Layla needs a diet! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

linz06 · 08-07-2007, 01:11 PM

Well, my fit little baby is now a chubby little adult! At 10 months, Layla was spayed and she weighed 5.5 lbs. 1.5 years (a couple months ago) she weighed almost 8.5 lbs! I just got her a short summer cut and you can really notice her little round tummy, and even just picking her up she feels very soft around her ribs. Her breeder estimated she'd be around 6.5 lbs full grown. I know she's starting to get overweight now, and I'd like to change that now before it gets worse! I have recently started feeding her Orijen, which is very dense, and I free-feed her. To have more control I think I'd like to start feeding her twice a day... I leave for work just before 8 am, and get home at just after 5 pm. She is very active when I'm home, we play and she runs all over the house. She's definitely not short on energy!
Does anyone have any suggestions on how much I should be feeding a dog of her size? Thanks!

Wylie's Mom · 08-07-2007, 01:26 PM

I'm a free feeder, so "how much" always confuses me. But, what about mixing another less dense kibble w/ the Orijen (Canidae, Wellness, or a "diet" kibble)? That might help even if you continue to free feed a bit...

paulapoo · 08-07-2007, 01:34 PM

I've never been comfortable with NOT free feeding. Otis has always been picky and I was never successful trying to switch to feeding times. He wouldn't cooperate and I just knew he'd get hungry while I was at work for 9 hours!!! I give an overflowing quarter cup twice daily, but I have NO idea if that's correct. Good luck! Don't worry Layla, we 'thick' girls have to stick together, I could stand to lose a few pounds too.

linz06 · 08-07-2007, 01:44 PM

Haha well maybe I'll continue with the free feeding and just start her on more exercise! I've switched her food so much lately, trying to find something I can get here in town that doesn't make her allergies flare up, so I'm a little wary of mixing in more foods now that I've found one that works for her. I really wouldn't care if she was 30 lbs! But I'm worried that with extra weight comes extra health problems.

marcerella02 · 08-11-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linz06

Haha well maybe I'll continue with the free feeding and just start her on more exercise! I've switched her food so much lately, trying to find something I can get here in town that doesn't make her allergies flare up, so I'm a little wary of mixing in more foods now that I've found one that works for her. I really wouldn't care if she was 30 lbs! But I'm worried that with extra weight comes extra health problems.

MY Layla also gets Orijen to snack on in between her home cooked meals. you are right that the food is very dense... you might try going to their website to see what they suggest for weight... and i'm sure that if you increase her excersize you'll see a difference. i find that in the summer Layla weighs more because it is too hot for our nightly walk, however int he winter we go for 1 hour walks... good luck and let us know how it goes!

diggy4 · 08-11-2007, 05:55 PM

Im also leary of not free feeding. With Diggy being so prone to low blood sugar, I make sure he eats at least 3 times a day still plus I hear him crunching in between meals. I suggest looking into a "diet" food, and nothing but healthy snacks. I noticed when I took Bella off all commercial snacks and went with yogurts, veggies, and fruits she seems to have lost weight, have more energy and healthier coat too! They do get some toddler treats too like the dehydrated fruits and fruit puffs made by gerber.

kalina82 · 08-11-2007, 06:03 PM

feeding twice a day is ok, i do it now because i feed raw.

i checked the Orijen website and it says that she should be eating 1/2 to 1 cup of food a day. how much do you put in her bowl for her to free feed? do you continually fill the bowl when its empty? i'd start giving her 1/2 of food to pick on all day and if she finished it during the day then that's it, give her no more when you get home. instead maybe give her a teaspoon of yogurt.

marcerella02 · 08-11-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

feeding twice a day is ok, i do it now because i feed raw.

i checked the Orijen website and it says that she should be eating 1/2 to 1 cup of food a day. how much do you put in her bowl for her to free feed? do you continually fill the bowl when its empty? i'd start giving her 1/2 of food to pick on all day and if she finished it during the day then that's it, give her no more when you get home. instead maybe give her a teaspoon of yogurt.

