Feeding for Competition - Page 2

It is common in dogs bred for endurance sports eg sled dogs and gundogs to have their diet altered before coming into a heavy period of work, usually meals are smaller and more frequent and of higher calorific density.

As Schutzhund is of very short duration and more explosive than the sustained energy release required by gundogs in the field all day or sled dogs running, it is not usually necessary unless weather requirements trigger the need.

The feeding requirements of a polo pony are, for example, very diferent to an eventer

RLHAR

Just got back from the training club, we drove an hour each way, but the field was clear of snow now, but solid Ice

 I walked out on it and went on my A -- in quick time, It was impossible to work a dog on it, so we all retired to the club house for a Belgian Pincher or a cup of Coffee, or if you fanced it a bowl of hot soup

So i asked my helper, do any of  the guys change the diet during a build Up to a competition or a trial

Look in my above post, All he did was smile. so i said for that you owe me a beer

So there is your answer No, just carry on as if you are training the Dog yourself and feed as always

You would of course not feed the dog on the morning you are going to compete,

Over here they start early as i guess they will where you live, Normally you can give the dog a biscuit or two inbetween the phases, but it is better it works on an empty stomach, and of course a drink

Steve

Thank you, Steve! 

A beer for a question, I like those odds and have enjoyed many a bowl of soup on cold training days.

For this I'll share my 'fall from grace' last year while out on the field.   It wasn't ice but rather mud, flat soles and a bad slide while working the dog that caused me to go down on my arse with my leg caught under me.  Broke the fibula.  What makes this all amusing is that 6 months earlier I had broken my *other* foot in a silly accident at home.

My dear dog was so used to my working her while in walking casts and leg braces that I think she was thrown when I actually started to work her with a 'regular' stride!  Laying a puppy track in a cast?  Major annoyance!!   Though I'm pretty sure I looked quite funny doing it.  Ahhh dog training and the humility it teaches us.

I don't usually feed her in the morning when we work for fear of bloat or just having her vomit it all up.  She's never been a food driven dog so she doesn't seem to miss the meal, especially when she knows that it's because we're going out to the training field!

Yes, You see some funny things on the training Field

My brother when he was training the Dog off leash used to walk with his left arm back  slightly behind him

Off the field it looked strange, I heard our helper say to him one day.

Will you stop showing off and not wave at the crowd whist you are working on the field,

He caught on real quick, He said he did not realise he was doing it.

I told him to get out of the habit just hold the bottom of the hem of his Ball Jacket with two fingers, that will keep his arm in the right place until he gets out of the habit of his arm going back,

It worked, he does not wave to the crowd now.

Steve