I also like to be heavy handed with treats. I rain treats on my dog. Which is why the official feedings are rather restricted - I feed way less than recommended because I know for a fact my dog's calorie intake is like 50+% treats (a lot of it dried meat)

>He was actually having a little problem with his hind legs because of the excess load.

My parent's dog was also ailing a couple of years ago and everyone thought it's just the age, but then they put her on a diet at the recommendation of a family friend vet, and the vitality and tail wags and energy and ability to get up some stairs or run or jump on the sofa kinda came back, and it was a moment of "oh- she was just too fat".

She's now 16 and more energetic than she was at her fattest. It really does make a difference. We thought she wouldn't see next spring two springs ago, and she's now seeing a third