For dogs, break up the monotony of the nightly walk. Don’t bring him back in as soon as he goes to the bathroom. The extra outdoor time won’t hurt you either. Vary your routes, and stop occasionally to practice obedience commands and fun tricks. These actions reinforce your dog’s mental focus and provide him a good workout so that when he comes inside, he is ready to relax. After dinner, play round robin recall with your dog. Have household members divide up a portion of your dog’s dry food. Ask them to stand in different parts of the house. Say your dog’s name and then, “Come.” Each time your dog goes to the person calling his name, he earns a tasty reward. If your dog goes to someone not calling him, he gets no treat. This game reinforces the “come” command in a fun way and prevents your dog from becoming obese from eating too many treats, says Susan Greenbaum, a professional dog trainer. More from Prevention: 10 Ways To Lose Weight With Your Pet
