Person 1: It’s in the news. We’re talking about it. It’s your health and headlines today on the doctors. Now, I know we all love our pets. We all have pets. We love them to death. We do like to reward them with a treat, here and there, maybe a few more treats. But here is the problem: All that rewarding can really pack on a pound and unfortunately shorten the life of your pets because just like adults, pets who are obese prone to the same illnesses as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis.
Person 2: People are getting fat, the pets are getting fat, somebody needs to take somebody for a walk.
Person 1: It’s interesting is there are now trainers for your pets just like you go to the gym and a trainer takes you through exercises. People who specialize in training your pet to get them in shape so if you’re furry friends are a little thick in the midsection, a little too much belly fat, there is something you can do about it and help us out to today, please welcome, dog coach of the stars as well as author of “30 Days To a Well-Mannered Dog,” Tamar Geller as well as Liz Taylor and Sammy.
What’s up, guys?! What’s up fellas’?!
Person 3: Could you hold them?
Person 1: Yes.
Person 3: Thank you.
Person 1: So, are these guys considered a little thick in the midsection?
Person 3: Yeah, a little bit thick in the center, yes.
Person 1: Oh and they like that. They already see the treats up there.
Person 3: No. Now, this is Liz Taylor. She is 91 lbs. and she just lost 10 lbs.
Person 1: Yay for Liz Taylor!
Person 3: She’s looking for home by the way and this is Sammy. And Sammy is a puggle, and he is 52 lbs and he needs to lose about 17 lbs.
Person 1: Alright. So let’s ask the obvious question before we start here. Is a lot of these because we give in to pets, we give too many treats and we’re not as active with them as we need to be?
Person 3: That is one reason. The other reason is the dog kibbles that most people give to the dogs, people don’t realize it’s actually mostly carbohydrates. When it says chicken, it’s what left on the bone on the chicken because they sell the meat for people consumption.
Person 1: So it’s just like what adult we eat too many processed foods. Too many simple carbs, dogs are doing the same thing.
Person 3: So it’s very important to give protein and not carbs. It’s also important to give vegetables as treats like my dogs love steamed broccoli and I dip it in hummus.
Person 1: Okay your dogs are different than most dogs. My dog, if I give her broccoli, she looks at me like “Are you crazy?”
Person 3: Try.
Person 1: Oh, trust me I’ve tried. My dog does not eat vegetables unless they’re packaged in something else. So, I put cheese around something for instance. But, yeah. So that’s a smart thought because these carbs, just like in humans, they can make us overweight.
Person 3: And a lot of this is to do with impulse control on their owner’s part. And the reason why is like, I’m guilty, I’m busy and sometimes I don’t have the time to exercise my dog. Something like, “What can I do to make you happy?” and I give my dog a treat. And I think a lot of people experience it. And I think it’d be so much better instead of giving them a treat to alleviate our guilt, to actually put on our sneakers and take the dogs outside then work.
Person 1: So, next time the real treat for your dog is “Come on guys, let’s go for a walk.” You know what, we have one more friend. Can I call her? Biscuit, biscuit!
Person 3: Yes, we have one more friend.
Person 1: Is it dangerous to name your dog after a treat?
Person 3: Only if he’s that cute like Biscuit. Biscuit is Larry King’s dog. And just like Larry and his wife and his old family, he is in great shape because he eats well and he exercises well and he’s amazing. And one of the things that I do with people is I teach them how to train the dogs through playing games. Because when you play games with a dog, then the dog not only exercises but also you’re reinforcing good manners.
Person 1: So, we can play games that are fun and it’s fun for us as well right?
Person 3: Yes.
Person 1: Okay, so let’s play.
Person 3: One of the games, let’s take his leash off, and of one the games that Biscuit likes to play is the hide and seek game. Here’s the treat and you’re going to break it to small pieces.
Person 1: So, I’m hiding the treat.
Person 3: Well, go behind over there; go behind so he’s not going to see you. Oh. I’ll call it.
Person 1: Okay, your turn.
Person 3: Biscuit! You see. Calm, the dog is running calm, calm, calm, calm.
Person 1: Biscuit!
Person 3: Calm.
Person 1: Biscuit! Good. Good boy.
Person 3: Calm, say calm and then “Biscuit, Biscuit, Biscuit!” So if you and your family…
Person 1: So take home here and tomorrow, get your dogs active, reward them with treats but reward them for activity.
Person 3: And with protein treats.
Person 1: And protein treats instead of just pure carb treats. Biscuit, you’re such a good dog. Thank you so much.