Registered: Jan 2008
Location: the late, great west
Posts: 104

Do any of you feed your dogs before hunting?
When I'm talking about hunting here I mean serious 4 to 5 hour hard running hunts (more like big game).
What do you feed; dry; wet; other?
How long before hunting do you feed?
It seems like we are always being warned not to feed before hunting but I know the fox hound kennels feed before they hunt and human athletes often eat a little before hand as well.

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Registered: Apr 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 928

If I have a dog that I have been busting for 5-6 weeks and they are truly dialed in physically, mentally, and thier metabolism is blowing through the roof, I will feed a smaller portion of pure, high-octane gas about noon for a 9 pm'ish hunt. The bulk of the feeding is done roughly 30 minutes after hunt time when the body is screaming for replenishment. You can't compare the canine metabolism to a human metabolism. A human metabolism is naturally much faster and more dynamic. A canine metabolism is much, much slower. This allows a dog to put out a much higher level of work for a longer period of time. If you opt to feed twice a day, feed in smaller portions and you will see an elevated metabolism. I caution against it as most times it will cause more problems than benefits as very few hunt hard enough to safely feed twice a day and realize maximum performance. But then again, most have no clue what they are looking at anyway so long as the dog puts one foot in front of the other. Heck, many even think a slobbering mouth is indicative of a dedicated dog. The reality is that the dog is over hydrated, loaded with carbs, and is heavy with gut fat.

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Registered: Sep 2010
Location: New Paris, Indiana
Posts: 7076

quote:

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Originally posted by barktreed
Do any of you feed your dogs before hunting?
When I'm talking about hunting here I mean serious 4 to 5 hour hard running hunts (more like big game).
What do you feed; dry; wet; other?
How long before hunting do you feed?
It seems like we are always being warned not to feed before hunting but I know the fox hound kennels feed before they hunt and human athletes often eat a little before hand as well.

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Registered: Apr 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 928

quote:

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Originally posted by JiM
The short answer is no.

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Registered: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 6548

yes,noticed a dog yrs ago that would save a little in the
bowl till just before we got ready to go done it every since.

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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1014

Never. I feed them when i'm done. But then again i had some do fine but the young ones i got now get car sick and i don't feel like cleaning my dog box out after everytime. But always use to feed after the hunt thats when they need it most i believe. May not be right but that's how i feel.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: California
Posts: 999

I think you'll see a difference of opinion between western coonhunters and other parts of the country. A lot of these coonhunters out here hunt VERY differently than in the west, so it stands to reason that they'd feed differently.
I'd never dream of feeding our dogs only once a day when we were in CA (and still don't). We always fed before hunting --- split their dinner (or breakfast if hunting during the day), 1/2 before the hunt and 1/2 when they were done and unwinding at the trucks, or when we got home.
We'd usually feed an hour or two before leaving, and then most times there was a 45+ minute drive too before they ever hit the ground.
I prefer to feed more/all meat than dry food when they're hunting hard.

It would be interesting to be able to compare the performance and energy levels of dogs fed once a day, twice a day, and free-fed under western coonhunting conditions.

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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Paragon IN
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I feed my dogs wet food (90+ percent of the time) Morning and evening wheather they are going hunting or not. Have done it that way for nearly 30 years and never had any problems.

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: s.c.
Posts: 6961

Mine are lucky to get fed every day and they know it. Pot bellied pigs one day and gaunt the next ( kind of like my women) . Mine are not supercharged to do thousand pound bench presses , just tree coons is all I ask. Dogs are like me is what i see. I go hunting on a belly full and all I do is want to hang around the truck even though I might be full of Vim and Vigger. It has to wear off before I get my dancing shoes on. I realize I could have done better If I had left off that last Lobster. But I pick up my Shed and throw it back behind my belt and have another go at it. Same with a lazy dog. They hunt better when they are hungry.

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: s.c.
Posts: 6961

Don't look at his ribs, look at his eyes > that will tell you all you need to know.

