Cockermax Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Started my first full season beating with my 2yr old Cocker Spaniel. Completed a few days last season but not to much. Question is do you feed your dog when you break for lunch. Given him a handful of his complete food while he is in the back of the car. Not noticed any of the other beaters feeding their dogs. Any pro's or con's for doing this and if so what do you feed your dog. Any advice would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_commoner Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 (edited) no ...... there is the risk of twisted gut which is very dangerous. give them a good feed the night before and a normal feed in the morning plenty of time at least an hour and half before they are to be worked then make sure they are fed well that night, again at least a hour after they have finished working let him rest at lunch in the car with some water so he can have a break, its important for him to have a break and rest aswell before being expected to work in the afternoon edited to add : yes mine get a bit of something at lunch (pork pie, a few biscuits, but only a little) Edited November 9, 2012 by meinderby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 twisted gut generally occurs on a full belly a "bit" of its normall food wont hurt it and keep its blood sugar up. my dogs often share some of my lunch on the marsh, its a highlight of shooting to them. I know a few serious picking up lads who give a small amount of normal food at lunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Mine gets a morning feed at 7 then we usually start about 9.30 then lunch she tends to scrounge a bit in the beaters hut and have a few biscuits and that is it. You have to watch spaniels it's well documented having them collapse while out working. Most people I know do give them a small amount through the day to keep the sugar levels up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only1cliff Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 You could add some green tripe to the normal morning feed. And just make sure they get enough water throughout the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Both of mine share dinner with me whilst out to no ill effect. Both mine are springers around 7 years old and work hard so deserve a treat a dinner time. Pork pie,buttys,apple,anything. Oh and i am misrible the rest of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Mine shares my dinner, and has a good drink, mind you i am careful how much work he actually does, maybe that would entail picking up the easy birds myself only letting him pick 1 in 4 or the difficult ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buggs Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 On our shoot it seems alot of the lab owners seem ro feed theirs but the spaniels patrol (me included) don't, if you are feeding a good complete food there should be no need to,as has been said above a good drink and a ly down at lunch is right, recently i changed dog food to a brand called snels And what a difference! the season feed is 25% protein and the resting is 19%. it has a couple added things to boost energy and help repair joints after a day working, i highly recommend it and the clean bowls i can safely say so does my spaniels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 My lab gets abit of whatever i've got with me down the marsh. If i've forgotten then to bring something to eat then she does a good job as sniffing out another fowlers snacks at 50 yards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 (edited) Mine gets whatever she can scrounge from the guns (the beaters are too mean to feed her ). The main thing to do, and you won't see many doing it, is to dry the dog and put a coat on if it is cold. Not as important at half time when it is warmer, but I always dry and wrap the dog after finishing. All that time spent gassing and picking the best brace is no good for your dog's long term health unless you can keep it warm after a day's hard work. Edited November 10, 2012 by UKPoacher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazbrit Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 I give mine a couple of glucose tablets with lots of water, and a good rest. Brings their sugar levels back up. Usually have a couple myself too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillmouse Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 Pemmikan bars. Give a 1/4 of a square after every drive. One bar lasts 4 shoot days and costs a fiver. keeps the energy levels and blood sugars up wihout adding bulk in the stomach and gut. Huskies can survive on them for immense journeys and extensive trials have proven them in avoiding hypoglaecemia in working spaniels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Yup, Pemmikan (Kronch) bars do the job. Just ration as hillmouse says or you could end up with a dog that's wired to the moon and has earplugs in for the rest of the day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col48 Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 springer / cocker both get 2 small pork pies and a couple of sausage roles each they dont half work for this though. ATB Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazbev Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 A bloke I know who has had working dogs for years and is an all round clever cloggs told me that cooked cheap sausages were the ideal snack for the dogs,high in fat and meat and a little bit of rusk in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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