of her awesome frisbee catching skills somewhere down the line.

One important thing to remember when feeding your dog whole animals or animal parts is to not cook the bones. Cooked bones break and splinter much easier than raw bones do. They pose a greater risk of chocking for your dog than raw. It’s always important to watch your dog eat when you first start giving it meaty bones, chicken necks, or anything of the sort. Make sure that your dog doesn’t gulp down the food too quickly and is able to chew and break down the bones properly. When feeding Keeda things like chicken necks and especially chicken wings I always prefer to stay there and keep an eye on her just in case.

Another thing every dog owner needs to keep in mind is that each dog is different. A diet of raw meat can be great for one dog but not suit the next. If you’re unsure about whether you should change your dog’s diet or how to go about it, consult with your veterinarian.

While exercise is always a good thing even for dogs who don’t have proper diets, it’s always best to tackle your dog’s fitness from all angles rather than just one. Talk to your family about keeping your dog healthy through workout sessions and a proper feeding plan. Here are some points you can bring up to convince your family that your dog needs a healthy, balanced diet:

A diet of human leftovers can make your dog ill

Human leftovers can make your dog very sick if you don’t watch what’s in the food you’re giving it. Dogs’ bodies can’t digest various foods that humans can, so if you aren’t careful with what you give your dog you may see harmful effects hours, days, months, or even years down the road.

Human food is not a balanced diet.

High quality dog food is specifically formulated to give your dog the various nutrients it needs to stay at its peak physical condition. This includes your dog’s digestive system, joints, coat, muscles, and everything else in your dog’s body. Leftovers simply cannot provide your dog with all of the benefits it needs to stay as fit as possible. Many dog owners make their own food for their dogs, but a responsible owner will take all of their dog’s nutritional requirements into account and do proper research into what their dog needs. Leftovers simply don’t cut it.

Talk to a vet

If your family is still not convinced, see if you can arrange a talk with your vet about what kind of a diet your dog should be getting. A veterinary professional holds a great amount of authority in the field and your family may be more willing to listen to a vet and apply his or her suggestions.