Best hunting dog food keeps your trusty hunting companion fuelled up for the adventures in the great outdoors. The rhythm of a hunting dog's life can vary between active and resting seasons.

In many countries hunting seasons are tightly regulated. Most often, the most active hunting season falls in the autumn but can also extend into the winter months. Additionally, an active hunting dog requires training off-season also, so the energy needs of a hunting dog can remain high throughout the year. 

So, when it comes to hunting dog food, let's take a relaxed approach and make sure your four-legged friend is ready for action when it counts.

Feeding for endurance

Before we dive into the specifics of hunting dog food, it is important to know that the feeding routine of a hunting dog depends on the type of work the dog does in the field and the prevailing conditions. Wet swamps, deep snow, reeds, and other challenging terrains test a dog's fitness differently than dry coniferous forests. And let's not forget those long hunting days and multi-day excursions that can really put your dog's stamina to the test.

Before the hunting season, it is time to start tweaking your hunting dog's diet as needed. Think of it as fine-tuning a radio station to catch the best beats. Just like you dress for the weather, your dog's diet should adapt to the demands of the hunting days. You can tell if the hunting dog food is appropriate when the dog has enough energy in the field without losing or gaining weight.

If you train your dog regularly outside the hunting season, plan your four-legged hunting companion's daily feeding according to the needs of an active sports and working dog. Read our article on feeding an active dog.

Hunting dog food during the active hunting season

Go slow with changes: If your dog's diet was on the chill side during the resting period, do not rush into a high-fat diet. Gradual changes are the way to go to avoid any stomach troubles, so start making dietary changes for the active season early. Check out PrimaDog's instructions on changing dog’s diet.

Fuel up with fat and protein: Your hard-working dog needs enough fat and animal-based protein to perform at its best. Look for dry dog food with around 30–35% protein and 20–22% fat. You can also add fatty meats and sausages for dogs into the dog’s diet to give extra boost and hydration to keep the furry hunter going. Fatty meats and fish are good supplements, especially for dogs that tend to lose weight easily.

Prep ahead: Feed your dog a hearty, energy-packed meal 8–12 hours before the hunt. This ensures the dog is ready to roll and full of energy without any digestive discomfort. Save about 100 grams of the dog’s meal, mix it with water and serve it a few hours before the hunt. This helps your dog maintain its hydration balance.

Snack smart: During long hunts or training sessions, offer your dog small snacks every few hours. It is like a mini recharge that keeps the dog’s energy levels up. PrimaDog's meaty sausages for dogs are perfect snacks for a day out hunting. You can store them at room temperature when they are still sealed, and they are easy to divide into just the right-sized treats for your furry friend.

Remember rest: After a day of hunting, wait a couple of hours before serving your dog its main meal. It is all about letting your four-legged hunting companion relax and let that tummy do it thing. Proper digestion is the key before the next hunting adventure! During an active hunting season your dog deserves some solid rest and recovery time after all that running around. It has earned it!

For hunting dog food you will want to check out PrimaDog Active Duck & Herring dry food. It is packed with 30% protein and 22% fat, giving your dog the energy it needs for chasing both small and big game. Grain-free recipe fits great for sensitive stomachs, and added joint supplements help your dog's joints handle all that action. Want to know more? Explore the product.

Hunting dog food during off-season

Gentle recovery: During the off-season, your dog's body rests, recharges, and gets ready for the adventures ahead. Top-notch protein sources are key for a proper recovery. The amino acids in animal-based proteins are like the repair crew for hard-working muscles that have been put through their paces.

Quality in the bowl: Do not skimp on quality. Even off-season hunting dog food should always be top-notch, but the protein and fat levels in the food can be slightly lower. Look for protein levels around 25–27% and fat content between 15–20% in dry food. For instance, dry foods PrimaDog Grain-Free Venison & Turkey and wheat-free PrimaDog Lamb & Potato fall within this range.
 
