Weight loss - before and after

Before:



(Unfortunately, couldn't find the photo we took from before, so we had to use this one instead. He was actually quite a bit bigger than this one.)

Waist - 34 inches
Neck - 19 inches
Tired out after five minutes of flirt poling
Pulled back on every walk
Slept for most of the day
Frequent paw licking

After:





As you can see, he still has a pot belly. This isn't fat - if you touch it, it's solid muscle. Unfortunately, the operation on his stomach messed up his muscle tone, so that'll take a while to sort out. The picture from above shows the amount of weight he's lost.

Waist - 29 inches
Neck - 18 inches
Can go for over 40 minutes with vigorous flirt poling
Practically begs to go on ten walks per day
Active throughout the day
Little to no paw licking

And still going!

For anybody who doesn't already know, Dempsey is extremely difficult to exercise, as he gets bored very easily and there is hardly anywhere around us to properly stimulate his mind and body. He also suffers a lot in the heat, which makes walks in warm weather difficult.

We decided to put him on a proper weight loss regime with decreased food intake. Also made a flirt pole for him, which he loves, and finally found toys that he doesn't lose interest in after five minutes. Three weeks later, he's lost quite a bit of weight, bulked up in muscle and is a happier dog.

Although now I feel incredibly guilty, as I played with him for ten minutes earlier. He spent the next five minutes desperately searching for his toy and giving me sad eyes. I haven't been able to play with him properly for the last couple of days, as I've been in agony

Going to take his flirt pole on his walk later though, so hopefully that'll make it up to him!

Oh, and I'll put up before and after pictures later!

still waiting for the photos

Well done Dempsey!

Well done Dempsey indeed - and well done Eleanor! These are fabulous results.   

I'll dig out the pictures now

Thanks! Been working very hard on it!

Pictures put onto original post

he looks great!

Thanks! Shame about the belly, but we'll sort it out once he's lost weight.

I'm considering phoning our vet (the brilliant man who diagnosed him with S.O.S.) to ask what he would recommend to tighten up the muscles.

Another pic added, showing him in the middle of one of his exercises!

He's looking really good! EBTs are burly dogs anyway so with the best will in the world he'll never look like a whippet, will he?

The very best result must be the increase in overall fitness that Dempsey is now enjoying.

Definitely not, but he used to have a very good physique, with very tight abdominal muscles. We may never get him back to his self, but I want to try at least.

Definitely! He's a lot happier in himself!

Would he play with something like a spring pole? They are great for working all their muscles

Probably. It's something we've considered before, but I'm not sure it would suit him. He's an extremely stubborn, excitable dog and forgets himself sometimes. His leave command isn't very strong when he forgets himself, so a spring pole would only be something we could seriously consider if/when his leave command improves.

Ah i see fair enough

Shame really, as I think it would help. I just wouldn't want to risk it if he got too excited. If he tuned out and didn't leave when told, he could injure himself - daft dog!

You could always try him with one but stick a lead on him, so if he doesn't leave on command you can give him a little tug to break the excitement

We've tried that before with toys It just makes him more excitable! He's a pain!

He's looking great Eleanor. It's amazing how much more energy they have even losing just a little weight x

he is looking fab xxxx

  

Thanks!

Yes, he has a lot more energy! He had the last three days without flirt poling, as I wasn't up to it, so I'm going to build it up slowly again over the next couple of days. Only played for twenty minutes at a time today.