News & Tips

Prepare dogs for hunting season

Successful performance dogs are the result of a combination of genetics, nutrition, and training. Research has shown that a high-quality feed is one of the most important factors that can help your dogs obtain maximum performance.

Transition your dogs to a high-quality food prior to starting the conditioning program. Many owners and/or trainers maintain dogs on lower-quality rations during the off-season, and do not switch to higher-quality foods until the hunting season begins. If you make the switch before training, conditioning efforts will result in a stronger, more energetic dogs.

Raw meat, cooking grease, and table scraps are often added to rations during hunting season to boost the dog's nutrition instead of switching to a performance diet. This practice is counterproductive because adding meats, scraps, etc., causes the commercial diet to become unbalanced and saturated fats found in meats decrease performance.

Hunting dogs are endurance athletes. The energy requirement of the endurance athlete is more than three times greater than normal maintenance requirements. Dietary changes, including changes from maintenance rations to performance rations, should be made gradually over a period of seven to 10 days. Increases in volume must also be made gradually.

Feed dogs at least four hours before exercise and two hours after exercise periods. Allow dogs to cool down completely before feeding. And always provide clean, fresh drinking water.

Check with Stockdale's for our high-quality lineup of feeds for your dog.