Enough exercise: Even during the resting period, it is vital to keep your furry friend moving to maintain its muscles and fitness. So, do not cut back too much on the protein and fat levels in hunting dog food. It is all about keeping the dog in tip-top shape, even when it is taking it easy.

Weight watching: If your dog is chowing down on food with less fat during the chill-out season, you might not need to change the portion size. Just keep an eye on the dog’s weight and tweak the diet if necessary. We want our furry companions to feel satisfied, so sometimes opting for food with lower fat content is a smarter move than cutting down on portion size. Happy, well-fed dogs make happy owners!

Hydration for the hunt

Hunting can be thirsty work, and it is crucial to keep your dog well-hydrated, especially when it is scorching hot outside. For instance, gun dogs may retrieve many birds during early autumn dove hunting trips, and poor fluid and energy intake can leave your dog exhausted.

Keep your hunting dog hydrated with grain-free PrimaDog Mini Meals. They are easily dissolved in water and their delicious taste will tempt even the most finicky barker to empty out its water bowl. Learn more about the products. 

3 tips for keeping your dog engine running smoothly

1. Stay hydrated: Dogs need their water. Even cooler weather can make your dog thirsty. Ensure the dog gets enough water before heading out and take breaks during the hunt. Heavy work can raise your dog's daily water need to as much as five litres.
2. Water breaks: During the breaks, encourage your dog to drink about two decilitres of water at a time. Do not wait until the dog is panting heavily to offer refreshment.
3. Relax when needed: If your dog looks tired or seeks shade with a lolling tongue, it is time to call it a day.

Delicious PrimaDog Wheat-free Meals are a brilliant way to make sure your dog has plenty of energy for hunting days and hunt tests. What is great about these complete wet dog foods is that they are easy to serve right from the pouch and they support your dog’s hydration. Also, no need to worry about refrigeration; you can simply toss an unopened pouch in your bag, and your dog can enjoy a tasty meal wherever you are. Curious to learn more? Check out the products. 

A happy and well-fed hunting dog is a trusty companion in the great outdoors. So, whether you are gearing up for an action-packed hunting season or enjoying some downtime, make sure your furry friend gets the right hunting dog food to keep the adventures rolling.

CHECK OUT OUR TRAINING TIPS FOR TRAINING YOUR DOG

Providing your dog with at least some training makes everyday life easier with your beloved pet. Training your dog ensures that he's safe and welcome everywhere he goes and that he's easy to live with.

When you think of dog training and obedience, the most useful commands are sit, down, stay and come. It is important, that you are able to control your dog in all situations. Basic obedience-training is every dog owner's responsibility, but if you find training with your dog really fun, you can take things further. If you feel that you wish to compete with your dog, there are various dog sports to choose from.

DIFFERENT BREEDS FOR DIFFERENT SPORTS

World Canine Organization (FCI) has approved 358 different dog breeds. All breeds are divided into 10 groups. These groups are based on different attributes such as the dog's appearance or use. The 10 groups include:

• Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
• Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid Breeds - Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and Other Breeds
• Terriers
• Dachshunds
• Spitz and Primitive Types
• Scenthounds and Related Breeds
• Pointers and Setters
• Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs
• Companion and Toy Dogs
• Sighthounds

Different dog breeds have different typical features. Some are bred for searching and rescue, some for hunting etc. When considering doing canine sports in a more active way, maybe even competing, it's wise to keep the breed characteristics in mind. The most commonly used sport dogs are Search & Rescue dogs. 

SERVICE DOGS 

Dobermann, Boxer, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer and Belgian shepherd dogs are the best-known traditional working dog breeds. They are all medium sized, strong and moving dog breeds. The service dogs are bred to assist people in various tasks, for example searching for missing or wounded people and cattle, substances like ammunition or drugs, protecting against unwanted people or criminals and guard the area pointed to the dog.

