When did the world become obsessed with dog treats?

[BigFatLabNoMoreTreats]

Or is it just my area?

TLDR: why does everyone insist on giving a dog a treat and why do they act offended when you say no?

I have working dogs that I train and work, so they are not pets as such so I have not experienced this side of dog ownership.

I am dog sitting a very fat lab, owner is my sister and she swears the dog is on a diet and that they keep to it- she has gone away for nearly six weeks so I have taken dog with the intention of helping him lose some weight as it is affecting his life. Have the measured out food- vet can't understand why he isn't losing, sister swears she is measuring the food.

Turns out she is correct - the problem is the constant treat giving wherever we are. Postman, bakers, pub, random people on the dog walk. Most of these treats are complete crap.

On our day out today Hugo was offered 20 treats, most not even training treats- high calorie dog McDonald's style treats.

I said no, I had to physically stop two people who were genuinely offended when I said no he can't have one. The person said I was starving the dog and he 'looked' hungry. (He looks like he has eaten a whale, he certainly does not look hungry)

Why is this seen as acceptable? I will keep saying no but would be interested to know how do you deal with it if you don't want endless crap being fed to your dog.

(Aside, Hugo has very expensive, allergy free food, sister is keen to give good quality food- but has never thought about the crap he is given- I've spoken to her btw, she had never realised)

Exactly, a recipe for disaster.

A friendly dog runs up to someone that doesn't like dogs expecting a treat. They shriek and flail, dog gets excited/overwhelmed and nips. Dog put down.

But it isn't kind, it is damaging. If every time a child entered a shop they were given a ice cream how would feel? And in a day you go into five shops?

Do you eat as many treats as you like and then work them off in the gym? How long would you need to spend in the gym if you had five mars bars?

Good walks are the basics requirements for a healthy dog eating it's normal daily requirement of food. Hugo gets walked a lot, and is still fat. As I would be if I had a cheeseburger every time I went into a shop/pub/had something delivered.

Hmmm. Interesting. Some very differing opinions here...

I really don't need my dog to be sociable and think that people are good and generous. She's not aggressive, she's very quiet, but I don't think she needs to love everybody.

I never carry treats on a walk, I don't think I have ever in my life given a treat to anyone else's dog... It's just something I would not do.

I could say my dog is quite scary, but my husband tells me I'm actually far more scary than she is. Either way, she is frequently admired but rarely approached for which I am thankful.

It happens occasionally with our dog, certainly not regularly though.

I just decline politely and say she has allergies to most foods so can't have any treats at all (true). No one has ever been offended, they usually recoil very quickly 😂

Just say he has allergies even if it's not true. You shouldn't have to of course but it's likely to make things easier.

Same time as they did the same for thier kids. Snacks = fat.

It isn't kind and lovely at all. It's really very bad.

Labradors do do a very good ‘no-one ever feeds me, ever!’ look, don’t they, @BigFatLabNoMoreTreats.

Dh always has gravy bones about his person, and will offer them to dogs he meets, but crucially, if the person with the dog says No, he accepts that without question. He usually knows the people whose dogs he is offering treats to, so wouldn't offer if he knew it wouldn't be welcomed.

Allergies is probably a good get out of jail free card, but I would feel a bit wet saying it as he doesn't.

But it would probably change the person's reaction - honestly I have been made to feel like a complete bitch for saying no (and I am not one to feel bad generally) it doesn't stop me from saying no though.

Nope not a thing here.

7 years and not one person has offered my dog a treat. Not that he’d eat them 😂

I would never offer a treat either, probably because I don’t carry them (see above).

See initially I could see this argument - accepting when someone says no is significantly better than what I've experienced.

But he isn't just one person- so dog has a gravy bone (which is Maccys level crap) just one from your DH. Then just one from another dh, and one from the kind postie, and one from the kind charity shop and one.... My sister didn't add up all the 'just ones' Hugo was having.

But @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius indeed he does. But he is the size of a barrel, he does not look lik he has missed a single meal in his life!

I forget that my dog is scary- she’s the biggest sweetheart I’ve ever met but a giant and some people find her breed scary in general. My partners little dog gets all the treats and attention from strangers (she’s actually a knob) but people will avoid my girl even if it means crossing the road.

Mine's a giant too.
I definitely think it makes people less inclined to want to shove crap down their face 😁

Can't say I've ever had this problem out and about with my (spaniel) girl. I always have chopped up pate in my pocket/bumbag and other dogs mob me for it but I can't remember the last time someone random tried to give her one (since she gladly accepted snacks from @Bupster on Friday when we walked together!)

The only time she is ever offered anything is at the vets and it's always gravy bones and she spits them out every single time. She's only ever had really good treats, given for particularly good work, so I think regards gravy bones as a bit gross.

Our dog spits gravy bones out at the vets too! Not up to his standards. 🤣

I have two dogs we go everywhere. Only twice this year have they been offered a treat.

In your weird situation I would just either refuse or give them less food at dinner.

My puppy saw an owner give her dog a treat so went over, sat beautifully and offered her paw. It was very cute but the owner was suckered in by that cuteness and gave her a treat. I’ve then had to up the training to stop her going over to people without permission 🙈 I know it was well meaning but not quite the message I was trying to give her.

Whereas I can just pretend the worming tablet is a treat and mine will gobble it down 😂

Ours needs things like that wrapped in cheese! Fussy bugger. 🤣

I think yours is more normal and mine’s the weird one 😂

DDog gets treats from various regulars in the park. It's a bit annoying as she is VERY food orientated. But I adjust her food intake accordingly, so she isn't overweight.

🤣🤣🤣

Well this week I actually said to myself ‘what the fuck?’ When someone posted on a local FB page looking for someone to make a birthday cake - for her dog.

🙄

It's big business nowadays and been around for years. My dogs had a Christmas cake in 2013. I hasten to add that I won it in a raffle. I wouldn't actually buy one.

Just say he has allergies and can’t have treats