According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of the dogs in America are overweight. Compared to five years ago, that is almost a 40 percent increase.

As you might expect, the extra weight can be just as harmful for dogs as it is for people. They get many of the same health problems: high blood pressure, heart disease, and respiratory problems, among others.

The way to treat obesity in dogs is the same as it is for people, usually a combination of exercise and dieting. Recently, some kennels are offering specialized fitness programs for your chubby pooch. They offer supervised runs on nature trails, runs on treadmills and even pool workouts.

Such programs can't work without the cooperation from all members of the family. Owners must accept that food does not equal love. So it is important to stick to a diet and not give too many snacks.