Over weight

[Tonks]

Sweetie is over weight.. 10lbs and has alot of extra skin its seems to roll down to her tail. I'm feeding her Blue Buffalo Light.. now I need her to get more exercise. We used to go walking at a park at 5:30am but my mom got scared that someone might try to take them from us or another dog might try to attack. So we stopped. I think all three of us gained weight.
I would really love to take Sweetie walking again.. does anyone have any suggestions on protection for us

Oh there is one more problem when we did go walking at the park sweetie would bark at everything.. I mean everything.. especially if our other dog Kobe came along. Does any know how to make them quiet down a bit and enjoy the walk

[kalina82]

maybe you should get some pepper spray to take on your walks and only go for walks when the sun is out. can you go for walks in the afternoon instead of early morning? as for barking, i don't know, mine doesn't do this.

[MeganS]

I agree that pepper spray is a good idea for protection.

as for the barking....I'm not sure. But I think just keep looking ahead and if you see something she might bark at then distract her by talking to her, etc., and praise her if she doesn't bark. and if she does bark, then make her stop walking and say "No bark."

Good luck!

[nvnvgirl]

I agree; pepper spray or the equivalent, stun gun, whatever it takes so you feel comfortable walking with them again. I can attest to the benefits of walking them regularly (and yourself )...I think walking with another person really helps too. I ALWAYS take my cellphone with me and make sure that I have it out if anyone comes anywhere near me. First of all, you can always use it to take a photo if you need to, and second, program the fastest way to dial 9-1-1. It's so much easier for them to lose weight when they're exercising (just like us) and it really doesn't take that much. Maybe get a whistle or some sort of personal alarm too....a lot of pedometers have alarms on them also...check them out; that way, you'll know how many steps you're walking which is a good thing, and you'll have another layer of security if anything should happen. Good luck to you sweetie...I don't want anyone to have to go thru the pancreatitis thing I've had to go thru before.....

I don't know what to do about the barking outside. Max doesn't do that, only at home when someone comes up to the door.....it sounds like Sweetie is being extra protective, but I'm sure someone else here can give you some good advice! Seana and Max