Tales of a DogTrepreneur: Part 2

 

By Guest Writer:  Steve Pelletier

How an
unadoptable Labrador Retriever inspired our entrepreneurial spirit and
motivated us to launch SlimDoggy.

  

Jack gets in shape &
we build a product

We took Jack to our Vet and learned, among other things, that Jack’s
ideal weight was about 85 lbs and that his 20 lb. weight loss target should be
met gradually over the course of 2-4
months.  We were also told that Jack
should be tapered off the Prozac slowly, when we were ready to get him off the
medication.

To get prepared for Jack’s weight loss transformation, I combed
research articles on canine metabolism and weight loss and came up with a set
of formulas that I could use to estimate how much we should feed Jack so that
he received adequate calories & nutrition while in weight loss mode.  There is a lot of info out there, only some
of which is credible and useable.

Taking into account all that we learned, I built a spreadsheet model
based on the Waltham Center research and our vet’s suggestions.  This allowed me to input Jack's weight and normal
activity level and it calculated an estimate for Jack’s daily calorie burn.   We began Jack’s exercise routine gradually,
starting with short walks, then progressing to longer walks, walks with a
weighted pack, and then finally running. 
We kept Jack’s daily feedings at between 75%-85% of his estimated
calorie burn, as per our vet’s recommendation, since he was in weight loss
mode.  As we do with our own workout
routine, we cycled “easy” and “hard” days each week so that Jack could build
strength and recover properly. 

 

Although Jack’s behavior improved markedly, we
enlisted the help of a dog trainer to help us learn the skills we needed to
better teach Jack leash and recall skills. He was a willing student; now that he was being properly exercised, he
was in a calmer state and much more receptive to learning than before. 

We noticed a slow improvement in Jacks’ weight the first three
weeks. He lost about 5 lbs. during this time. We were able to taper Jack off
Prozac during this period as well and if anything, his mood and behavior
improved after he was off this medication.

I continued my
research on calorie burning because I felt that the basic Waltham Center model
was not specific enough. You can read more about the Waltham model and our
modifications here.

With a few
adjustments made to account for precise exercise times and intensities, we felt
like we were really dialed in to Jack’s daily calorie burns and thus, his
feeding requirements. His weight loss continued and by the end of 11 weeks,
Jack had reached his goal and weighed 85 lbs!

Jack looked great
and he became really fit. He built up his stamina so that a 5 mile run was easy
for him.  Now that his weight was more
appropriate for his ‘frame’, he was able to stop taking the Rimadyl as he no
longer exhibited any indications of joint pain.

Besides looking great and no longer needing all of those potentially
harmful medications, we noticed a lot of positive changes in Jack including:

• He was much more relaxed around
  the house and stress free on his walks and runs.
• He was much easier to train, no
  doubt because he had a reduced level of ‘nervous energy’.
• He no longer panted, unless of
  course, after a hard workout.
• He seemed to become a very
  happy and healthy dog.
• He stopped drooling so
  much…unless in anticipation of his dinner!

At this point, we knew that our spreadsheet model was a great tool, but
a tool that was only available to us.  We
had a feeling that we were on to something—we see so many overweight dogs each
day– but it wasn’t until we did a Google search on “dog obesity” and saw the
statistics that we decided to ‘go for it’ and launch our
Company.

Next: SlimDoggy is launched.

 

NOTE:  Click here to read PART ONE