High Energy Dog Snacks

• 08-06-2008 8:01 AM

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,488 Points 100

  High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact  My agility trainer was telling me hard boiled eggs are a good source of protein for dogs. However I am wondering what else I could do. Teddi has gotten EXTREMELY hungry when we have taken her to dog events. She is thin (thin side of normal) so she does not have any reserve fat to draw from. I realized she looks like she "crashes" as the day progresses. I need to feed her more. I plan to feed her every 4 hours at events when I want her energy up, and she will be burning more calories. My question what would be best to feed her? Should I just pack extra of her usual food or are there good high energy dog snacks? We are planning a dog fun day this weekend. She will be swimming a lot. It will be a good time to test my feeding plan before we have another competition. Also at agility trials I see a lot of people giving their dogs baby food as a treat. I am thinking about special treats for Belle after she runs. Do some of you have something extra special your dogs really get "up" for?   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UADNJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, NAJ, OJP, CGC, UADSJ, UADJJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi UADJJ, UKCJJ, CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

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• 08-06-2008 8:17 AM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 3,593 Points 355	Re: High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact  Well we discovered this week that some Schaller & Weber liver pate (really a liverwurst) is like crack for Bugsy - we got the top one on this page and seriously for a dog that likes food but isn't terribly food motivated this was the craziest response I've ever seen I also use food rolls when on the go
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• 08-06-2008 10:12 AM

  In reply to kpwlee

  brookcove Joined on 09-10-2007 Semora, North Carolina, USA Posts 3,966 Points 335

  Re: High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact First, you need to make sure you are maxing out her conditioning.  Is she really physically ready for these weekends?  Otherwise, if you get her going past where her body is telling her  that her limit is, you are setting her up for injury or metabolic reactions (labs are prone to these). Once you are sure that she's not crashing because she's past her safety limit, many of my herding trial friends have discovered that carby treats are welcome and useful to provide that little extra burst of energy.  There's doggy "energy bars" available, but it's cheaper to make some of your own.  There's a ton of recipes available online.  Different dogs utilize different carbs best - most of mine do best on barley and oatmeal, with molasses - but one of my dogs does best on cornmeal with honey.  There's even recipes for grain free bars that use potato flour or sweet potatoes.  I include a tasty protein source like organ meat - kidney in particular has a ton of fat which keeps the bars nice and gooey. Becca Shouse Maggie and Zhi (queen bees), Ben, Gus, Cord, Rocky, Ted (BCs), Lu and Tully (Maremma flock guardians) Irena Farm, Semora, NC

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• 08-06-2008 8:11 PM

  In reply to brookcove

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,512 Points 75

  Re: High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact Are you at outdoor events? I will "lace" Emma's water with some plain pediatlyte. That keeps her hydrated, and more up. I also make carb heavy treats. Things like fig bars, carob brownies, liver brownies, etc. Emma is a big fan of sweet potato and cooked, fruity, carby, things.  Tripe seems to help a lot with that "worn down dog" thing, too. It doesn't make a lot of sense, to me, but what do I know?   I also give Emma free access to her crate, when we're out, and will sometimes put her in there to rest. Being at a trial all day is WAY stimulating. They're around dozens of dogs they've never met, people they've never seen, in a place they've probably never been. It's a lot to take in. Breaks are REALLY important.  Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 08-06-2008 9:07 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  brookcove Joined on 09-10-2007 Semora, North Carolina, USA Posts 3,966 Points 335

  Re: High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact That's another good point.  It makes a difference, I think, to feed something that's more easily utilized.  When I fed kibble, I switched to easy to digest canned food and tripe (canned) for the road and never got "travel tummy."  Now for short trips I freeze their normal food, but replace the RMBs with meat patties.  Becca Shouse Maggie and Zhi (queen bees), Ben, Gus, Cord, Rocky, Ted (BCs), Lu and Tully (Maremma flock guardians) Irena Farm, Semora, NC

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• 08-06-2008 9:49 PM

  In reply to brookcove

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,488 Points 100

  Re: High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact Thanks for the suggestions gang! Yes Teddi's events (so far) are outside. She is a dock jumper. It isn't a full out "fitness" sport. Yes she needs to be fit, but they only jump 2 times each class (no more than 3 classes a day at a competition) and I do not practice her much because of her hip situation, so it is not an 'endurance' fitness thing. She is fit, I would like her fitter but we have had soundness issues and we get her conditioning up where it should be to have another problem set us down. This weekend I plan to let her swim a lot, she will have plenty of rest breaks too. I need her to let some of her six week pent up energy out. I just thought it would be a good time to try feeding her to figure out "what" and "when" so when we do get to compete again she does not "bottom out". What was happening was she would start "shaking" like she was cold. At first I thought she was but when it happened again in 90+ degree heat I thought no she is not cold. The last event I took her to, I thought she was hungry, so I bought her a grilled chicken sandwich. I gave her the chicken breast (not the bun) it did not help her for her final jump BUT about 15 minutes after the finals were over she was energized and ready to play again. I know when I get really hungry I can have a "hypo glycemic" episode. I thought  maybe something like that was happening to her. So that is why I am looking to learn how to feed my performance dogs. I have never had them before this is new territory for me. She is still and adolescent too, so I think she is still burning more calories that way too. She will be 2 in October. We try very hard not to push her because she is still very young. However she has ENERGY we just have always had to control it.   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UADNJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, NAJ, OJP, CGC, UADSJ, UADJJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi UADJJ, UKCJJ, CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

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• 08-07-2008 1:59 PM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,512 Points 75

  Re: High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact The shaking would have scared me. My dogs will occasionally shiver in anticipation, but never in exhaustion. Maybe something like Nutracal should be in your bag, just in case? I'd definitely bring some good snacks along, as well.  Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 08-08-2008 8:49 AM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  mudpuppy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,334 Points 100	Re: High Energy Dog Snacks Reply Contact http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=327 big selection of power boosters. I like Zukes power bones myself.
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