Feeding before hunting

C

Choclab42

New member
For thoes of you that feed your dogs before hunting in the morning do you feed the same more our less? I would also like to know if there are any pros our cons to feeding/not feeding before in the morning before hunting?
 
I feed twice a day, but NEVER before hunting. I carry food & feed as soon as we're done, then resume the evening feeding on morning hunts; afternoon hunts see no change, other than the evening meal (for both of us) is later.
 
I agree with the other two posts. DO NOT feed in the morning before hunting. I feed once a day in the late afternoon or early evening. Your dog will run better, stronger and cooler on an empty stomach. That's why trialers never feed in the morning. Whether you feed once a day or twice a day the dog is getting the same amount of food.

I would also caution about feeding right after hunting or strenuous exercise. The dog should be allowed to cool down for an hour or so before being fed.

I do know that some trialers will give their dogs some of the energy bars between runs if the dog is running multiple braces during the day.
 
Hmmm...interesting discussion.

I googled "When to Feed a Hunting Dog" and found a very interesting discussion from a nutritionist at Purina - Brian Zanghi.

Bottom line: seems feeding once a day is optimum. However the weight of the dog seems to matter as well. Some dogs (greyhounds) run much faster on one day feeding. Apparently the dog's food isn't completely digested for 20-24 hours; feeding in the morning, then hunting the dog, can cause frequent bowl movements and bloody stools as the digestion is accelerated.

I learned alot!
 
On the outside chance this dead horse may have a breath of life, count me among those who feed once a day in the evening. I am still trying to settle the conflicting theories of whether it is better to feed immediately after strenuous activity or hydrate immediately then wait to feed.

My routine on hunting trips has been to feed in the field as soon as we are done for the day, then drive back to the motel. When we get back to the motel, I let the dogs out to get a drink and relieve themselves. I check on them again after 2 or 3 hours, give them another drink and another chance to relieve themselves. I am up at 5:00 am and the first thing I do is get the dogs out for more water and a potty break.
 
Dog Gun Time said:
On the outside chance this dead horse may have a breath of life, count me among those who feed once a day in the evening. I am still trying to settle the conflicting theories of whether it is better to feed immediately after strenuous activity or hydrate immediately then wait to feed.

My routine on hunting trips has been to feed in the field as soon as we are done for the day, then drive back to the motel. When we get back to the motel, I let the dogs out to get a drink and relieve themselves. I check on them again after 2 or 3 hours, give them another drink and another chance to relieve themselves. I am up at 5:00 am and the first thing I do is get the dogs out for more water and a potty break.
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GDT, if I was you I would talk to your vet or do some reading on the subject, but feeding immediately after hunting or strenuous exercise is not recommended from everything I have been told or ever read. Give the dog water but allow 30-60 minutes for the dog to cool and calm down before feeding.
 
Dakotazeb said:
GDT, if I was you I would talk to your vet or do some reading on the subject, but feeding immediately after hunting or strenuous exercise is not recommended from everything I have been told or ever read. Give the dog water but allow 30-60 minutes for the dog to cool and calm down before feeding.
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That's pretty close to the timing that occurs in the field. I get the dogs back to the truck and give them a rub down, clean their eyes and inspect them for cuts and thorns.
 
Just a little side note: When feeding on a hunting trip, I add powered milk and quite a bit of water to the food. Hydration is the key to a dog being able to hunt multiple days in a row!
conobirds
 
Let me clarify, Hank eats AFTER he has cooled-down, and part of that cool-down is a casual walk back to the rig at-heel, then he gets checked-over & brushed, also.
 
David0311

Dakotazeb said:
I agree with the other two posts. DO NOT feed in the morning before hunting. I feed once a day in the late afternoon or early evening. Your dog will run better, stronger and cooler on an empty stomach. That's why trialers never feed in the morning. Whether you feed once a day or twice a day the dog is getting the same amount of food.

I would also caution about feeding right after hunting or strenuous exercise. The dog should be allowed to cool down for an hour or so before being fed.

I do know that some trialers will give their dogs some of the energy bars between runs if the dog is running multiple braces during the day.
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I direr from.the common consensus here..I feed a light morning.meal all year long ..huntinf and trialing...how many of ypu hunt all day without any food?
Should add.this light meal is several hours before hunting...do agree that dogs should be cooled.down before evening.meal....what works for.you is your choice..by the way hello.George..dc
 
david0311 said:
I direr from.the common consensus here..I feed a light morning.meal all year long ..huntinf and trialing...how many of ypu hunt all day without any food?
Should add.this light meal is several hours before hunting...do agree that dogs should be cooled.down before evening.meal....what works for.you is your choice..by the way hello.George..dc
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That would make two of us. I too give a very small portion in the morning, 2-3 hrs before hunting. Larger portion at night a couple hrs after hunting has ended for the day.
 
I can agree with those of you that give a small portion in the morning several hours before you hunt. Probably not a problem. But when running field trials I never know when I might draw a 7:30 AM brace and do not want to have fed my dog shortly prior to her run. So feeding once a day later in the day works best for me. One other reason I've gone to once a day. I've had both my breeder and my vet tell me this and neither have an explanation why, but they claim feeding once a day helps control weight better. With two spayed females that seems to add weight easily I went to once a day and must say it does seem to help in weight management.
 
I do not feed my dog in the morning of a hunt although on any other day he would get a half ration in the morning. Rather, I let him eat all he wants the night before a hunt.
 
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