October 2024
As a former professional athlete, I’ve often found parallels between how we prepare for physical performance and what works best for our dogs. Just like athletes, gundogs need well-timed meals and snacks to support their training or work sessions. In this blog, we’ll explore the best practices for feeding your gundog before, during, and after shoot days or training sessions to ensure they stay healthy and perform at their best.
Feeding Before Training
Feeding your dog right before a training session is generally not advisable. Similar to athletes who wouldn’t eat a large meal before a race, your dog needs time to digest their food before engaging in physical activity. A full stomach can cause discomfort, and there are potential health risks like bloating or even twisted gut.
Instead, consider a light snack like an energy bar, such as those from Skinners. This can provide your dog with quick energy without overwhelming their digestive system, allowing them to perform well during training.
Feeding After Training
After an intense training session or a long day of picking up, it’s important to replenish your dog’s energy and aid in their recovery. I recommend giving them a recovery bar (such as Skinners’ recovery options) within 20 minutes of finishing exercise. This helps to replenish their energy stores and promote muscle recovery.
Once they’re fully rested and back home, you can follow up with their regular meal to ensure they maintain proper nutrition.
Risks of Feeding Before or After Exercise
Feeding your dog right before exercise comes with risks, such as digestive issues, including bloating or the more severe twisted gut. After training, if your dog isn’t properly replenished, they could experience low energy levels or even collapse.
That’s why it’s critical to provide a recovery snack immediately after exercise, along with plenty of water to keep them hydrated. Hydration is just as important as feeding after exercise, as it helps in digestion and recovery.
Nutrition for a Long Shoot Day
A shoot day is much longer and more demanding than a regular training session. A typical gundog picking up on a shoot can cover around 10 kilometers in a day, which means their energy demands are significantly higher.
For these longer days, consider giving your dog energy snacks, like energy bars, between drives to keep their stamina up. Also, remember to ensure proper hydration throughout the day—especially during warmer weather—so your dog can continue to perform effectively.
How Weather Affects Feeding
Weather can greatly impact your feeding and hydration strategy. When it’s hot, your dog will lose more water through exertion, so maintaining hydration becomes even more critical.
Dogs begin to feel thirsty when they’ve lost 3-5% of their body’s water, and severe dehydration (13-15% loss) can be life-threatening. After feeding, always ensure your dog drinks enough water to support digestion and stay hydrated, particularly in warmer climates.
How Often Should You Feed Your Gundog?
Whether to feed once or twice a day is often a matter of personal preference and what works best for your dog. In my experience, I prefer to feed twice a day. This helps maintain steady energy levels, especially on more demanding shoot days.
On these days, feeding your dog early in the morning is crucial to prepare them for the long day ahead. For less intense periods, feeding once a day may work fine, but I recommend considering your dog’s workload and adjusting accordingly.
Conclusion
In summary, feeding your gundog effectively requires careful planning based on the activity they’re engaged in, the duration of that activity, and the weather conditions. By timing meals and ensuring proper hydration, you can keep your dog performing at their peak while protecting their health.
