Over exercise?

Hello everyone    !

I joined the forum today to get some advice about my Female 6 year old Staffy, Ruby.

Ruby absolutely loves her ball. She always has access to it. I think it's starting to become a problem though.
She always plays with her ball. In the morning she will get up, go for a wee, grab her ball and start playing. She does this almost all day everyday. She usually comes inside for a drink and a lie down every so often but after that she continues to play. She guards her ball with her life, if she thinks anyone is going to take it she runs into the garden and starts throwing it up in the air and catching it again. I'm starting to think that she is being over exercised by doing this. Almost all her ribs are visible and feel-able. I've got some photos of her.


(Note- In this photo she is laying down, so the ribs are naturally more exposed.)


(Here is her sat up)

She is usually panting / heavy breathing most of the time.

She doesn't even care about the heat...she will just keep playing...
We've tried to take the ball away from her, but when this happens she just sleeps all day and gets depressed.
She is also finding it hard to walk up the stairs now, she walks slowly from side to side.

Do you have any tips that could help us cut down her ball-time and still keep her happy??

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum   I see what you mean she does look a little thin, you could try giving her a stuffed kong to keep her occupied for a while?

Come and say hi when you get chance   

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

I would give her part of the day without her ball so she does rest. Most dogs sleep a fair bit anyway.
Sazzles suggestion of a kong is great as it will give her the stimulation she wants and also some extra calories. Alfie loves sweet potato and peanut butter in his

Hello! She sounds a little bit stressed to me.. How often is she walked and for how long? What sort of exercise does she get other than ball play? And what sort of training has she had? Also.. last question lol what is she fed on?

Rachel33 wrote:Hello! She sounds a little bit stressed to me.. How often is she walked and for how long? What sort of exercise does she get other than ball play? And what sort of training has she had? Also.. last question lol what is she fed on?

These answers would help people give better advice

Thank you for your replies. We gave Ruby a home when she was approx 2. We have never breed her, but I know that her previous owner did, but unsure of how many litters. Her belly has always been quite saggy and her nipples very large, she looks like she has just had a litter. She was 27kg!! I took her to the vets and they suggested she lose weight, advising her ideal weight for her size should be around 21-22kg. She reached her target weight. She is fed Burns Penlan Farm 100g moist food mixed with 100g of Burns Adult dry food, mixed together with 1 chopped apple and 1/4 cucumber, twice a day. We encouraged the ball play alongside walks to assist her weight loss, but the ball play is now becoming an obsession and she prefers to play in the garden for hours and looks very sad when the ball is taken from her. Even when walking she is always looking for the ball to be thrown. We're estimating she'll be 7 around December time. She a very loyal girl and loves company, walks on and off lead very well. Hope this extra info helps give an insight to Ruby. Look forward to your replies.

How many times per day do you walk her? Ideally it should be 2 times for 45 minutes each. Mental stimulation and training will also help tire her out and could help with the ball obsession

Do you have other toys for Ruby. We have one of those balls that releases treats when our Flo kicks it around the room. She has a selection of rope toys and loves her antler to chew on. Could you try a variety of toys so that she doesn't concentrate on just the ball ?

The Kong suggestion is great too.

I had Ruby weighed yesterday and she has lost another 3kg. This brings her weight down to 18.6kg. Her food has not been changed at all, so it must be the over exercising. We've limited her ball time to twice a day alongside walks. She seems really miserable, but I'm hopeful this will improve. Unfortunately the heat at the moment is unbearable so trying to keep her cool. We're going out to get some more play toys, less energetic ones to keep her mentally stimulated. I'll let you know she gets on. Thanks everyone

Could it be any other problem for her to lose this much weight?
Also it would help if we knew how often she is walked.