There are several different sports, that utilize the service dog's natural breed characteristics. Some of them are international competitive sports, and each country might have its own customs and variations on the sport. The most common are:

• Tracking:
  the dog is following a trail, set by a person unknown to the dog. There are objects along the trail that the dog has to search and point or bring to the dog handler. The handler comes along with the dog through the trail.
• Searching (for a person):
  This dog sport is based on the early St. Bernard dog breed that were searching missing people in the Alps back at the 1800-century. The dog searches a "missing person" within a pointed area. Usually, the dog points out the lost person by barking or bringing a specific object to the dog handler. The dog has to find more than just one person it the pointed area. 
• Article search:
  The dog has to find an object the handler has planted into a pointed area. The area size might vary from a few square meters to hundreds of square meters. The dog has to find the object in a given time and point the object to the handler.

OTHER DOG SPORTS

Some dog sports are suitable for all breeds. They provide obedience training, fun and speed. Read a short description about the sports below.

• Obedience training:
  the dog obedience is taken to the next level with this sport. The objective is to recognize if the dog has been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs, in a manner that will reflect credit on the sport of obedience at all times and under all conditions.
  
  The handler gets instructions from a judge during the course, and the dog and the handler has to follow those orders strictly and immediately. The dog has to keep a close contact to the instructor at all time. All the commands from the handler to the dog, have to be small and unnoticeable. All the basic training commands are used - sit, down, stay, heel and come.
  
  There are also variations of the obedience training, where the dog not only heels the handler, also retrieves and fetches objects from command. Rally obedience is a bit more fast-paced than the basic obedience. In rally obedience there are signs during the course, which instruct the pair what to do.  Unlike traditional obedience, the handlers are allowed to encourage their dogs during the course in Rally obedience. This sport is suitable for all dogs, but it requires plenty of time and effort.
• Agility
  is a dog sport in which the handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. The dog is off leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler isn't allowed to touch the dog or the obstacles. The handler can use voice, movement, and various body signals to guide the dog through the course. Various agility obstacles include ramps, tunnels, jump hurdles, wave poles, pause tables etc. Agility requires exceptional training of the animal and coordination skills from the handler.
• Sled dog sports
  originates from norther and arctic areas, where the dogs have been used in transporting people and goods. Nowadays sledge dogs can compete in pulling for example bikes (bikejoring), sleds, toboggans, skiers, or in one category, the handler is running with the dogs attached to him. Often the very traditional dog breeds are used in sled racing, like Malamutes, Huskies and Samoyeds, but also other mid-sized or large breeds, like Poodles, Pointers, large Terriers and Retrievers can be used. Many times mixed breed-dogs make good sports dogs.
• Musical canine freestyle ("Dog dancing")
  is a mixture of obedience, tricks, dancing and sometimes high speed. The dog is heeling the trainer, when the trainer is moving along the music. Pivot turning, moving diagonally, backwards and forwards are parts of the routine. The dog also can perform various tricks, such as jump (even over the trainer's arm or back), spin, bow or roll over. 

IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE COMPETING

The most basic training tips are:

• How to teach the dog sitting: Place the dog in front of you, and pull your hand with the treat over the dog's head. The dog should follow your hand with its nose. When your hand is a bit behind the dogs head, the dog should sit down. Reward by praising the dog while you give the treats. 
• When your dog knows how to sit still and patiently, you can teach him to stay. Move gradually away from you dog, whilst asking him to stay. Always reward your dog for staying put, even if it’s just for a few seconds. 

 
WHICH HAND – AN EASY NOSE WORK GAME

One of the first games you can teach your dog is the which hand game; it’s the simplest method to get your dog used to using his nose rather than eyes. Use a piece of food or a small toy and place in inside one of your closed fists. Present your dog with both hands and ask him “which hand?” Praise him when he lightly nudges, puts his nose on your hand, or paws at the correct hand – whichever behavior you prefer.

