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)

Can’t you/your sister just adjust the amount he gets at meals to compensate for the treats?

My beagle is constantly asking for food and gets plenty of treats, but he’s not overweight because I adjust his meals accordingly.

A few treats on walks isn’t going to cause a dog to become obese - he’s either got a health issue or is being massively over fed at home.

Spoke to my sister to find out the times she normally walks Hugo and I'm going to walk him in the same places and tell everyone that he no longer will be allowed treats because he is being killed by kindness.

He has been swimming this morning something he doesn't normally do and he in a typical lab way loved it.

I wonder what is in the birthday cakes, probably crap.

🤣 god forbid people try to bring some joy to the world
I have no problem with people asking and then giving my dog a treat.

This is what my sister thought - food is weighed and balanced at home, under vet direction.

The problem is in isn't a few treats, every shop we went in, people walking their dogs everyone wants to give him a treat, and normally more than one.

It's not just about being fat- most treats aren't good for dogs and adjusting the balanced meal to account for poor quality treats is not in the dogs interest. And how can you adjust the meals when we have no idea what treats they are having.

I'm not talking about treats that owners choose to give their dog.

I find it odd that you think a few treats on walks is the issue, and not the food at home which makes up 90% of his diet.

I would bet good money that he is being over-fed at home. Cut down his food by 20% and you’ll see a big difference.

In my other, people always ask before giving treats. I know there’s at least two dogs who have food restrictions (diabetes etc).

What better quality treats do people use?

It is harming Hugo, all so someone can get a feeling of 'joy' . Forgive me but I do not see that as joyous.

But I have no problem with people asking providing when you say no they are ok with it.

@BigFatLabNoMoreTreats so you just cut his food down by 20% to accommodate the treats 🤷‍♀️

FWIW most vet’s know very little about nutrition - what food is he being fed and how much does he get each day?

Genuinely can you not read?

It’s definitely not a new thing. I had a chocolate lab over 10 years ago and we were always offered treats everywhere I took him. Often without people asking. But he was diabetic so I had to constantly tell people not to give him anything and so many people were offended by it. Even after saying he was diabetic I often got “one little treat won’t hurt”, even from nurses at the vet’s at times. He was very good at the big sad eyes.

Someone once gave my Lab an entire gourmet burger, Lab devoured it in one go. All happened in a split second, I was genuinely very angry as it contained onions. Bloke was apologetic but damage was done.

It’s the Prosecco, beers and dog cakes that get me. They don’t need that shit.

So you would be happy if 20% if your diet was fast food, and you had to limit the healthy food because people insisted you ate 20% of your diet on crap?

I know it isn't the point of the thread, but my foster dog came to me very overweight. I switched her to 'light' recipe, low fat food, but still had to feed her way less than the RDA to get her to lose weight.
Massive generalisation here, but people seem to think a fat lab is the normal look. Most labradors I see are overweight. I used to meet a young, boisterous one on walks. I didn't see him for a few months and was shocked when I did. He has quadrupled in size and can now barely waddle.

“one little treat won’t hurt”

It is exactly this, and the implications I'm being cruel for saying no.

@SpanielsGalore I do agree that people expect labs to be fat, which is such a shame, I've also seen it creep quickly onto them.

Thing is with Labradors in general they do eat anything, so a treat can be very low kcal like a bit of broccoli. I've got him for six weeks so I hope to see some changes.

That's not how I see it.
My dog should only take food from me, nobody else.
Bringing joy to the world doesn't enter into it.

My neighbour just said that my dog was looking rather fat - as she fed her treats over the wall!

It's interesting, I often get comments that my labs are slim, but still nobody is trying to feed them treats to fatten them up.

@BigFatLabNoMoreTreats I’m not a Labrador so comparing my diet to his is just silly.

My point is that it isn’t the 10% of the diet made of treats that’s caused this dog to become obese - it’s the diet it’s being fed the majority of the time at home by the owner.

Most dogs are fed too much at home because owners just blindly feed what’s on the packet without taking their dogs age, lifestyle and exercise levels into account. If I fed my beagle the recommended amount on the packets he would be morbidly obese - as it is, he’s fed about 70% of what’s recommended for his age and size and is in perfect condition.

Your sister just needs to feed her dog less. A few biscuits out on walks are not the reason her dog is fat.

In terms of feeding the RDA on the packet - remember pet food manufacturers want to make as much money as possible - so of course they’re going to tell you to feed large amounts.

The RDA on a bag of kibble also won’t take into account any wet food that’s being fed alongside.

My point is that it isn’t the 10% of the diet made of treats that’s caused this dog to become obese

No, you said 20% of crap treats is fine. Of course diet is similar to humans, if a dog keeps eating high calorie food it won't help him lose weight.

He got fat because of too much food at home, too many treats, but he is not losing as expected- since his diet overhaul -I don't know what all the treats are so can't work out how much extra he is having but people are not giving tiny tit bits, he is having hundreds of calories extra a day. He is a lovely and particularly friendly dog so maybe it is very unusual that so many people want to give him a treat.

I am also not an idiot In terms of feeding the RDA on the packet - remember pet food manufacturers want to make as much money as possible - so of course they’re going to tell you to feed large amounts

I do wonder if it is area dependent, or maybe dog dependent!

@BigFatLabNoMoreTreats if the dog isn’t losing weight, it’s because the owner is over-feeding it. A few treats on walks don’t make up the majority of his diet and therefore they’re not the reason why this dog is fat.

Of course cutting down extras isn’t a bad thing but if the dog isn’t losing as expected, your sister needs to look at what she’s feeding on a daily basis at home and reduce it, not stress about a few biscuits out and about.

I also never said you were an idiot - I just find it utterly bizarre that your focus is on a few treats out and about rather than the food the dog is being bought and fed at home 🤷‍♀️

@tumblingdowntherabbithole I find it bizarre that you refuse to believe what I am posting, actually I find it more bizarre that Hugo is managing to get so many people to give him treats.

It isn't a few, it is a few treats from lots of different people, easily 500 or more calories a day he is getting from other people's treats.

You think it’s not fair to only treat your dog?
stop giving other peoples dogs food.

and please in case you do, NEVER feed other peoples horses in fields. You can kill rgem.

I agree, but also . If we're at the dog park and he's playing with friends, it's not fair to only give them out to him. Why is food needed at this point. The dog is being rewarded as he is playing with friends.