So ashamed that I've let him get this fat!

[Peppatina]

This is my four year old crossbreed (jack Russell and chuahuahua).

The titles says it all really. I know he'd been pinching my mum's dogs food when he stayed there (a healthy weight Dalmatian) and had noticed last year that he had started to get porky but figured he'd lose it with a bit of extra exercise.

Well, he hasn't. He came back from the kennels yesterday (holiday) and I actually looked at him properly

He weighs 8.1kg.

What should I do? He has a half hour walk every day which I thought would be enough. He has two cups of dried food and I admitted to myself in the past that I've been far too free in giving him treats ( dog treats, meat from our dinners etc.) but I stopped that last year when I thought he was putting on weight.

Any advice?

More exercise less food.
Get him checked at the vets first though.

Thank you all for your advice.

Will start on the extra exercise right away and book him in to the vets this week so I can get an exact weight of food etc.

I've ordered one of those balls and definitely interested in the fields for hire, will check that out!

He does love the core of a cabbage and carrots, so these would still be ok to give him occasionally?

My dog isn't overweight ... but looking at my own body, I can very much see how it can happen!

No idea what a proper experienced dog owner would advise; I was told green veg were best as less starch/sugar. I imagine the cabbage heart is relatively starchy - probably why he likes it!

Don't give carrots or starchy veg as advised for my dog from weight management clinic. They recommended cucumber, courgettes, broccoli, cauli, sprouts

My chihuahua cross jrt is also alittle fat looking lately and I've realized even though he only eats only alittle at home he was stealing food from my father's dogs food bowls as he free feeds his dogs, there is always dry food down and he just replaces it when the bowl is empty.
My ddog has wet food as no matter what food I try he won't eat dry food for me, so I never thought he would be eating my father's dogs dry food as I've tried the same stuff at home and he won't touch it. But I caught him eating it after wondering how he was putting weight on.
So he's on a diet it also doesn't help that he hates walking on a lead and won't go out at all if it's cold or wet out.

My 30kg big lab boy gets 2 cups dried food a day, OP, so I'd guess you are definitely over feeding a little 8kg jrt. I believe it's not good to drop the food amount drastically or quickly tho. Speak to your vet for advice but I've heard other owners being told to cut down by about 10% and then gradually keep decreasing until they reach the right level. Accurate weighing is important as it's easy to just add "a little extra" when guessing by cup size. Good luck. I'm sure he will be a happier little chap when he's a healthy weight.