Why are dogs getting fatter?

I heard recently that more than 40 per cent of the nation's dogs are obese.
A copy of Chow Hounds by Ernie Ward has just landed on my desk. It's a chunky volume and there is slim chance of me having the time to read it cover to cover, but the press release says:

Dr Ernie addresses the problems with the pet food industry and dogs and their owners are victims of a calculated assault from shrewd marketing and the addition of fat, sugar and salt to treats.

Might these be the same companies that are also marketing diet food for dogs?
I also heard that one charity is asking psychologists to look at why we are making our dogs fat. It is interesting. Why do you think dogs are getting fatter?
To find out more about the book, go to Ernie's website.

Any diet tips for dogs that are prone to bloat

Is there any diet that is less likely to cause deep-chested breeds not suffer from bloat or torsion?
Anyone got any hints and tips to pass on with regard to managing a breed that is more prone to this horrific problem. Just posted something on Think Tank about bloat and it got me thinking that maybe this blog could help, too! Click here to go to the Think Tank and a very moving account of living through bloat.

It's in the papers - and are the papers in the food?

Yesterday's article on dog food in the Daily Mail has caused much interest! Click here if you haven't seen it yet.

There's been some very lively exchanges in the comments section, 177 and rising so far!

Some of the reporting was a little odd, Catherine O'Driscoll certainly isn't best known for her dog training, but she has dogs and I'm sure she's trained them to sit etc!

But very interesting to see an article on alternative feeding in a national newspaper.

The other day someone told me that some prepared petfood actually contains newspapers, so perhaps it is very apt that petfood is now in the papers! They said that it's described as cellulose on the label. Anyone know if this is true?
Urban myth or truth?
Mentioned the above to a friend as was shocked and they surprised me by defending added cellulose saying it was used to provide bulk without calories and was useful for weight management. And that newspaper is made of cellulose and it isn't necessarily newspaper that's added if it says cellulose on the packet.
Dog eat dog or dog eat newspaper?

Reducing the carbon paw print

Like many others these days I would like to cut my carbon footprint, and try to eat locally-grown foods where possible. I eat very little meat myself, and what I do is free-range or organic, but I  accept that my dogs do need to eat meat! The other day I read a statistic that really shocked me, and that was that 50% of a food animal is unfit for human consumption, and much of it is thrown away. I would like to feed my dogs meat that is ethically raised, but preferably too from parts of the animals that would not otherwise be used. There's no point feeding them fillet steak, but they could be eating the lungs, tripe, heart and all the unmentionable bits! How can I be sure the food I give my dogs is from animals raised to high welfare standards – but not using food that humans would otherwise eat? What's the best way to feed from the point of view of the environment, welfare of the food animals, and food miles?
Joanne Holmes, Burford, Oxfordshire

Also posted on Think Tank - click here

Rations running low

I have been feeding my dog raw for about a year now, buying my supplies from a pet shop every couple of weeks. Unfortunately my supplies have run out and I'm unable to drive the 10 miles to my supplier, as I can't even get my car off the drive for the snow and ice. I'm very lucky in that I have a small supermarket within a few minutes' walk, so none of us will starve! But of course I can't buy actual raw dog mince with ground bone. I have bought minced lamb and beef, and Max is very happy indeed to eat this, but I'm worried because it won't have the calcium he needs. Please don't suggest I give him chicken wings or bones, I'm just not happy to do this, but I really don't want to take him off raw, especially as the range of prepared foods at the supermarket is very limited. Is it ok to just feed human mince until the weather improves?
Darren Holmes, Ash, Surrey

I'm dreaming of a new type of pet shop...

Where do you buy your food and why? Have you changed your buying habits in the last ten years?
I'm writing an article and I'm wondering why we shop they way we do.
Where do you buy your food? Pet shop, on line, supermarket?
I find I chop and change. Just like with human food shopping, it's very convenient to be able to get a big home delivery, but sometimes I feel like a bit of a browse and want to check out what's new. And sometimes I suddenly run out and need a quick fix and can't get a bulk delivery quick enough.
I must admit I rarely price check between outlets and tend to get into a habit of shopping where I know where everything is, although I suspect I could save a few pence by shopping around.
In store I'm much more likely to end up buying loads of treats that I otherwise wouldn't and maybe trying something completely new or going mad and getting new beds.
Where do you shop and why?
We're surrounded by large pet shops/chains and don't have a small indie pet shop locally to support, do you have a good one?
In my dreams I'd love to run a dog friendly coffee shop/pet shop/dog advice centre - wouldn't that be cool! I'd buy my food from somewhere like that? I found some amazing pet shops in New York and doggie cafes - wouldn't it cool for us to have a dog friendly treat of a really good cup of coffee and a hand-baked doggie muffin at the end of our walks?
What will pet shops be like in 2020? What would be your dream store?
I'd certainly not want one selling dogs and cats.
But I would like one that holds your hand while you select a dog and has very good links with local rescues and good breeders.
Wouldn't it be lovely to have a shop on the High Street that you can visit with your pet, ask questions to knowledgeable people who really care for the whole of a dog's life.
A place for old fashioned community spirit, for older pet owners to drop in for a chat and a snack and for there to be someone to notice if they suddenly don't. Someone to take a real long-term interest in your pets nutrition, behaviour, health and welfare.
I'm starting to choose the sofas now... Wonder if DFS would like to sponsor......(!)
Maybe my dream pet shop already exists? Are you out there?