2c. Working Dogs

Question 1

what are the nutritonal needs of working dogs?

Answer 1

higher protein, fat, energy
higher digestibility

Question 2

What are the 3 categories of working dogs?

Answer 2

Sprint, intermediate, endurance

Question 3

What types of work is a sprinting class dog?

Answer 3

high intensity physical activity, can be sustained less than 2-3mins
coursing (sight hounds)
racing (greyhounds, whippets)
fly ball
agility

Question 4

What is the intermediate class of working dogs and some examples?

Answer 4

physical activity lasting several minutes to a few hours
trail running, bicycling
herding trials, hunting
livestock mgmt, tracking, search and rescue, police dogs, service dogs

Question 5

What is the endurance class of working dogs and some examples?

Answer 5

physical activity lasting many hours
sled pulling, racing, expedition, endurance

Question 6

What are the difference between type 1 and 2 muscles?

Answer 6

Type 1 - slow twitch, high oxidative capacity, endurance
Type 2 - fast twitch, high glycolytic capability, strength

Question 7

What might be some other factors that affect working dogs?

Answer 7

temperature, humidity, terrain, altitude

Question 8

What products are made by exercise?

Answer 8

heat, acids (CO2 and lactic acid), free radicals

Question 9

What are some possible energy sources for working dogs?

Answer 9

fat - most energy dense nutrient (8.5kcal/g
carbs + protein - 3.5kcal/g

Question 10

Where does energy come from?

Answer 10

ATP is sole source of energy for muscle contraction
Amount used is proportional to amount of work (distance and intensity)
resting muscle only have enough ATP to fuel contractions for a few seconds

Question 11

What does anaerobic and aerobic energy metabolism focus on?

Answer 11

Anerobic - Cr-P, glycolysis. Ex. sprinters
Aerobic - glucose oxidation, fat oxidation Ex. intermediate and endurance

Question 12

What are some key considerations with working dogs?

Answer 12

Macronutrient profile
water, energy, fat, carbs, proteins, digestibility, antioxidants

Question 13

What percent is lost through fluid evaporation from the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 13

60

Question 14

Why are fats important?

Answer 14

practical means of increasing caloric density
increases palatability
increases digestibility
lowers food intake
slow gastric emptying
improves digestion and energy intake

Question 15

why are fats important?

Answer 15

fat oxidation more important with increased oxidation
proper introduction important
up to 60% of energy for sled dogs
ultra-endurance dogs up to 80% (super fat loading)

Question 16

How might the fat requirements for intermediate and sprinting athletes be different?

Answer 16

Intermediate fats need to be porportionate
30-55% of kcal for moderate work
45-65% of kcal for lg amounts of work
For sprinters, not much different than other dogs
20-24% of kcal

Question 17

Why are carbs important?

Answer 17

cannot be used to significantly increase caloric density
carbs include starches, sugars and fibre
some level of fibre is helpful to avoid loose stool
however, excess lvls of fibre should be avoided (bulky stool are extra weight)
carbs should be highly digestible as undigested carbs result in stress diarrhea and will increase fecal water loss

Question 18

What is important to know about carbs and sprinters?

Answer 18

anaerobic metabolism dominant energy generation
higher carbs lvls to maximize muscle glycogen
50-70% of kcal

Question 19

What is important about carbs and intermediate dogs>

Answer 19

depends on intensity and duration
long bouts of low to mod intensity require higher fats and lower carbs (as low as 15% of kcal
short bouts of higher intensity work require higher lvls (up to 50% of kcal)

Question 20

What is important about carbs and endurance?

Answer 20

require very little carbs
carbs lvls kept low to allow for energy density (ie fat.) required
less than 15% of kcal

Question 21

Why is protein important?

Answer 21

structural, biochemical and (to lesser degree) energy requirements
work increased the requirement for protein - most often seen when intensity and duration increases above conditioning lvl
used in formation of new muscle tissue and repair of damage
Small amount of energy used (5-15%used), skeletal muscle can be mobilized, negative impact on performance
excessive dietary protein must be deaminated - urea from AA breakdown is excreted via urine, inc water rloss

Question 22

How much protein is required?

Answer 22

enough to meet anabolic requirements
enough non-protein energy nutrients (carbs, fats) to meet energy requirements
protein preferentially used for structural rather than energy uses
digestibility and AA content important to determine how much will be incorporated into tissue proteins
exact requirements necessary remain inconclusive (24-40% of kcal)
endurance dogs may require lower lvls of protein in order to meet their high energy requirements (ie. fat)

Question 23

Why is digestibility important?

Answer 23

enhanced digestibility = maximum delivery of nutrients
lower digestibility = greater fecal bulk (weight handicap)
total TM digestibility should exceed 80%

Question 24

Why are antioxidants important?

Answer 24

exercise results in inc O consumption
Normal O metabolism = high reactive free radical molecules (O molecules split into single atoms with unpaired electrons, scavenge the body to find matching electron, can result in body damage)
antioxidants have electron to donate
body normally responds with endogenous antioxidant systems
but w/ high intensity exercises these systems can be overwhelmed
Vit C and E and selenium

Question 25

For a sprinter diet, what do they rely on? what RER, fat, carb and protein do they need?

Answer 25

rely on anaerobic energy metabolism. esp glycolysis
1.6-2 RER
20-24% fat
50-70% carb
Min 24% protein

Question 26

For a intermediate diet, what do they rely on? what RER, fat, carb and protein do they need?

Answer 26

rely of aerobic energy metabolism. More on glucose oxidation
2-5x RER
30-65% fat
15-50% carbs
min 24% protein

Question 27

For a endurance diet, what do they rely on? what RER, fat, carb and protein do they need?

Answer 27

rely on aerobic energy metabolism, esp fat oxidation
5x RER
>75% fat
<15% carbs
min 16% protein

Question 28

What BCS should working dogs be?

Answer 28

tendency to be lean 2-3/5
hunting to be 2.5-3.5/5 but often higher (prone to be overweight)
Greyhound should be leaner (1-2/5)

Question 29

When should sprinters be fed?

Answer 29

food >4hrs before exercise
allow free access to water, except immediately prior
high carb within 30 min of performacen

Question 30

When do we feed intermediate

Answer 30

feed after exercise or >4hrs before exercise
free access to water at all times
snacks given during exercise or at the end of breaks <15m before resuming exercise
Feed to adult maintenance during idle season
when initiating training, start new feeding schedule 6 wks prior to season work

Question 31

When do we feed endurance dogs?

Answer 31

feed after exercise or >4hrs before exercise
free access to water at all times
snacks given during or after exercise
monitor fat tolerance (steatorrhea and decreased palatability)