October 1, 2021 Sales WVF

The working dog diet

Working dogs are built for the field. They need to be fast, agile and have good stamina. So how do we ensure that they are getting enough from their feed? Working dogs will have unique nutritional needs that will need to be met to help them perform at their best.

Let’s take a look at their diet.

If you’ve ever worked on your own fitness or stamina, you’ll know that what you eat and drink has a massive impact on performance and energy levels. This is the same for our working dogs.

Working dogs get a workout every day. Having such an active lifestyle means they will need more calories to operate at peak performance. Depending on just how much exercise they get, they will need up to twice the amount of protein and calories as a family dog! A good source of calories for dogs is from the fat and oil content of the feed you give them. Fat helps to maintain stamina in dogs and will help them to feel more energised for longer.

Working dogs will also need more protein in their diet. Protein is essential for muscle growth and muscle repair. Ensuring that your dog has enough protein in their diet can also avoid work related injuries such as pulled muscles and fatigue, as well as aiding recovery times.

Finding a good quality, nutritionally balanced feed will benefit in helping give your dog all the nutrients required. Opting for a complete feed will mean that all you need to do is calculate the ration you need daily. If using a mixer, you will need to calculate what is required on top of this to ensure that they are getting their daily dietary requirements.

Whilst it’s important to ensure your dog is getting enough, it’s also just as important to avoid over-feeding too. As tempting as it is to give them scraps and leftovers, doing so can cause an imbalance in their diet and lead to weight gain. Weight gain will in turn add more stress to the internal systems and joints, which can result in illness or injury.

Just as we do with ourselves, avoid feeding your dog directly before or after exercise. As the dog exercises, all the blood is concentrated to the areas that need it, such as the muscles and respiratory system. During this time the blood flow to the digestive system is reduced, meaning that the digestion process slows. Feeding too close to exercise can cause digestive upsets, discomfort and even diarrhoea so it is best to be avoided! Instead, try to feed at least 2 hours after (or before) exercise. This gives them a chance to recover and the bodily systems to return to normal.

All in all, working dogs will need a diet that is higher in protein, fats & oils. Ensuring they have a good diet will help them perform at their best!

Have a look at our top picks for working dog feed