FEEDING BEFORE A TRIAL

[Polmaise]

It can be frozen!
..................
For those that have less time on their hands ..or less money?

[Naj]

Going back to the op, if your dog isn't capable of putting in 2 or 3 good runs for the 10 or 15 minutes required during your average trial, then no amount of feeding or mid-day supplement is going to help it. Your time would be better spent in conditioning it for trial performance, and if that doesn't work, in getting a dog with a better constitution. For a long days work in the field, or even a trial's day, then a light 'breakfast' feed makes sense, especially if your dogs are out several days a week, when it can be difficult to keep condition on them. But on any form of organised shoot there is plenty of stop/starting to give the dog the chance of a breather, which naturally helps maintain pace. I would have been concerned if any of my spaniels were so lacking in energy by mid-day that they needed some form of energy boost. And its rather worrying if we are now breeding dogs that need this sort of supplementation. Access to drinking water is important, especially when working in windy conditions on open ground, which can be very de-hydrating. Dogs worked regularly for long periods - hours at a time - without breaks will inevitably learn to pace themselves, but even so they should still be going at a workmanlike pace. If not, its perhaps time that you had more dogs to share the workload.

Naj

[neilly1690]

Training must be going well then ... Where's the trial

[canismajor]

Going back to the op, if your dog isn't capable of putting in 2 or 3 good runs for the 10 or 15 minutes required during your average trial, then no amount of feeding or mid-day supplement is going to help it. Your time would be better spent in conditioning it for trial performance, and if that doesn't work, in getting a dog with a better constitution. For a long days work in the field, or even a trial's day, then a light 'breakfast' feed makes sense, especially if your dogs are out several days a week, when it can be difficult to keep condition on them. But on any form of organised shoot there is plenty of stop/starting to give the dog the chance of a breather, which naturally helps maintain pace. I would have been concerned if any of my spaniels were so lacking in energy by mid-day that they needed some form of energy boost. And its rather worrying if we are now breeding dogs that need this sort of supplementation. Access to drinking water is important, especially when working in windy conditions on open ground, which can be very de-hydrating. Dogs worked regularly for long periods - hours at a time - without breaks will inevitably learn to pace themselves, but even so they should still be going at a workmanlike pace. If not, its perhaps time that you had more dogs to share the workload.

Naj

couldnt agree more

[brian73]

Training must be going well then ... Where's the trial

ballymoney neilly,
and yes m8 training has went very well with her indeed, she just needs more experience on game but by the end of this season that will be sorted

[neilly1690]

Which one are you running with black or brown ... You ever go back ta Paul and his rabbit pen .... Is it with ronan at common halls spaniels

[neilly1690]

Is one better than the other or they both as good as each .. You must put in some time with them ..lol..I would love another but maybe in a year ...or so ..if bella works out I hope ta breed her in a year or so and will keep a pup

[brian73]

its with the black and white bitch m8

[Rothievale]

Going back to the op, if your dog isn't capable of putting in 2 or 3 good runs for the 10 or 15 minutes required during your average trial, then no amount of feeding or mid-day supplement is going to help it. Your time would be better spent in conditioning it for trial performance, and if that doesn't work, in getting a dog with a better constitution. For a long days work in the field, or even a trial's day, then a light 'breakfast' feed makes sense, especially if your dogs are out several days a week, when it can be difficult to keep condition on them. But on any form of organised shoot there is plenty of stop/starting to give the dog the chance of a breather, which naturally helps maintain pace. I would have been concerned if any of my spaniels were so lacking in energy by mid-day that they needed some form of energy boost. And its rather worrying if we are now breeding dogs that need this sort of supplementation. Access to drinking water is important, especially when working in windy conditions on open ground, which can be very de-hydrating. Dogs worked regularly for long periods - hours at a time - without breaks will inevitably learn to pace themselves, but even so they should still be going at a workmanlike pace. If not, its perhaps time that you had more dogs to share the workload.

Naj

I agree wholeheartedly Naj. I don't use Kronch bars very often, in fact I didn't at all last year but the year before that when it was -15 during the day I did at lunchtimes on shoot days as there is alot of waterwork involved here and deep snow, I also rugged them up at lunchtime (our lunchtimes are 1 to 2 hours!!!) during those arctic days. Last year was fine, snow wasn't too deep and temperatures weren't too bad either so Kronch wasn't needed. Hydration on the grouse can be a worry but that hasn't been an issue this year or last year, not had a hot day on the grouse for yonks!!!!

[brian73]

Well I bought those royal canine energy pouches and tried them last night.
Dog was absolutely no different with two pouches in her than she normally would be. Can't buy the kronch bars over here in Northern Ireland. So looks like she's gonna run on her own steam.