behaviour and eating issues

Question
sometime ago you gave me some useful advise about my bischon which was over weight.  i moved him to a natural diet which included chicken/tuna and veg with mashed potatoe or oats.  Since then my bichon has lost weight from about 10kl to about 8 someething he is two years old.  However since then he is constantly hungry walking around sniffing looking for food eating food from off the floor when his out walking and generally being very annoying to the whole family! when he is given food he eats it within a matter of seconds but is constantly begging! i do sometimes give in and give him some carrott or apple but then he comes back for more. plaese advise as i have been thinking about going back to normal dogs food which was 'natures best'.  

In addition is there any help you can give in relation to barking and whining whenever the dog knocks, he runs to the door barking which i would expect from a dog but he also whines as well? and when the guest do enter he jumps on them continuously till i have to shut him in the corridor or in a different room.  

Please help as i always find your suggestions really useful.

Thanks

georgia

Answer
Hello Georgia
If this was my doggy I would not revert back to commercial. I would increase protein in the way of meaty bones, in the main dogs eat when domesticated through boredom and not hunger hence many more dogs are now obese rather than being on their natural slimmer side.
I would now reduce the carbs in the form of potatoes and up the meat (raw if possible or slightly warmed through) It takes many more calories to burn protein than carbs so it will  see a reduction both in overall weight and hunger.

Occupy the dog with play and games its by doing that the dogs will become less interested in eating which as I say is done through boredom.

Go to the butchers and ask for raw meaty bones or lamb bones and give them daily to the dog until he eats them.

Whining is simply getting back to basics, however some dogs usually males will whine more than most. Door barking is about basic training, place dog on collar and lead and walk to the door when visitors come. DONT allow doggy to be in front of you, keep on collar and lead and say sit wait shh. Open the door, keep looking at the dog and if he makes a move to bark or jump then take a step back again repeat Sit wait sshh. Repeated use of this will teach him respect and hierarchy. At the moment he is thinking he is protecting his pack (you) so will bark to ward off the intruder to his home. Do this until he stops being a barky boy.

Goodl luck
Kaza