Dogs Australia

Most people know that Australia is getting fatter. The 2001 National Health Survey (NHS), showed that 2.4 million Australian adults were estimated to be obese – 16% of men and 17% of women aged 18 years and over, had a BMI of 30 or more. And now we're passing our bad habits on to our best friends.

Apparently Australia has one of the world's highest pet obesity rates, especially with dogs. 40 per cent of domestic dogs are becoming obese, with matching higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

Insufficient exercise and overfeeding are the obvious causes.

Treats are a standard reward technique during training, but need to be included in calculations of a dogs daily intake.

People often think a dog should eat as much and as often as they do, despite weighing a fraction of an adult person's weight.

I know my labrador has mastered the "I'm hungry" look, even when he doesn't need it. And my poor next-door-neighbour cattle dog is suffering from arthritis.

Don't let it happen to your dog.