Feeding the Dog: The hunting of water birds, also known as "anatids", uses the indispensable help of retriever dogs. These dogs, also called Retrievers, include six breeds, four originating from Great Britain and two from Canada and the United States, namely: the Golden, the Labrador, the Flat Coated, the Curly-Coated, the Nova Scotia and the Chesapeake Bay.
The character of these four-legged "friends" is cheerful and playful, but above all devoted to extreme fidelity to the master / hunter, who, at the end of the joke, receives the wounded or killed prey directly in his hand. THE retriever dogs they do just that: they identify the prey, both during the hunt and after its killing, they immerse themselves in the lake or in the swamp, they pick it up, with their teeth and without biting it, and they deliver it as a trophy to their master. The animal, often busy for hours continuing a few meters ahead of the hunter, is also capable of swimming in the water to bring the game back to land.
Such activity causes a considerable waste of energy in the dog, as well as a consequent weakening of the bone system due to the absorption of moisture.
So what kind of food should you provide to the retriever, so that he always stays healthy and snappy?
The power supply of the retriever it must essentially follow all the rules envisaged for other working dogs, that is, it must include all the nutrients necessary for the development of the animal and the maintenance of its main metabolic functions. A healthy and balanced diet must therefore provide for the correct intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral salts. The caloric intake and the quantity of the various foods change according to the development stage of the dog.
The puppies, after weaning from their mother's milk (complete food rich in nutrients), are initially fed with cow's milk to which one egg yolk is added every 100 ml. Egg white, on the other hand, should never be given raw to the dog, because it contains substances that prevent the absorption of vitamins. After about a month, the puppy can be fed with more solid foods, such as cooked meat and fish; rice or oat flakes, always cooked; a tablespoon of olive oil and milk.
The nutrition of the retriever during the growth phase it must be divided into three meals, while in the adult animal it must be divided into two meals. The daily ration of food for an adult retriever is about half a kilo. Since the animal can be engaged in the swimming capture of the prey, the meals must be administered many hours before the hunt and after the same, to avoid congestion phenomena. The dog's stomach is, in fact, very large and takes several hours to digest food.
Puppies should be fed chopped solid food, while adult dogs can also eat chopped meat. To avoid disease, it is always helpful to cook meat well. Protein intake is essential in the diet of the hunting dog, because it is the proteins that strengthen the muscles of the animal. The excess protein, however, due to the energy expenditure due to movement or swimming, can cause stiffness in the limbs in the dog. This is why the Retriever's diet must also include rice and pasta in a percentage between 46 and 60%. Carbohydrates must be cooked, because the dog's stomach is unable to digest starches, but only dextrins, substances that are formed with cooking.
The diet of the retriever must also provide for a correct intake of fats, which, in addition to giving energy, improve the animal's metabolism by preventing phenomena of muscle stiffness.
Lard, fats and vegetable oils should be given to the dog to a lesser extent than proteins and carbohydrates, but they must necessarily be present in the Retriever diet employed in physical efforts. Occasionally, during the meal, a tablespoon of seed oil can also be given, which helps to keep the dog's coat shiny and shiny. If the "home" or natural diet is very tiring to manage, you can resort to industrial feed, both dry (kibble) and wet (tins).
These products contain the right amount of nutrients for each type of dog. To avoid "problems", however, it is necessary to carefully check the food labels and make sure that they are made with absolutely natural ingredients.
La Food safety it is important for both humans and dogs. Both must eat properly to live a healthy life and to successfully engage in any type of activity: hunting included.