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Registered: Dec 2009
Location: Hamden Ohio
Posts: 227

Myself ,I dont like to work if I am too hungry.I feed dry food in the day time .iIf I think it is too early I will give the a little before I go hunting or just put a hand full in the box with them to eat when THEY want it.JMO

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: s.c.
Posts: 6961

quote:

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Originally posted by JSTARR
Myself ,I dont like to work if I am too hungry.I feed dry food in the day time .iIf I think it is too early I will give the a little before I go hunting or just put a hand full in the box with them to eat when THEY want it.JMO

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: Taylorsville, NC
Posts: 1320

I have always fed after the hunt. A vet told us years ago that hunting a dog with a belly full of food could possibly cause the dogs stomach to flip. The weight of the undigested food flopping around in its belly as it runs and jumps. I don't know if it is true but never wanted to take any chances. They seem to hunt fine knowing when they get home they get to eat. I guess it is just a choice of the owner.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Lumpkin, Ga
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I usually feed mine twice a day. Morning and evening. When going huntin I feed them after I bring them in. Dry food only.

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: S. Ga.
Posts: 4608

No, after hunting only.

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 2789

I am like JiM, no, I never feed my dogs before hunting.

Why risk a twisted gut? It can easily happen hunting a dog on a full stomach. I never eat a big meal before hunting, lots of food makes me want to stay at home. I smell things better when I am hungary and I will bet it is the same with dogs. After a hard hunt, I like to feed and water my dogs. As the food digests in the winter, it gives off heat which helps my dogs stay warm.

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Registered: Nov 2008
Location: Pinckneyville, IL
Posts: 959

quote:

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Originally posted by nccoonhunter197
I have always fed after the hunt. A vet told us years ago that hunting a dog with a belly full of food could possibly cause the dogs stomach to flip. The weight of the undigested food flopping around in its belly as it runs and jumps. I don't know if it is true but never wanted to take any chances. They seem to hunt fine knowing when they get home they get to eat. I guess it is just a choice of the owner.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Lumpkin, Ga
Posts: 8757

quote:

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Originally posted by PlottChaser
This is called gastric torsion and I can happen if a dog's stomach is too full of either food or water. My grandpa had a dog years ago that died a slow and painful death because of it. He never fed his dogs before hunting, but it was pretty warm out and the dog tanked up on water out of a creek at the first drop. Ran well that night and then died later (I dont remember how long it took).

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: tioga co.pa
Posts: 1728

Mine are on self feeders.......

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: tn
Posts: 667

I feed at mid day no matter if I hunt or not. There is always a little left in their bowl, I have noticed they like to eat whats left when we get back from hunting. Seems to work well for me.

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Registered: Sep 2007
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2713

I feed around noon whether I am hunting or not. If we have a long hard hunt I give them about a 1/2 portion of feed when we get home.

The only time I feed wet feed is during real cold stretches of winter I put hot water in with thier feed to keep thier water intake up. Many dogs don't drink enough water in winter and this is a way of getting them to drink. After the food is gone the dogs will drink the hot water down like a broth til the last drop is gone.

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Registered: Aug 2006
Location: munfordville ky.
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twice a day. i always feed just before i go huntin but not the ones i'm huntin. i only feed them when i get home.

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Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Troy, OH
Posts: 139

I used to put feed in their bowls before I went hunting and when we got back it was in there ready for them to eat. Well I just lost a super nice young dog to a twisted gut, so now I feed in the mornings.

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Registered: Apr 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 928

Like I said, too many bad things can happen. If you are feeding a high quality feed, once is all they need. Feeding twice requires more water intake for digestion too.

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Registered: Sep 2007
Location: ackerman,ms
Posts: 2229

my kids feed while im hunting... so they eat when they get back and if no feed is in the bowls i know who didnt do their jod and they get their butts up in the cold and get it done.... may seem harsh but it teaches them responsibilty and keeps my dogs from having to run on a full stomach

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