i agree... give her the 1/2 c to pick on all day.. if she is hungry try something healthy like carrots or yogurt, cottage cheese.. apples... if this food is new to her she'll gobble it up

08-07-2007, 01:11 PM	#1
linz06 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 1,183	Layla needs a diet! Well, my fit little baby is now a chubby little adult! At 10 months, Layla was spayed and she weighed 5.5 lbs. 1.5 years (a couple months ago) she weighed almost 8.5 lbs! I just got her a short summer cut and you can really notice her little round tummy, and even just picking her up she feels very soft around her ribs. Her breeder estimated she'd be around 6.5 lbs full grown. I know she's starting to get overweight now, and I'd like to change that now before it gets worse! I have recently started feeding her Orijen, which is very dense, and I free-feed her. To have more control I think I'd like to start feeding her twice a day... I leave for work just before 8 am, and get home at just after 5 pm. She is very active when I'm home, we play and she runs all over the house. She's definitely not short on energy! Does anyone have any suggestions on how much I should be feeding a dog of her size? Thanks! __________________ Lindsey and Layla

08-07-2007, 01:26 PM	#2
Wylie's Mom Marcel + Wylie = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,835 Blog Entries: 2	I'm a free feeder, so "how much" always confuses me. But, what about mixing another less dense kibble w/ the Orijen (Canidae, Wellness, or a "diet" kibble)? That might help even if you continue to free feed a bit... __________________ ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~My Food Blog: Velvet Lava~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ Ann ~Mom to Marcel Verdel Purcell & Wylie "Floop" Fitzsmudge We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. ~ Immanuel Kant

08-07-2007, 01:34 PM	#3
paulapoo Blessed by Otis & Ollie Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Plainfield, Indiana Posts: 2,803	I've never been comfortable with NOT free feeding. Otis has always been picky and I was never successful trying to switch to feeding times. He wouldn't cooperate and I just knew he'd get hungry while I was at work for 9 hours!!! I give an overflowing quarter cup twice daily, but I have NO idea if that's correct. Good luck! Don't worry Layla, we 'thick' girls have to stick together, I could stand to lose a few pounds too. __________________ ~Paula~ proud mommy of ~Otis (yorkie) & Oliver (shih-poo)

08-07-2007, 01:44 PM	#4
linz06 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 1,183	Haha well maybe I'll continue with the free feeding and just start her on more exercise! I've switched her food so much lately, trying to find something I can get here in town that doesn't make her allergies flare up, so I'm a little wary of mixing in more foods now that I've found one that works for her. I really wouldn't care if she was 30 lbs! But I'm worried that with extra weight comes extra health problems. __________________ Lindsey and Layla

08-11-2007, 05:55 PM	#6
diggy4 Bella Boo & Diggy Too! Donating GS Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit Posts: 5,800 Blog Entries: 5	Im also leary of not free feeding. With Diggy being so prone to low blood sugar, I make sure he eats at least 3 times a day still plus I hear him crunching in between meals. I suggest looking into a "diet" food, and nothing but healthy snacks. I noticed when I took Bella off all commercial snacks and went with yogurts, veggies, and fruits she seems to have lost weight, have more energy and healthier coat too! They do get some toddler treats too like the dehydrated fruits and fruit puffs made by gerber. __________________ E.R.F.W. www.DiggySnacks.com Bella 's Sam ~ Diggy 's Sukoshi

08-11-2007, 06:03 PM	#7
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Jersey Posts: 6,658 Blog Entries: 1	feeding twice a day is ok, i do it now because i feed raw. i checked the Orijen website and it says that she should be eating 1/2 to 1 cup of food a day. how much do you put in her bowl for her to free feed? do you continually fill the bowl when its empty? i'd start giving her 1/2 of food to pick on all day and if she finished it during the day then that's it, give her no more when you get home. instead maybe give her a teaspoon of yogurt. __________________ Kellie and Morgan Girls Soccer Team Goalie!!!!