Kris Cisna
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Mar 2009
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 599 |
quote:
Originally posted by CSnowgren
It shouldn't if you adjust according to the individual needs of the dog. Overheating usually occurs for one of three primary reasons..... The reason most overheat is due to the high carbohydrate content of the cheaper feeds. While dogs utilize carbs differently than humans, they still have the same side effects....water retention. A larger volume of water is retained in the dogs muscles and as the dog works, that water heats up and it takes much longer for it to cool down than one who isn't carb loaded. Results in the dog never catching its breath, slower activity and stamina drops way off. This all results in a decrease of performance. But, many will claim that "my dog is still hunting!" and he may be....but I guarantee he is not hunting as hard as he could be. The 2nd reason dogs may heat up quickly is due a lack of quality fat that is missing in cheaper feeds. Dogs use fat as their primary energy source. In other words, fuel. If they don't have a quality supply, they burn through what little bit they have quickly and they peter out. Again, they may still hunt, but not at a level they could be if you give them the fuel they need. The 3rd reason dogs will overheat is simply due to a lack of conditioning. As with any athlete, they will never reach peak conditioning if feed a poor diet. And yes, they will survive and put one foot in front of the other if fed junk, but you as an owner will never recognize the total performance that your dog is capable of until you enable your dog in every aspect of performance. Dogs evolved as both scavenger and predator. They will survive on crap, they have for eons, but I prefer to and am able to, keep mine as athletes. Making the move to a better feed has no negative aspects.
I love that someone enjoys researching and has an understanding of progression!!
Traxx... I really think (and this will probably piss some folks off) some people either are A. too simple minded to understand complex thought or B. just don't care!
I remember getting my first dog as an adult. I didn't know anything aout anything. But I did have the mental fortitude to research and learn. I learned ALOT... only because I wanted to. I thought feeding this and working a dog like that was it. Then I had folks telling me, in no certain terms, what I was doing and feeding did not work! Being me I got mad for being told "I" was wrong asked WHY? I was given answers and researched them answers and saw what I was doing wrong.
I love working dogs!! No matter if they are game bred pitbulls conditioned for combat or sled dogs mushing the iditarod! I took the most conveinant and impressive learning tool availible to me, the internet, and set out to learn all I could. I think everyone could benifit from trying to learn!
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02-09-2011 11:23 PM
