Feeding dogs before a hunt

[huntall50]

Do you feed extra the night b4 a hunt or feed the morning of. My dogs sometimes lack energy, I would like to give them a boost.

[HLC_Kennel]

I feed after a hunt not before....my hound seems to be fine.

[bluegrass]

I try to feed the same time every day, whether hunting or not. I think its hard on the hounds if they do NOT eat normal meals before a hunt...I know there are those that believe that a hungrier hound runs better but that has not been my experience, just the opposite they tend to lack energy and stamina if they have not been fed regularly.


Tony

[eddywilliams]

I usually feed inthe morning but on a trial day i givethem 1/3 of what i normally do ,I fed my old Bow Shooter dog the usual mount once before a hunt and he looked sluggish not the same dog so i stick to this way of feeding and it works for me .

[APFII]

I feed morning and evening all year. Dogs maintain body heat better in winter.

[DIXIEDOG]

I always feed after the hunt. The dogs seem to do fine that way, I have always heard it is bad for a dog to run on a full stomach because they can twist a gut and have major problems. Could be a myth I don't know never took the chance. The other advantage to feeding in the evening over the morning is they have already done their business before you load them up in the box, if you ride long distances to go hunting that's a good thing.

[Newt]

Wild dogs don't hunt on a full stomach so I think they are programed to run better if their stomach is empty. I don't have any thing scientific to base it on but I feed mine in the evening. It would be interesting to to get the opinions of LP hare trialers who run their beagles non stop for hours.

[jumpmaster]

I never feed before a hunt, if you do, make it a small amount. Think about how you feel after eating thanksgiving diner, you just want to lay back in a lazyboy, and take a nap. Your body uses energy to digest all that food. A dog is no differant.

[Buckeye Blues]

The lack of energy could have more to do with what you are feeding them instead of when they're being fed.........Just a thought.

[Nor' Easter]

Always feed the night before running or hunting. Possibly a handful 2 hours or more before a run, but that's it. Do know of a dog that got it's stomach twisted as said. A dog being fed a good diet has lots of energy for an all day hunt etc. I trial LPH and run them all day too.

[Haire-Bear]

I run/hunt hare and I've always fed at nite after they run. I've always fed at nite, so it's not a problem here. Also feed the best you can afford, I've seen some hounds that look pretty bad in the cold weather when fed cheap food. If you buy the cheaper feed you can always add table scraps, cheap tuna in oil, sardines in oil or just vegetable oil, alittle exrta care can go a long way, sorry a little off topic but winter is here. Happy Hunting, Campbell

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

Nope. I feed at the end of the day so they sleep well at night and keep body heat. No need to feed before a hunt and I hunt long hours and they will go all day with no quit.