Spin off - Anyone else have to increase their dog's food with the pandemic?

[GoodTimes]

I’ve been home from work and the barn has been closed for a month now because of COVID-19. My dog has always been active, we have 5 acres for her to roam, we run 3-5 miles most mornings before work, skijoring in the winter, lots of swimming and hiking on the weekends, etc.
But since I’ve been home everyday that has definitely ramped up. Luckily the trails near our house are very quiet, we usually don’t see anyone. So we’ve been running further in the morning, a 1-2hr walk in the evening, one of the trails is along the water so she can go for a swim. We usually spend an hour doing some agility, obedience, blind retrieves, or scent work. She spends most of the day outside.
I haven’t had to increase her food significantly, but she was getting a little bit ribby and could barely keep her eyes open by 7pm :lol:
Lucky girl, her scoops are heaping, I’m extra generous with the training treats, and every couple days she gets an egg with her breakfast. She also figured out that having a nap during the day is a good idea, even though I’m home.

She’s a 6yo Aussie x Bernese that weighs 72lbs. Once it warms up we’ll have to dial it back or she’ll overheat with all the hair. But we’re still getting snow…

[punchy]

Yeah…when I go back to work, my dog is going to be bouncing off the walls. I usually run a few miles most mornings, but now with daylight earlier and no commuting, we’re running 5 miles every morning in the woods, 45 minute walks at lunch, and an hour+ in the evenings. She’s usually a couch potato in the house anyway, but more so now. And with stay at home orders, she hasn’t really been left alone in awhile. I was just thinking I need to take a long drive without her so she remembers what it’s like to be left alone.

[SonnysMom]

No I have had to cut their food back. I still am working full time plus but at home now. Everytime I go downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast, lunch, water, snack the dogs all want a biscuit. I made bacon, the fat goes on their food. I made tacos the juice and fat from the ground beef goes on their dry food. They lick all the plates, get left-over pizza crusts. They are getting WAY more treats than when I am working an hour away from home and going to the barn.

The lab now gets some of his food replaced with frozen green beans. Good thing he is a lab. I grabbed two
3 pound bags of frozen green beans from Costco. Oops no I didn’t, 2nd bag was brussel sprouts. He thinks those are fine too.
The foxhound thinks vegetables are not food.

[punchy]

Funny enough, though my dog has gotten a bit ribby with the extra exercice, I haven’t. 🤔

[GoodTimes]

@punchy

Funny enough, though my dog has gotten a bit ribby with the extra exercice, I haven’t. 🤔

I think we have the same lifestyle right now. I went grocery shopping yesterday and it was the first time the dog had been alone in almost a month. My SO is working a little bit still, but also home more than usual.

I’m used to going to the barn in the evenings. I’m not used to having three hours after dinner to snack in front of the tv :eek:

[GraceLikeRain]

Little man went from spending 40+ hours a week at daycare to being at home all day. I try to get in a brisk round of fetch at lunch and a few longer walks each week. He’s 9 so weight doesn’t come off of him easily but he also hasn’t put any on. I think he’s burning some extra calories chasing the cats. He takes his job of breaking up disagreements very seriously.