How to feed a hunting dog

Feeding: part of the hunt preparation

Preparations for the hunt, or any period of extended activity, must start several weeks before the activity itself. While we very rarely change the actual food, we do adjust the quantity well in advance of the hunt, so that the dog’s ready to receive the what it’ll need out in the field. The day before the hunt starts, we’re generous with water. In our experience, dogs like dry food best when it’s not soaked. Plenty of water and food served straight away: this sharpens the appetite and it’s good for the teeth. It’s also important to remember that the dog must have sufficient time to recuperate. When the hunting party’s “social downtime” extends into the wee small hours, make sure the dog has the peace and quiet it needs.

HOT TIP

I teach my dogs to eat when they’re served food, not when they want to eat. This can be done from a young age. Don’t leave food out – give it to your dogs for about 30 minutes, then take it away.

As someone who’s worked with dogs in service, both on hikes and in more operational settings, this has proved to be very practical. I know that the dog always eats when he’s served his food (preferably twice a day) or when it needs a little top-up.

Crister Næss Crister was a dog handler in the Norwegian Armed Forces. He works as a dog handler, and is owner and consultant of the company Fluent Dawg – Fluent Dawg – Dogtraining and Workingdogs.

The right food for hunting dogs

For dogs, hunting is expensive, energy-wise. In order to perform, it needs the best food. The dog’s short digestive system and teeth tell us that this animal does best on a diet of raw animal products. These are the main ingredient in recognized feeds. A nutritious and balanced diet of good quality food is important for both humans and animals. Read up on the nutritional content of your feed. Choose high-energy feed and start with a gradual transition in good time. It’s not a bad idea to use the same feed throughout the year, adjusting the amount in relation to the activity level.

Photo: Lesja og Dovre Fuglehundsenter

A good piece of advice – keep an eye on your dog’s faeces. They tell you a lot about your dog’s wellbeing! The faeces should be relatively dry and not over-abundant. Another thing that goes without saying is that feeding with dinner leftovers, scraps of bread and the like isn’t going to cut it. That’s not to say that your dog can’t have the leftover meatloaf as a nibble – just that leftovers mustn’t fill up too much of the stomach. Lesja og Dovre Fuglehundskole

Proper nutrition improves the dog’s performance

The dog’s metabolism is optimally tuned to absorb protein and fat from meat. When the dog’s active, fat is the most important source of energy. If your dog has “a few grams spare” when the hunt begins, you’re likely to find it getting slimmer every day. In other words, the dog’s expending more energy than it consumes. So having a little some reserves of fat is maybe an advantage.

Dogs are famously good at sourcing the energy they need from the body. If there’s an energy deficit in their feed, they draw on their stored fat reserves. High-quality protein will also increase the transport of oxygen to the muscles and support healthy muscles. A good feed will also contain natural fibre (helpful for the intestinal environment), glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate (for healthy joints and synovial fluid) and omega 3 fatty acids (to support a sense of smell.

Feeding routines for a hunting dog

Make sure that there’s no stress, fuss or getting ready to go when the dog’s about to eat. Keep everything calm before and after meal time. Remember that tired and hungry dogs can be a wee bit grumpy – so if there are several dogs present, consider keeping them at a distance from one another at mealtimes. CREATING A GOOD FEEDING ROUTINE BRINGS SERIOUS REWARDS!