If your dog chooses the wrong hand open them up to show him where the treat is. Don’t give him the treat just close them and try again. When he gets it right give him a lot of praise and give the treat. Eventually, with simple games like this your dog will begin to start using his natural talent, his nose, rather than relying on visuals.

 
HIDE AND SEEK

Even though dogs have a sense of smell 1000 times greater than ours they tend to use their eyes a lot. Nose work games helps them focus on smells. To teach your dog to use his nose instead of visuals you’ll want to start with an object that’s really smelly. Treats work well here. Have your dog in his stay position. Place the treat around the corner and just slightly hidden so he’s not just spotting it with his eyes. Your dog might get a little frustrated at first if he’s not able to find the treat immediately.

You can then encourage and praise him when he’s close, you can even point it out to him if he’s having trouble. You’re aiming to make it fun and exciting for him, make sure to praise him when he finds it. You could make it easier on the dog by dragging the object on the floor or making ‘scent pads’ so it is easier to track with the nose. As your dog becomes more adept at sniffing things out you can up the challenge. You can place objects on chairs, under rugs, on the couch, window sills, or anywhere where they are not going to see it right away.

 
SEARCH FOR TIDBITS

This exercise is suitable for you who has your own garden or similar and want to give your dog a small challenge. Go out into the garden without the dog and throw and spread the tidbits on the lawn. Then let your dog out and exhort him to search, the dog will be working hard with his nose to find every little tidbit. Without much effort, you have given the dog a task which it will take very seriously.

Does your furry friend eat the same food day after day? It might be high time to shake things up in your dog's diet. Offering a diverse range of foods not only promotes a happy stomach but also adds a dash of excitement to your dog's meals. In this article, we explain why you should offer a variety of different foods to your four-legged friend.

A happy tummy, a happy dog

Your dog's stomach is like a bustling metropolis, teeming with all sorts of critters, from bacteria to itsy-bitsy organisms, forming what we call the 'gut microbiota'.

In both hounds and humans, gut health is like a mirror, reflecting the overall well-being of the body. We are constantly uncovering more about how this bustling community in our furry friends' tummies affects their metabolism, immunity, and even their nervous system. It is believed that the gut microbiota plays a part in everything from how the dogs digest food to stave off allergies and manage their weight.

You know your dog’s gut is in tip-top shape when the gut microbiota is balanced and diverse.

Finding the right balance: the lowdown on your dog's gut

When it comes to the bustling community in your dog's stomach, think of it as a bit of a tug of war between the good and bad bacteria. The harmony in your dog's gut microbiota can get a bit wonky if the scales tip in favor of the bad bunch.

This imbalance of the gut microbiota can have some not-so-pleasant repercussions. Obesity, metabolic hiccups, and pesky immune disorders, all potentially on the horizon if things go off balance.

Studies have shown that chubby dogs tend to have a less diverse gut microbiota compared to their normal weight counterparts. So, a balanced dog's diet is more than just a good idea – it is a health essential.

Also, a dog’s diet that is too narrow and antibiotics can shake the balance of the gut microbes. So, keep your dog’s diet in check and let your dog's tummy thrive!

Five reasons why a varied diet is good for your dog

1. Gut health: A diverse dog’s diet does wonders for your dog's gut health. The stimulus brought by different foods enriches the gastrointestinal bacterial flora.

2. Smooth diet transitions: The dog gets used to variety, when the dog chows down on a mix of protein sources and various kind of foods. This can come in handy down the line if you decide to switch things up in your dog’s diet. For some handy tips on how to make that transition smooth, check out our guide on changing your dog's diet.

3. Immunity boost: Especially for puppies, tossing in a bit of raw dog food can do wonders for the dog’s immunity, potentially warding off allergies and food sensitivities. Of course, we recommend a well-rounded diet as the cornerstone to ensure your little one gets all the nutrients it needs for healthy growth. Dive deeper into feeding a puppy here!

