Dog Activity Articles
Performance Dog Diets
Why Your High-Performance Dog Needs High-Performance Dog Food
Performance dogs have unique nutritional needs. To perform their best, these special dogs need a high-performance dog food that keeps them going.
Mushers know that without the right kind of nutrition, their dogs won't have the stamina to race. They've learned from experience that their performance dogs need a nutrient-dense food—up to 10,000 calories a day—which non-performance food cannot provide. Mushers also know their dogs must consume their food in small doses.
We've studied sled dogs, hunting dogs, dogs that compete in agility and field trial competitions, dogs that perform rescue missions, and dogs that routinely run or hike with their owners.
Performance Dogs Need More Calories and Nutrients
Working dogs—animals that compete regularly as well as weekend warriors—need more calories than other dogs because their activities demand more of their bodies. They need a formula with extra protein, carbohydrates, and fat, with nutrients that can be easily and quickly absorbed by their body. Premium Performance dry dog foods deliver this by providing:
High-quality, animal-based proteins such as chicken. This provides essential amino acids to build muscle, repair tissue, and synthesize hormones. Other brands use only vegetable protein, which is a problem because vegetable proteins can reduce muscle mass while increasing body fat.
"Quick energy" carbohydrates such as finely ground corn meal, barley, and grain sorghum (a cereal) that can be efficiently absorbed by your dog’s digestive system
High-quality fat from chicken and fish. These provide omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to keep the coat and skin healthy. This is critical as the fur protects your dog from heat, cold, and parasites.
Fermentable fiber in the form of beet pulp to help your dog’s digestive system effectively absorb nutrients
When to Feed Your Dog a High-Performance Dog Food
Even sled dogs don't need performance food year-round. During summer’s non-training season they only need about 800 calories per day. Scientists have determined that the best time to begin serving a performance diet is eight weeks prior to the performance event. To avoid stomach upset, gradually mix the performance food into the dog's usual fare for three days. (Feeding performance food to a dog that is not exercising regularly will result in unhealthy weight gain.) Dogs that run regularly throughout the year can be served a performance diet year-round.
Proper nutrition for an athletic dog helps to get his body in shape and will enable him to go the extra mile every day—whether it’s a 5-mile run or racing the Iditarod.
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Exercising Your Dog- A Runner's Guide
About three years ago, I was working 10-hour days and I felt so bad leaving my dog, Ace, home all day. So I started a new business: running dogs. I average 15 miles a day now, although most of my outings with dogs are about 3 miles or so each.
I know—it’s a lot. But I’ve always done all sorts of sports, including swimming and rugby. And although I was never into running, now I run marathons.
Dog Clients Come in All Sizes
I run all kinds of dogs—some big, some small. Some are really overweight, so I take it easy with them. I charge $25 an hour and $18 a half hour; each extra dog is $5 more.
Sometimes I go to people’s houses and they’re home–they just don’t want to walk their dogs. But usually I’m taking pets out for a run because their owners are working in an office all day, like I was before I started my business.
When I take the dogs out, I always keep them on a leash, just in case. Some are crazy pullers. Most dogs start out fast but then adjust to my speed (about nine minutes per mile). I take the dogs to parks, in the street, wherever. It doesn’t really matter, but I definitely like to mix it up.
I’m an All-Weather Runner
Here in Fargo, ND, where I live, it gets cold. Sometimes I show up and the owner decides it’s too cold to take the dog out. Other owners put sweaters on their pups and let us go. But I always show up, no matter what. There’s no real cutoff for me, though minus 25⁰ F is pretty cold! I can run in the snow, but sidewalks are usually cleared here. In the summer, some breeds tend to overheat, so I have to be careful. But as a rule, I think just getting out and moving is good for dogs.
If you need to exercise your dog but don’t have the time or ability to do so, it’s great to hire someone like me. If you are thinking about hiring a dog runner, schedule a meet-and-greet. You should feel comfortable with the runner handling your dog and potentially visiting your house when you are not home.
Here are a few tips to help you choose the right person to exercise your dog:
Check credentials. Ask the dog runner if he or she carries any type of insurance. Also ask for a few references.
Establish communications. If you’re planning to have a runner take your dog while you’re at work, you probably won’t see each other too often. So plan on keeping in touch regularly by email, phone, or text. Ask the dog runner to give you an update every now and then about how it’s going.
Share information. Make sure to tell your dog’s exercise buddy about any injuries your pet has, aggression issues with other animals, or anything else you think the person should know.
Ask if they house-sit, too. With Run That Mutt, at least 50% of my business is regular running appointments, while 25% is regular walking appointments. The remainder of my time is spent pet-sitting while people are on vacation or otherwise away from home. So if you find a great dog runner, there’s a good chance you’ll have a reliable (and active!) sitter for your canine the next time you travel!
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Is Your Dog Ready for Agility?
There are plenty of ways to get your dog off the couch and on the move, but none are more entertaining than agility. Dogs learn to maneuver jumps, teeter-totters, tunnels, and poles, while owners work to master handling skills. Agility is so fun and rewarding that newcomers are flocking to classes and camps as the sport expands rapidly.
Agility might be the perfect sport for owner and dog. It engages the whole dog and person with its use of physical skills, speed, competitiveness, and mental accuracy. Working against the clock allows dogs to focus on the course and not on other animals. And because the handler is involved at every moment, owners are equally stimulated trying to pass their dogs through the course with as few errors as possible.
Dog Agility Offers Access for Many
As people realize how accessible dog agility is and how addictive the challenges are for both dogs and humans, the sport has taken off. Ace Russell, owner of Agility Center of East Tennessee and inventor of Way to Weave, a weave pole manufacturer, attests to how compelling agility is for both handlers and canines. He came to the sport after showing dogs in conformation for years and was immediately hooked.
Russell helped sponsor the first agility trial in East Tennessee and, over the course of a few years, became an instructor. He now serves as the training director for the Tennessee Valley Kennel Club. “The nice aspect of agility is that it is relatively easy to get involved,” says Russell. “The commitment of time and money can vary based on the passion of the competitors.”
Where to Get Started in Dog Agility
Just a class a week for a few months will initiate any dog to the sport, says Russell. Dog agility camps, which can be found across the country, offer another way to get started. These camps offer a great introduction to the sport for beginners and help teams improve dramatically over a short period of time, says Russell. Experts teach the multiday camps, designed for different levels of performance and with small focus sessions.
Most camps have few, if any, criteria for attending dogs. Some classes might require the dog to be a certain age, but all breeds can excel in agility. As you look for a camp, ask for recommendations from other dog agility competitors. Find a reputable expert, and make sure the camp uses safe, approved equipment. If your dog is younger than 18 months, avoid the higher jumps and weave poles. A camp should ask for proof that all dogs are current on vaccinations.
Some dog agility camps also offer activities such as flyball, nose work, and hiking, giving the dogs and owners a variety of fun options.
To get involved in the sport, start by researching one of the major agility organizations: the American Kennel Club, the United States Dog Agility Association, and The North American Dog Agility Council. Each organization has an informative website, and the USDAA has a helpful newsletter.
I recently set up a few obstacles for my dogs and put them through the paces. I quickly realized that agility was fun. Maybe a summer camp is in our future.
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