Once a dog becomes overweight, it can be very difficult to get it back to its ideal weight. Puppies should gain weight steadily but not be allowed to get fat. An adult dog should be well muscled but not obese. A good rule of thumb is that you should not be able to see the dog's ribs, but you should be able to feel them under the skin by lightly running your hands along its sides. If you are unable to feel the ribs, or have to push in to feel them, the dog is overweight.
Many people feel that an overweight dog is a happy dog.
Obesity is extremely damaging to a dog and greatly reduces its life expectancy and quality of life. Obesity decreases immune function, stresses the heart and lungs, damages the joints and increases the risk for certain types of cancer. Feeding habits Eating habits, like many other habits, begin early in life. Dogs should not be given access to food all the time. This promotes obesity and may cause the dog to become finicky.