doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com (ot) Dog food

I gave the dog some high energy dog food last week and the high energy dog became a super high energy dog. However, he did not seem to find pheasants just tear about back and forth. One other person was in the area and his dog did not locate a pheasant. It was nice to see all that energy. What experiences have others had with high quality/energy dog food?

I started using Purina's Pro Plan and Eukanuba's sporting mixed. I gave him Purina's canned food before the hunt. I think it helped increase the energy.

Jas,
I hunt a small Lab retriever for upland. She's a 2yr old about 50lbs and just hyper. I feed Pro Plan dry food currently. Which canned Purina did you use?

On my hunts, I've just been giving more of the Pro Plan. But, I'm always interested in improving. I hunted 6-7 hrs with my dog on Saturday and noticed she was running out of gas after about 5 hrs.

I've had various recommendations on feeding before, during and after hunting. Near as I can deduce from all the recommendations from hunters to vets, is: one; you don't want their digestive track so full during hunting that a twisted gut is likely, two; you need to supplement their burnt energy in order to sustain performance. I've been feeding a little heavy the night before a huntday/after a huntday, feeding very light in the morning at least 4 hrs or more before hunting and giving a small handful of Pro Plan dry halfway thru the hunting day, followed by light another small handful after hunting while still in the field, then later, her dinner. Seems to be working, but I haven't deviated too much from this.

I like ProPlan, I see great results in my dogs.
If one need to feed a dog before the hunt, you probably don't have a proper conditioned dog or have the right dog. In my exprience, Hi-energy dog food does not make the dogs hyper but it does enhance their endurance and helps a speedy recover/restore the condition after a hard workout/hunt.
I don't feed hi-energy feed off season, study shows high protein feed can be hard on the kidney of certain dogs.

A fool and his money are soon parted.
Some people drink Red Bull & Vodka
I prefer Guinness it's traditional and cheaper just like ordinary dog food.

My dogs always give the best they've got when I turn them loose, feeding them the best I can afford is the least I can offer in return.
I can be a cheap beer drinking fool but I don't cheat(cheap) my friends, certaintly, not my best friends.

Eukanuba

also lots of carrots and two Glucosamine a day for each Lab.
Like Buzzbee says don't cheat my friends,They are only here for way to short a time and deserve what they would give us if they had a chance,the best they could get.

I have always fed my dogs (English Springer Spaniels) twice per day. I don't change that on hunting days except that I feed a bit more after the hunt if it was a full day. By feeding twice a day the amount prior to hunting is not to much for their system to handle and eliminates the concern over twisted stomach. I may also add some biscuts during a full days hunt to help keep their energy level constant. I am not a fan of suppliments and energy potions. A good quality food and some small adjustments for the energy output has worked well for my dogs. I do the same thing for myself. Most of us probably eat about the same thing on the day of the hunt as we would on any other day. We just may eat a bit more to make up for the extra energy needs.

Bill G.

I wouldn't advise on what to feed a dog. I provide my four-year-old 90-pound Lab a litre once a day year-round of the most expensive 28 per cent protein I can buy.

Both Katie and Jessie get Wellness with Chicken and we mix some raw vegetables with ground turkey. We mix in a food processer i sweet potato, a bunch of brocolli, a bag of carrots, an apple and a bunch of spinich with two pounds of ground turkey. We put this mix (mixed together) in a one cup and make a burger out of it. We freeze this and they each get half a burger with their dry mix for their second meal. We also use a digestive enzyme in the food as well.

Katie had a tendency for over weight until we started with this dry mix and the vegetables with turkey. She is now slim and trim.
Works for us.

Regards, Gordon

BB,
You may have misinterpreted my meaning. My dog is young and hyper by nature. I don't believe she was any different on other standard foods I've fed her and I'm not feeding any particularly high energy food currently. She gets fed morning and night regularly per a number of vets recommendations. On hunt days I slightly reduce her morning meal if we are going to hunt right away, if not, she gets her regular portion which is a dry Purina ProPlan currently. I know some don't agree with feeding twice a day. So be it. I've studied the issues and advice and logics of both sides, of laypersons and vets, and made my choice.

As for 'high energy' foods, I don't believe high protein foods provide 'high energy' in the short run. High carbohydrates could increase energy. I think the grain products like rice and wheat, etc. and potato can provide high sources of carbs for the increased energy of intermittant high activity levels. I'm just trying to learn what others have experienced so I can make educated choices. Just as there are many owners and dogs, there are many opinions on diet for them both.