Page 314 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
18

VetBooks.ir

Feeding Working and

Sporting Dogs

Philip W. Toll

Robert L. Gillette
Michael S. Hand

“We derive immeasurable good, uncounted pleasures, enormous security,
and many critical lessons about life by owning dogs.”
Roger Caras, A Celebration of Dogs

that sporting or working dogs be willing, or even eager, to per-
INTRODUCTION form the tasks asked of them. For example, if a Labrador
retriever has no desire to enter the water or a sheepdog has no
Working and sporting dogs undertake a wide range of activities desire to herd, or a sled dog no desire to pull, whether or not
(Table 18-1). Depending on the activity, there is a need for ath- physical characteristics are ideal becomes irrelevant. Thus the
letic performance, scent detection or both. Athletic perform- basis of a dog’s performance depends on its innate physical and
ance and scent detection depend on genetics, training and mental potential. This generalization assumes that any lack of
nutrition. All three must be optimal for maximal performance. desire that may be present is not due to injury, illness, improp-
A deficiency in any one of these factors limits performance; er training or malnutrition. But, if a working or sporting dog
therefore, each factor must be assessed in light of the activity has the desired physical, metabolic and mental characteristics,
performed by an individual dog. its performance can be optimized by appropriate training and
nutrition.
Genetics
The genetic characteristics of the dog must be appropriate for Training
the type of activity it does. Mental, physical and metabolic Assessment of training should ensure that the intensity, duration
characteristics all play a role. As an example, rat terriers are bred and frequency match the desired level of performance. Many
to have the physical and mental characteristics that make them canine athletes are poorly trained.This is especially true for inter-
effective in the pursuit and capture of rats and other burrowing mittent athletes such as hunting dogs that spend much of the year
animals. Also, as a result of genetic selection, sight hounds excel in a run or small yard but are expected to hunt for many hours at
at pursuing and capturing prey in open fields. Physical charac- the onset of hunting season. This also applies to other “weekend
teristics such as conformation, heart size and muscle fiber type athletes” (i.e., dogs that compete or participate in weekend activ-
dictate the limits of athletic performance. Genetics likely also ities with their owners). It seems the trend is for more dogs to
play a role in a dog’s desire to perform. Certainly, it is desirable participate as workout companions with their owners.