Darren wrote:Rick, doesn't Peake get some snacks in the blind here and there? Do you recommend that? Harry's not been on a retrieve-reward system of any sort but I'm considering a few snacks for him to pack along in the blind bag; any suggestions?
Jarren wrote:I'm sweating outside just cooking a jambalaya definitely doesn't feel like middle December.
aunt betty wrote:Darren wrote:Rick, doesn't Peake get some snacks in the blind here and there? Do you recommend that? Harry's not been on a retrieve-reward system of any sort but I'm considering a few snacks for him to pack along in the blind bag; any suggestions?
Sorry to bust in on this party but I'm pretty sure it's not a good idea to feed a retriever anything until after the hunt. Have heard that you want them to have empty bellies so that they don't get a twisted gut which can be fatal.
I feed my dog at 4pm every day to avoid him having anything in his guts to twist up. Makes good sense to me.
you should not have to reward a retriever. The retrieve IS the reward.
Rick wrote:aunt betty wrote:Darren wrote:Rick, doesn't Peake get some snacks in the blind here and there? Do you recommend that? Harry's not been on a retrieve-reward system of any sort but I'm considering a few snacks for him to pack along in the blind bag; any suggestions?
Sorry to bust in on this party but I'm pretty sure it's not a good idea to feed a retriever anything until after the hunt. Have heard that you want them to have empty bellies so that they don't get a twisted gut which can be fatal.
I feed my dog at 4pm every day to avoid him having anything in his guts to twist up. Makes good sense to me.
you should not have to reward a retriever. The retrieve IS the reward.
Once a day feedings are actually one of the things commonly associated with gastric torsion because the big load may stretch the stomach's connective tissue and increase the possibility of twisting. But I've never seen anything to indicate if the timing of that single feeding, in relation to exercise, has been taken into account. For years after reading Dr. Reynold's feeding suggestions, many of which are included in this somewhat more recent Lardy interview, http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/documents/NutritionPerformance.pdf, I fed evenings only with apparently good results and no torsion issues.
Now, I'm back to the 1/3 morning, 2/3 evening schedule I'd previously followed (since the '70s) with my virtually daily hunted pointing dogs and first retriever, also with apparently good results and no torsion issues. The only difference I've seen is that my guys get to enjoy meals twice a day, and I get to enjoy that form of making them happy twice a day.
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