Before I begin, a disclaimer: I believe in the so-called “Paleo” diet. It’s not perfect, mind you. But as diets go, it ticks a lot of important boxes: it’s (1) simple, (2) relatively easy to stick to, (3) very effective at keeping your body lean, and (4) based on good science and common-sense. For these […]
You’re probably familiar the terms “Big Tobacco,” “Big Pharma,” and “Big Ag.” They’re used by skeptical consumers to derisively refer to the colossal multinational corporations that dominate the tobacco, drug, and food industries, respectively. These entities are notorious for putting profits ahead of consumer well-being. It’s unfair to suggest that they always put their bottom-line […]
When it comes to canine obesity, sometimes the folks at Varsity Pets can get a little bogged-down in the minutiea. What’s the most effective regulatory regime for making Big Kibble tell the truth about the nutritional content of its products? What’s the target fat content of the optimal canine diet? How many calories should a […]
The first step in defeating canine obesity is figuring out whether your dog is actually overweight or not. Sounds simple, but in our experience most folks don’t even get to this first step because they refuse to even consider the idea that their dogs might be overweight. Instead, they just reject the possibility out-of-hand. Which […]
Your dog’s not overweight, is she? Of course not. You’d never let your dog become overweight. You’re not one of them, you’re one of us.
Canine metabolic workouts generally come in two varieties: (1) “hard and fast” and (2) “slow and steady.” Some examples of hard and fast workouts are fetch games, jumping drills, full-speed agility coursework, off-lead running, and any other activities that require your dog to gallop intermittently at or near top speed. Slow and steady workouts are […]
If you’re reading this blog then you probably fancy yourself a pretty responsible dog owner. You probably hear us droning on and on about the prevalence of canine obesity and think to yourself “that’s a good point, but I’m part of the solution, not part of the problem. I work hard to keep my dog […]
If you want to help your dog lose body fat, become the Optimal Dog, and live the longest and happiest life her genes will allow, there are two fundamental strategies that you can use: (1) diet and (2) exercise. Obviously, these strategies aren’t mutually-exclusive. Meaning that you don’t have to just pursue one option or […]
Energy powers everything your dog does. Not “like everything,” but literally everything. Jumping, running, barking, eating, drinking, panting, slobbering, feeling excited when she sees you, learning a new command, snoring like a chainsaw, growling at the delivery guy, pooping in the living room, fighting off an infection, blinking her eyes, dragging a sled across the […]
Your dog’s veterinarian can be a tremendous resource in your quest to optimize your dog’s health and fitness. Vets are full of unique specialized knowledge and usually have years of experience helping dogs just like yours. They can diagnose latent problems, recommend the most effective interventions, and give you lots of helpful tips and tricks […]