• Use a measuring cup to provide an accurate base line. Level off each scoop of food before pouring it into your dog's bowl.
• Don't feed the same amount year round. Your dog is not as active in winter as in summer. Portion size should be smaller during the winter.
• Keep a dog-feeding dariy for a week or so, write down everything you feed your dog. You may be surprised by the amount and the types of foods he gets. The number of treats (and their calories)can really add up.
• Instead of feeding him once or twice a day, feed him three or four mini meals. By spreading the food intake throughout the day, you are helping your do to better digest the foods. The mere act of eating burns 10 to 15 percent of ingested calories. But remember, these are MINI meals, stay at or below your dog's daily portion needs.
• Fiber fools dogs because it provides a feeling of fullness without a lot of calories. Fiber, an indigestible carbohydrate, cruises through the digestive system without being absorbed by the body, but it plays many major roles. Good sources of fiber are: apples, baked potatoes, bananas, broccoli, green beans, and any dog's favorite peanut butter.
• Instead of giving fatty treats switch to healty treats like: popcorn (my dogs love popcorn), apple slices, raw carrots or cauliflower, and ice cubes. One healthy weight strategy calls for adding more steamed vegetables to your dog's chow and less fatty meat. The vegetables are low in calories and help satisfy your dog's appetite and leave her fulling full.
• Another tip is to replace one-third of your dog's regular dog food with canned pumpkin (not a slice of pumpkin pie). Canned pumpkin is nutritious and provides a feeling of fullness.
• Take her out for a walk. Not only is this good for you but it is much need exercise for you dog as well. Remember, to check with your vet before starting and vigorous exercise regimen.

Here is a Chart you can download to help keep track of your feeding and exercise regimens. Slim Down

Researchers at the Purina Pet Institute in St. Louis, in collaboration with scientists from several major universities, published results of a 14-year study that shows that a dog's median life span can potentially be extended by 15 percent when the dog is kept to its ideal body condition by carefully monitoring food intake.

"We all know that obesity, whether human or canine, is bad for health," says Dennis F. Lawler, DVM, a veterinary scientist who, along with principal investigator Richard D. Kealy, PhD, directed the Purina Lifespan study. "What's exciting about this study is that, for the first time, we have shown scientifically that by simply feeding to maintain the ideal body condition throughout a dog's life, we can increase length of life while delaying the visible signs of aging. That's powerful stuff."

The only difference: food quantity. One dog in each pair was fed 25 percent less food per day than its mate.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (May 1, 2002), revealed the following results:

• # Dogs who ate 25 percent fewer calories than their littermates maintained a lean or ideal body condition, resulting in a median life span that was 15 percent (or nearly 2 years) longer than the dogs who ate more food.
• # By age 10, seven dogs in the control group had died, compared with only three lean-fed dogs.
• # By age 13, only one control dog was still alive, as compared with 11 lean-fed dogs.
• # By age 13.5 years, no dogs in the control group were alive, but 25 percent of the lean-fed dogs had survived.
• # The lean-fed dogs did not require treatment for osteoarthritis until a median age of 13.3 years, fully 3 years later than the dogs in the control group.