The Cobber Challenge has shown us that working dogs can run more than a marathon in a standard work day across some pretty rough terrain. They love working and pleasing their alpha (i.e. you!) and all they ask for is a good scratch behind the ears and a hearty feed at the end of each day, then they get up and do it again, day in, day out. To get the most out of your dogs and keep them in peak condition, it is vital to provide them the best fundamental nutrition towards their health and wellbeing.
Understanding your hardest workers
- Their sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than humans
- They have a large expandable stomach to handle large meals.
- The pH in the stomach is much more acidic than humans to digest bones and kill harmful bacteria.
What do your hardest workers require in their diets?
Water makes up 60% of the dog’s body. It’s the most important nutrient which play role in major physiological functions:
Regulating body temperature.
Nutrient and waste transport through the body.
Deficiency can lead to dehydration and overly excess intake can be a sign of kidney disease.
Make sure your hardest worker has access to clean, fresh drinking water at all times.
Proteins are building blocks of life made of up of amino acids. The correct amount of protein plays an important role in:
- Building and repairing cells, tissues and organs.
- Helping fight disease through antibody production.
Your hardest worker requires 25-35% of daily protein from animal and vegetable source to recover and do it all again the next day.
Fats are a rich energy source that, gram for gram, provides double the energy of carbohydrate and protein.
It essential to absorb fat soluble vitamins.
Delivers essential fatty acid to maintain healthy skin and coat.
Starch is a carbohydrate which is digestible. Although not an essential nutrient, it an important source of energy for your hardest worker.
There are two types of Fibre, soluble and insoluble fibre, both equally important.
Insoluble fibre such as beet pulp slows down the food in the gut to maximise absorption of essential nutrients.
Soluble fibre is fermentable which greatly benefits gut heath by providing food for good gut bacteria. Soluble fibres are prebiotics, such as chicory root which provides food for gut bacteria. Diamond V Original XPC which promotes a gut with a balance of beneficial bacteria, uniquely found in Cobber Working Dog.
To keep your team in optimum condition and performing continuously, ensure that they are receiving a complete and balanced diet. As their workload and seasons change, you may need to adjust their feed and water intake accordingly. For more information or to arrange a personalised consultation with a canine nutrition specialist, call the Ridley Customer Service Centre on 1300 666 657 or email us here.
By Jay Jayabalan, Canine Nutritionist – Ridley