I mentioned yesterday that today’s post wouldn’t be my traditional Follow-Up Friday. No worries, no worries, the post will go off tomorrow and normal activities should resume next week.
The reason we’re deviating from our regularly scheduled blog post is easy, it’s K9 Kamp time! Created and hosted by Kol’s Notes and Peggy’s Pet Place, it’s an awesome challenge designed to help you and your dog shape up.
I was first approached about this opportunity in the beginning of the month. To say I’m honored to be asked is an understatement. I’m thrilled beyond words as there are some amazing bloggers, some awesome sponsors and some truly great prizes.
For the K9 Kamp kick off we’ve been asked to share our reasons for getting involved and what our favorite activity for keeping fit is.
Well both of those are easy. We’re getting involved because the health and well-being of our pets as well as you and your pets is important to us.
When Sampson first joined our family and was a little bit overweight I’d always say, “I’d rather have a fat dog that lives a shorter but happy life, than to have a skinny dog that doesn’t seem happy.”
That’s a very naive statement to make but very easy to say when your dog is a year old. HOWEVER once that sweet little puppy begins to show signs of aging, well you quickly wish you could take back those extra treats and eat your words along with them.
Keeping your dog (and yourself) fit can be a real challenge. When Delilah’s health issues prompted us to make some major decisions, we decided to go all in. That meant a very strict, monitored diet and daily exercise.
Diet is easy, but I can’t say the same for exercise. The easiest one I know, that the dogs and I both enjoy is walking.
Sampson is less inclined to do anything more physical than walking, running or wrestling, but Delilah enjoys exercising her mind as well as her body. Which is why she and I take classes every couple of months or so. It gives her the opportunity to learn something new and entertains that chocolate brain of hers.
At Delilah’s annual exam last Thursday, she weighed in at a svelte 71.4 pounds, she’s even lost a half a pound or so since last year. This tells me that our half-hour walks, and the choice of food and treats we are using are working well for her.
Since I have large dogs, it’s important to me that they maintain a healthy weight. This cuts down on their risk for certain diseases, as well as helps lower the stress on their bones and joints. This is extremely important during the aging process.
One of my favorite photos but you can see how heavy they were.
In fact, when our vet first saw Sampson and Delilah after their dramatic weight loss (Sampson 25 pounds, Delilah 33 pounds) she exclaimed, “You deserve a medal for what you have done for these dogs, you’ve probably given them an additional two to three years of life.”
Now that is something I can get on board with.
Jodi and Peggy have the down and dirty on their blogs, so head on over and check it out. We’d really love it if you’d join us in this challenge, I mean really, what have you got to lose, except maybe the five pounds you’ve been trying to shake?
See you on the trails!
(P.S. Remember if you’re looking for the Follow-Up Friday Blog hop, you can find the link up over at Misty Shores Chesapeakes)
Though I could stand to lose a few (or more that just a few), thankfully my dogs are all at good, fit weights. Suspect if they were city or town dogs, that would not be the case. Love the idea of K9 Kamp though 🙂
You sure have done a good job with Sampson and Delilah. Good luck with the camp!
So glad you are one of the Kampers! That is pawsome that your pups have lost so much weight! We were never overweight, so we can’t imagine what it would be like and we feel so bad when we see overweight pets. Hopefully this K9 Kamp will motivate some more pet parents to get their pets paws out the door and moving around! Happy Kamping 🙂
Very impressed that you got the weight off in the first place but to keep it off is marvellous work!
Bravo a great job done. Have fun at camp and have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly.
Hi Y’all!
With the heat rolling up to the 80’s and 90’s don’t forget to carry plenty of water and start out before the sun has a chance to get up and start work.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Holy cow jodi. great job on the weight loss on the pooches, that is a big deal and you should be so proud. great write up.
Wow, the pups looks great!! Have a great weekend!!!
Good for you, Jodi! My parents’ dog recently had a weight problem as well and it took a lot of time but he has lost the extra pounds now as well. The big thing they noticed is how much more energy he had. I am sure it was the same for your two. I guess it shows that sometimes being in good shape might actually make a dog happier.
Now if only I could believe the same was true for myself…
Love the name of the “Kamp”. All the best. 🙂
I keep tellin Blubber Butt Ernie that he needs to drop about 87 ounces or MORE.
Great post Jodi 🙂 At one point Cali weighed 91 pounds! We thought she was just fluffy!! It took a little bit of work, but we got her back to a healthy 75 pounds where she stayed for most of her life. I’m with you – walking was a huge part of keeping all of us moving and still is – have fun with Kamp!!
My dogs don’t need to lose weight, but I sure do! Working on it, starting yesterday. I did FUF today, since I don’t blog weekends.
Great post this morning, my friend! Have already read a little bit about K9 Kamp on Pamela’s post — and will be checking out the kamp itself in a little while.
You have every right to be proud that the dogs have lost so much weight, and maintained their healthy weights! Callie and Shadow were, two years ago, both overweight. While they were both getting the same amount and type of food and exercise, Shadow started losing weight but Callie kept gaining. That’s when the vet and I decided it was to run a complete thyroid panel. She was — like me — thyroid deficient. Within a month after starting on the Thyroxin, and being on the same diet & exercise regimen, she had lost 5 of the 10-12 pounds the vet recommended for both of them. She has actually lost weight since the surgery in February, so I need her to gain back just a little bit.
**time**
Dontcha just “love” it when auto-correct wipes out what you just typed?!
Wow! That is a HUGE weight loss for both of them! Way to go!
Looking forward to seeing your K9 Kamp posts! 🙂
Great job getting the fur kids to a healthy weight! Daisy has the opposite problem and we have to take her in for routine weight checks to make sure she’s maintaining her ideal weight and getting too skinny. I wish I had that problem LOL! See you around Kamp!
It sounds like a great idea, and a nice continuation of Gizmo and Finn’s Park Day,
Howdy Fellow Kampers K9 Kamp is pawsome….it’s our first year and we’re so excited to be part of it…
That’s awesome. Sampson and Delilah look absolutly perfect. Mom is very weight conscious, even though I’m tiny. Since I jump around a lot, she’s afraid I will hurt my legs if I get too fat. I only take short walks outside, but I do a lot of playing (and learning) in the house. And she’s careful about treats. 🙁
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Wow what impressive weight loss. While I am not good At limiting myself my dogs r food weights
UrbAn hounds
Wow, that’s amazing that they both lost so much weight! Well done!!
We used to joke about starting a doggy fat camp, cuz we’d dog sit for the family dogs and they pudgy ones would always lose a coupla pounds while they were with us. (And 2 lbs on a 22lb dog is a lot!). Sure would be a fun job…
Happy to be Kamping with you. See you ’round the kamp fire!
That’s amazing. Sampson hardly even looks like himself. Good work!
Hi Jodi,
How great to see you all at K9 Kamp! You’ve done such an awesome job with Sampson and Delilah, keep up the wonderful work you guys! 🙂
Big wags,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Keeping us at the right weight is very impawtant, especially as (Unless we completely luck out) we can’t help ourselves to our food and so the responsibility it yours!
Wow I guess I never realized they were that over weight, great job Jodi!
I participated in our local animal welfare organization’s annual walk/fund raiser to get me and my dogs out for a nice 3K walk. It’s a start! 🙂