Control access to food.  Feed at specific times and leave food out for 15-20 minutes, then take away whatever isn’t eaten.  Also, feed three or four smaller meals daily.  Dogs that are allowed access to food 24 hours a day or that get one daily meal are more likely to be overweight.

Know the exact amounts you feed.  Use standard measuring cups to scoop out dry food, and count cans of wet food.  Also, keep track of snack and “people food.”

Adjust serving sizes to fit your dog.  Feeding guidelines on packages are typically high.  It’s safe to cut back 15% to 25%.

Know what you’re buying.  Dogs tend to overeat high-fat foods.  Canned food typically has more fat than dry food.

Cut back on, or cut out, treats.  Habitually treating increases a dog’s odds of obesity by up to 50%.  Give low-calories carrots, pieces of apple, and unbuttered popcorn.  Break big treats into pieces to be fed over days, not minutes.

No crash diets.  These don’t give permanent results.

Increase activity.  A dog’s odds of obesity can drop 10% for each extra hour of exercise per week.

Add bulk.  Specially formulated high-fiber dog foods (ie., Hill’s Prescription R/D) can produce a feeling of fullness and reduce your dog’s calorie intake, resulting in weight loss.

If your dog is overweight, cut what it eats by 25%.  This should bring a slow, steady weight loss.  Research shows that dogs do best when they lose slightly more than 1% of body weight a week–just 3 or 4 ounces for a 20-pound dog.

If your dog is obese (needs to lose 20% or more), see your veterinarian.  Your pet’s doctor can figure caloric needs and may prescribe a special weight-loss food.

Be patient! It can take 18 months for an obese dog to safely regain a normal figure.