The Dog Diet: What My Dog Taught Me about Shedding Pounds, Licking Stress and Getting a New Leash on Life

Patti Lawson
Health Communications, Inc. (2006)
ISBN 0757303943
Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (9/06)

Anyone who has ever dieted can relate to this book. Anyone who has ever owned a dog also can relate to this book. In our diet-driven country, Lawson has combined food obsession with adapting to dog ownership in a funny memoir that will resonate with many readers.

Lawson, like typical Americans, pushed for perfection and success. When it came to food, she tried every diet, sampled all the diet supplements, and collected exercise equipment. When her latest relationship ended, Lawson sank into a funk that left her feeling plump and lonely.

Trying to pull herself out of her misery, she impulsively stopped her convertible at PetSmart. Despite her neat-freak, driven personality, she reasoned that a dog would be good company and help her rejoin humanity. A shelter dog joined Lawson for “one night.” Although, they experienced a rough start, Sadie eventually moved in permanently and taught Lawson some important life lessons.

Soon things began to shift in Lawson’s life. Chocolate ceased to provide her comfort and Sadie supplied companionship. Lawson’s pristine world became less perfect, but Sadie taught her to feel comfortable and to enjoy life. Lawson quit spending money on diet fads, yet the weight started melting away. That’s when Lawson realized she was on “The Dog Diet.”

Essentially, the diet consists of sensible eating and regular exercise, but with a twist. Lawson and Sadie developed “Dogercise,” workouts that range from mealtime squats to leash triceps to tug-of-war. Each activity reworks a regular exercise to include a dog, which makes the endeavor more fun.

Thanks to Sadie’s super smelling abilities, Lawson had to alter many of the foods she ate so Sadie wouldn’t be interested. Her new criteria pushed her toward odorless and noiseless foods, which often turned out to be the healthy alternatives she was supposed to eat on her other diets. Throughout the book Lawson makes astute observations like: “Dogs make the best personal trainers” and “Dogs make some things harder, but everything better.”

Lawson’s lifestyle changed and so did her attitude. No longer seeking perfection, she learned to stress less and to relax more. Sadie taught her to find joy in the moment.

I chuckled many times as I read “The Dog Diet.” I often debate whether that snack I want is worth disturbing our dog who will want some, too. Our Labrador’s favorite food is carrots and some of her other tastes differ from Sadie’s, but the principles are still the same—“Stay away from foods in loud plastic packaging.”

When our dog moved in more joy and relaxation entered our home. Lawson and Sadie are right. “Sometimes what you’re looking for is already in your own backyard.”

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