Overfeeding dogs: Experts shares how to stop giving pets too much food

Our pets may seem like simple creatures, but at times they can be master manipulators.

How often do your dogs hit you with their puppy dog eyes and beg for more food?

Well, according to new research by Pedigree, 76 per cent of dog owners admit to giving their dogs extra food beyond regular meals at least once a week, with 32 per cent doing so every single day.

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A further 52 per cent of dog owners admit their dogs trick them into thinking they haven’t been fed, with 25 per cent claiming their dog pulls this trick at least once a day.

Another 25 per cent of dog owners directly attribute their pup’s overfeeding to not being able to resist their “puppy-dog eyes”.

Renowned dog behaviour specialist and expert in dog body language Nathan Williams spoke on the Today show about how to tell whether your dog is trying to trick you into getting more food.

“Dogs have a multitude of techniques they use on their owners,” says Williams.

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“Some dogs can just sit there and use a facial expression that makes your heart melt.”

This is why Pedigree has developed a new collar that tells pet owners whether their dog is lying to them about exactly how much food they have consumed.

“The collar detects the dog’s movement, so if a dog’s eaten and you log the amount of food that you put in the app on the phone that connects to the collar and the dog’s movement, it says how many calories it’s burnt throughout the day. So if the dog’s burnt more calories, you can afford to give a bit more food,” explained Williams.

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“But if the dog hasn’t burnt calories and still is acting hungry, the collar will tell you if the dog needs food or not. So you can look at the app and it will say do it. Can I feed my dog? And it might say liar. And if it says liar, your dog’s good, doesn’t need food.

At that point, “you can think of other things to… give the dog like a bone or something that won’t increase calorie intake,” Williams suggests.

He added in a press release, “Dogs can be very clever in how they express their ‘wants,’ especially when it comes to food – whether it’s because they’ve developed a habit of begging or simply know they can charm their humans into giving them extra treats. They may use body language or facial expressions that make them appear hungry, even when they aren’t.

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Pedigree Brand Director Nicola Paroissien added, “We know that pet parents across Australia are being drawn in by their dogs ‘puppy dog eyes’ when it comes to food, and we hope to help bring awareness to the importance of nutrition and balance, and improve overall health and well-being for Australian dogs.

“Our goal is to help pet parents make smarter, healthier feeding choices, creating a stronger relationship built on understanding and trust with their dogs.”

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