How to feed a working dog.
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How to feed working dogs
There are a lot of dogs today that have a pretty good life. They get to laze around on the couch or in the shady spot in the back yard all day and then hang around with the family in the evening and on weekends. They might go for a short walk or jog a couple of times a day and maybe play with the kids for an hour or so, but other than that they are pretty much content to just relax and watch the world go by.
On the other side of the spectrum are the very busy and highly active working dogs. These can be dogs that work on farms, feedlots or in training for herding, tacking, hunting or agility types of competitions. They may also be dogs that are flock guardians, living with sheep, cattle and horses and moving with the herd over miles per day of rough terrain. Other working dogs may include police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs as well as assistance and guide dogs. Hunting dogs, both those used to track down game and those used to retrieve game are also constantly on the move. Guard dogs and protection dogs are another group of very active working dogs with a daily job to do.
Feeding active working dogs that have a high daily energy expenditure in competition, training or in their daily job is different than feeding a good old family companion type of dog. Working dogs will require a higher fat and protein content in their food in order to maintain and develop muscle mass, heal injuries and build new tissue as well as keep their body metabolism working at top capacity.
Protein and fat are the equivalent for dogs as carbohydrates are for humans. While most commercially prepared dog foods will have a fairly high quantity of grains the carbohydrate content in the grains is really not important, it is the grain's protein content as well as the fiber that the dog's body will use. Carbohydrates in most forms cannot be digested by the dog's system and will pass out in the fecal matter. However, in large quantities processed carbohydrates in the food can cause excessive fat build up in the dog's body, even in a working dog.
A working dog that is outdoors in cold and wet weather needs a higher protein and fat percentage in their diet than a dog that is doing the same job in a warm climate or indoors. Therefore when feeding working dogs in the winter months it will important to adjust the protein content and fat content of the food up, not simply feed more of the same type of food. Dogs will typically only eat until full, not based on the actual nutritional value of the food. Feeding additional raw meats and bones can help to increase the protein and fat content of the diet while not adding a lot of additional bulk to the ration. Just keep in mind that fat needs to be fed carefully and with lean meats and proteins to avoid pancreatitis and problems with diarrhea and digestion. Article provided by Amanda Smith of ohmydogsupplies.com, check out our cool assortment of dog seat covers online.
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There are a lot of dogs today that have a pretty good life. They get to laze around on the couch or in the shady spot in the back yard all day and then hang around with the family in the evening and on weekends. They might go for a short walk or jog a couple of times a day and maybe play with the kids for an hour or so, but other than that they are pretty much content to just relax and watch the world go by.
On the other side of the spectrum are the very busy and highly active working dogs. These can be dogs that work on farms, feedlots or in training for herding, tacking, hunting or agility types of competitions. They may also be dogs that are flock guardians, living with sheep, cattle and horses and moving with the herd over miles per day of rough terrain. Other working dogs may include police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs as well as assistance and guide dogs. Hunting dogs, both those used to track down game and those used to retrieve game are also constantly on the move. Guard dogs and protection dogs are another group of very active working dogs with a daily job to do.
Feeding active working dogs that have a high daily energy expenditure in competition, training or in their daily job is different than feeding a good old family companion type of dog. Working dogs will require a higher fat and protein content in their food in order to maintain and develop muscle mass, heal injuries and build new tissue as well as keep their body metabolism working at top capacity.
Protein and fat are the equivalent for dogs as carbohydrates are for humans. While most commercially prepared dog foods will have a fairly high quantity of grains the carbohydrate content in the grains is really not important, it is the grain's protein content as well as the fiber that the dog's body will use. Carbohydrates in most forms cannot be digested by the dog's system and will pass out in the fecal matter. However, in large quantities processed carbohydrates in the food can cause excessive fat build up in the dog's body, even in a working dog.
A working dog that is outdoors in cold and wet weather needs a higher protein and fat percentage in their diet than a dog that is doing the same job in a warm climate or indoors. Therefore when feeding working dogs in the winter months it will important to adjust the protein content and fat content of the food up, not simply feed more of the same type of food. Dogs will typically only eat until full, not based on the actual nutritional value of the food. Feeding additional raw meats and bones can help to increase the protein and fat content of the diet while not adding a lot of additional bulk to the ration. Just keep in mind that fat needs to be fed carefully and with lean meats and proteins to avoid pancreatitis and problems with diarrhea and digestion. Article provided by Amanda Smith of ohmydogsupplies.com, check out our cool assortment of dog seat covers online.
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