Dog not eating when on the road hunting

K

KansasGsp

Active member
So I got myself a new pup and the little guy won't eat much when we're on the road hunting. Never had this issue before so looking for suggestions. Normally I'd give him some canned food mixed in with the dry but he's an indoor dog (my first indoor bird dog) and I don't want to upset his stomach to the point of having the runs. Just got back from South Dakota and he didn't eat Thursday or Friday. Finally Saturday he was hungry enough to eat but it wasn't much. Was thinking maybe about pouring some bone broth or brown gravy over his dry food and maybe that'd get him to eat??? He eats at home, not sure why he's not when we're away from home. Thanks in advance.
 
None of my past or current dogs ate/eat well on the road. I have found by adding meat and broth helps immensely. I boil ground venison, venison liver or similar. The broth part is important to give them the extra water that there using up.
 
On a trip my dog gets amped up and won’t eat either. He eats when he’s hungry. When on a road trip I only feed once a day after the hunt soaked in water as much as he wants. After he stops I take the remaining food away and doesn’t get any more till the next evening. On the second day he’s ready to eat
 
My dog now and previous dog did not eat much after the first few hunts of the season. Which normally are an all day Saturday and Sunday hunt. Is this your dogs first hard hunt of the year?
 
I've resorted to whatever I can get down them. Cheeseburgers, leftovers, etc...I figure any calories are better than nothing. It's frustrating for sure. I really try and pack some weight on them the last month before season but they still don't have much to spare.
 
I have fought this with the heavy majority of the pointers/gsp I have owned. Then my hunting buddy has always had labs and they seem to have half the bowl ate before the kennel door is shut lol
 
My Vizsla struggles after long drives out of state. I bring a variety of food toppings and that helps. Chicken breast chopped and mixed with canned pumpkin is a favorite. Pumpkin helps with upset stomach too. I also make a combo of fatty beef stew meat, chicken and beef liver and chicken gizzards. Cook in a crock pot and blend it into canned food consistency. Mix a whack of that into his food bowl. I have also started bringing Purina fortaflora on trips. I always add water to their kibble. Helps with hydration and makes digestion a bit easier.
 
My 4 yo Vizsla hardly eats on the road on a two week trip by the time I get home he is very boney and thin. He will eat cheeseburgers in paradize
 
KansasGsp said:
So I got myself a new pup and the little guy won't eat much when we're on the road hunting. Never had this issue before so looking for suggestions. Normally I'd give him some canned food mixed in with the dry but he's an indoor dog (my first indoor bird dog) and I don't want to upset his stomach to the point of having the runs. Just got back from South Dakota and he didn't eat Thursday or Friday. Finally Saturday he was hungry enough to eat but it wasn't much. Was thinking maybe about pouring some bone broth or brown gravy over his dry food and maybe that'd get him to eat??? He eats at home, not sure why he's not when we're away from home. Thanks in advance.
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Are you feeding him in the morning or evening during the hunts. I only feed mine in the evenings when hunting (both to reduce risk of getting a twisted stomach and because she wouldn't want to eat knowing she is going to hunt). She isn't as much of an eater as my lab was, and she puts on more miles, so I feed her morning and evening on days when we aren't hunting. During the non-hunting season, she gets fed once in the morning.
 
I started my Vizsla out on PPP when he was a pup and switched him to Innukshuk 30/25 last year. That was a mistake. Had trouble getting food into him on hunts and it came to a head in the spring. He was training and running in hunt tests and lost a ton of weight. He hated the Inukshuk and wasn't eating enough to keep weight on. Tried to go back to PPP but he walked away from it too. Had to supplement with Dyne. What I was doing wasn't working, so I decided to make another change in food and moved him to Nutrisource Performance 30/20. That change significantly improved his eating. I don't know why but he likes the Nutrisource a lot more than what I was feeding him and made things a lot easier. Go figure.
 
Mosby said:
What I was doing wasn't working, so I decided to make another change in food and moved him to Nutrisource Performance 30/20. That change significantly improved his eating. I don't know why but he likes the Nutrisource a lot more than what I was feeding him and made things a lot easier. Go figure.
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My dog, who isn't overly excited about meal time (at least not compared to my lab), seemed more interested in Nutrisource Performance too, when I switched from other brands. I alternate between the Nutrisource Performance and Nutrisource Super Performance (one bag until it is done, and then switch to the other).
 
Get a Lab......they think with their stomachs! LOL!
Kidding aside.....beef or bone broth really helps. Stay away from the "human" junk......canines cannot process the preservatives, sugars, etc in human foods....it'll do more harm than good.
Canine supplements that are proven too.....on trips, I'll water my dog with Kinetic Hydro30K and his food too.
 
I've also had this problem. When I noticed that our dogs would eat after getting used to the surroundings and will always eat my buddy's leftover food of a different brand 1st. So, I mix the dog foods together, add a pouch of gainsbuger and some warm water. Then I use a small canvas tarp to put muddy boots on and feed the dogs inside the motel door. If that's not an option, I put them on a lead and sit down next to the food and water and just sit there. Usually after they get used to the commotion they'll eat. It takes an average of three beers.
 
Thanks guys,
After years and years of shorthairs I got myself a Britt (wanted to try something different). Finn is his name and he's 11 months old, he's my first indoor bird dog as well. He's awesome, great pet at home and all business in the field. He did great in Western Kansas two weekends ago and was the same in South Dakota this past weekend. He is bird crazy! Dealing with stickers is something new but I think we got it figured out. He is a momma's boy when around the house! He's not much of a retriever yet but we'll work on that. But, I love his range and he listens really well and he's a pretty good bird finder for an 11 month old. Thanks for all the suggestions. Bryan
 
My last lab was bad about not eating on the road. I only feed in the evenings. I finally started giving her a peanut butter sandwich when we finished for the day and a few meat scrap leftovers mixed with her food that evening. She would wear out the PB sandwich, still hit or miss on the other, mainly pick the meat out.
 
GetTothePoint said:
I've resorted to whatever I can get down them. Cheeseburgers, leftovers, etc...I figure any calories are better than nothing. It's frustrating for sure. I really try and pack some weight on them the last month before season but they still don't have much to spare.
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Yep had to grab a McDouble for my boy on the way out of town he wasn't eating anything.
 
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