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Why not give your dog treats and also take them for runs? Many breeds seem to enjoy running just fine anyway and some proper exercise allows them to enjoy tasty snacks without unhealthy weight gain.
Of course, this is the exact same advice I'd give to humans. I just ate some Girl Scout cookies. They're delicious, but not very healthy. I'm also about to walk out the door and run about 20-25 kilometers depending on mood, so spiking my system with some sugar ain't so bad. The same would be true for a four-legged friend as a two-legged one.
Of course dogs should go on runs and play catch, as this is an enjoyment. But even after going on runs and playing catch (which I doubt the median dog owner is doing daily, maybe 1-2x a week), we still have the question of choosing tasty food or optimal fitness. If I give you a small bite of steak, you aren’t satisfied and would prefer more steak. We’re ultimately left with the same question: should we give our favorite beasts (who are 1000x more sensitive to food-related pleasure remember) more of the tasty food that they desire? Or do we choose extending life? If the simple state of being overweight is so deplorable, why did so many of history’s most privileged monarchs become fat, and did not exercise for primarily health-related reasons?
Yeah, I think the median owner is a bad owner. Presumably we're discussing how to be a good owner. Dogs enjoy daily runs and play.
Because we evolved in a much different environment than the current one and that's done nothing but become more exaggerated in recent years. Gluttonous eating is viscerally satisfying for good evolutionary reasons, but has bad results when it's feasible to just keep doing it every day.
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