Even our pets are getting fatter....

I drove past a sign today advertising "doggie ice cream".  I find it interesting that at last count, we are spending better than $40 billion a year on our pets and that is the same number the diet industry is making off of us. 

Pets are an interesting way to look at our behaviors.  We love our pets and many times, they are significant members of our families.  They ride in our cars, take vacations with us, sleep in our beds or comfy pet-sized beds we buy especially for them.

Currently, I can name 5 people I personally know who arrange their day around their feline friend's insulin shots because their cats have diabetes.  We are willing and able to devote significant time, energy and money to our relationships with our pets.

But interestingly enough, our pet population is getting fatter just like we are.  Is it related to the fact that in my small town you can buy doggie ice cream?  And there is a doggie bakery in South Haven devoted to pretty little pastry-looking treats for our furry friends?

Do our pets care that their treat looks like a cupcake?  Or is that just for us?  Do we show our dogs we love them by giving them a cute treat (instead of taking them for a walk or grooming them)?

But the larger question is -- what kind of training are we giving our pets?  And is the behavior we are exhibiting with them the same behavior we give to ourselves?

Are we feeding them cupcake treats and doggie ice cream to show them love because that is how we show ourselves love?  Maybe both pet and owner would feel better about the world with a walk and a good grooming. 

Maybe we should stop training our pets to want as much food as they do because we are over-indulging them and making them sick (just like we're doing to ourselves) in our effort to show our love and affection?

Much like people, pets need food to live but they need social interaction and movement to thrive. 

If you can see yourself in any part of this description, maybe you should consider a small shift in your thinking -- for your pets sake as well as your own.