4. Weight watcher's buddy: Adding some wet dog food alongside the kibble can be a nifty trick for managing your dog's weight. Wet food has a higher water content, allowing for larger portion sizes compared to dry food. This means your dog can feel satisfied without packing on extra calories.

5. Better taste: For a picky eater, mixing things up in the food bowl with something other than kibble might just do the trick for a heartier appetite.

So, remember, a varied dog's diet is not just a treat—it can be a game-changer for the dog’s health and happiness!

How can you add variety to your dog's diet?

1. Create a steady base

When it comes to feeding your furry friend, ensuring the dog has enough energy and nutrients for the daily adventures is the key. That is why leaning towards complete dog foods, like dry dog food, is usually the simplest route. Find more insights on dog’s nutrition.

By making about 70% of your dog's diet consist of complete dog foods, you are ensuring the dog gets its daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals. The remaining 30% is where you can get a bit creative. You can add some variety with wet dog food, sausages for dogs or ingredients of your choice, such as meat or fish.

All PrimaDog wet dog foods and sausages for dogs are complete dog foods that you can use for your dog’s main meal or as a supplement with dry food. Explore the products.

2. Balance the bacterial buzz

Studies indicate that incorporating raw dog food into your dog's diet can be a powerful way to diversify the dog’s gut microbiota. However, it is important to note that raw food does come with its own set of risks, potentially exposing your dog to pathogens. For instance, raw meat might lead to parasitic infections, and harmful bacteria could find their way into humans as well. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to handle the raw meat with the utmost hygiene or cook it. If you are cooking the meat, it is safest to use only boneless meats.

Another approach to influencing the quality of your dog's gut bacteria is by tweaking the ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates in their diet. Research on overweight dogs has revealed that a diet rich in protein and low in carbs can foster a healthier gut bacteria balance and aid in weight management.

So, if you have got a hefty dog at home, and the dog’s diet is clocking in at around 20% protein, it might be worth considering a switch to a higher protein regimen. Alternatively, you can swap out 30% of their diet with some wet food, sausages for dogs, or meat. For more tips on picking the right dog food, check this out.

Including prebiotics that bolster the growth of beneficial gut bacteria can also make a positive difference in your dog's gut microbiota. This is why all PrimaDog dry foods come with added fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and mannanoligosaccharides (MOS).

Lactic acid bacteria are good for the dog, especially if the dog must have antibiotics. Ask your vet or pharmacist for advice on suitable products.

Exploring diet options for your dog? Read more practical tips for adding variation to your dog’s diet.
 

References

Hemida, Manal B. M., Salin, Siru, Vuori, Kristiina A., Moore, Robin, Anturaniemi, Johanna, Rosendahl, Sarah, Barrouin-Melo, Stella Maria & Hielm-Björkman, Anna (2021) Puppyhood diet as a factor in the development of owner-reported allergy/atopy skin signs in adult dogs in Finland. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 35(5): 2374–2383.

Huang, Zongyu, Panb, Zhiyuan, Yang, Ruifu, Bib, Yujing & Xionga, Xiaohui (2020) The Canine Gastrointestinal Microbiota: Early Studies and Research Frontiers. Gut Microbes 11(4): 635–654.

Li, Qinghong, Lauber, Christian L., Czarnecki-Maulden, Gail, Pan, Yuanlong & Hannaha, Steven S. (2017) Effects of the Dietary Protein and Carbohydrate Ratio on Gut Microbiomes in Dogs of Different Body Conditions. mBio 8(1): e01703-16.

Wernimont, Susan M., Radosevich, Jennifer, Jackson, Matthew I., Ephraim, Eden, Badri, Dayakar V., MacLeay, Jennifer M., Jewell, Dennis E. & Suchodolski, Jan S. (2020) The Effects of Nutrition on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Cats and Dogs: Impact on Health and Disease. Frontiers in Microbiology 11(1266).