Why city dogs are getting fat and what we can do about it

 Let’s talk about fat dogs. I know, it feels a bit awkward, no one wants to admit their beloved pet is carrying a few extra rolls. But the truth is, so many of our city dogs are overfed and under-exercised.

Take Bernie, for example - he’s the one in the picture. He came to live with us weighing a whopping 16 kilos when he should have been around 6. He was a Jack Russell who could barely walk to the end of the street. It took months of careful food management and building up his exercise before he finally found his zest for life again. And let me tell you, while he’s ended up a sprightly little character, those months were miserable for him. Carrying that much extra weight robs dogs of the simple joy of movement.

City dogs face an extra challenge. They don’t have fields to zoom around in or acres of woodland to burn calories off. Their exercise often relies on structured walks, and while sniffing is brilliant for their brains, it doesn’t burn off as much energy as people think. Which means, quite simply, they don’t need as much food as the packet might suggest.

And here’s something I feel strongly about: I see so many dogs who are only eight years old but look positively ancient because of overfeeding. Their joints ache, their energy is gone, and their sparkle disappears far too soon. Contrast that with my own Conker. He’s 12 now, lean, and still active, because I’ve kept him slim, he can still move with ease and enjoy life. His age shows, of course, but not in the way of a dog who’s been carrying around years of extra weight.

It’s not just how much we feed our dogs that matters, it’s also what we feed them. Kibble every day, on its own, really isn’t a recipe for a long, healthy life. Just as our bodies thrive on variety, so do our dogs. Their microbiomes aren’t that different from ours, and they benefit from fresh, healthy foods. Topping up their meals with safe scraps, vegetables, or a bit of fresh protein goes a long way in keeping them healthy from the inside out. Think of it as building resilience in their bodies, just like we do with our own diets. 

Here’s my advice:

• ignore the packet sometimes, feeding guides are exactly that, a guide. City dogs often need less.
• check the waistline, you should see a nice tuck at the waist and be able to feel ribs without digging.
• ask your vet, a good vet will give you an honest opinion if your dog is looking a bit portly.
• watch the sneaky snacks, guilty as charged here. With four dogs in the house, I recently realised Bruno had sneakily packed on some summer weight. Turns out, it’s easy to lose track of who’s helping themselves to the extra treats. Bruno is now on a diet, and he’s not exactly thrilled about it… but his long-term health matters more than his temporary sulk.
• fresh food matters, add vegetables, a bit of lean meat, or healthy leftovers to your dog’s bowl. Variety keeps their gut bacteria balanced and their bodies healthier for longer.

Overweight dogs are at greater risk of arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and sadly, shorter lives. Keeping them trim really is one of the kindest things we can do.

So if your city dog is looking a little rounder than usual, don’t panic, just start making small changes today. Fewer treats, measured meals, fresh food variety, and a bit of extra movement can make all the difference. Your dog won’t thank you now, but when they’re zooming about with ease in a few months’ time, you’ll know it was worth it.

Want more help?

Join my City Dog Club community where you can ask all your food questions and share what’s working for your dog. And if you’ve got a fussy eater (poodle mixes are the champions at turning their noses up!), I’ve put together an eating plan that may help you turn mealtimes from stressful to simple which you can find in the community as well.