Winter is approaching, requirements for outdoor working dogs increases. The nutrient density in food should be higher. Frozen liver, heart and kidney can be increased. Fatty fish, Smelts, Salmon, Makeral all can be utilized in the ration now in a top dressing manner to the regular ration.
Nutritional Density for Elkhounds diet in Winter
You will need to increase the nutritional density in winter for your Elkhound as you are doing the conditioning and muscle building now
GAEDA and Takoda Winter Workout Rocky Mountains.
Yes, your workouts will mean increased ration sizes as you add nutrient dense extra portions.
Top dressing means to have some Smelts just out in addition to the ration, or some frozen liver added on top, this sort of thing. Or utilized in between feedings. Your regular ration should include all nutrient requirements for normal life, but high energy usage in winter needs increases.
You all know I talk about doing all conditioning and muscle building in winter, summer is just a time to take it easy, but winter is when all heavy strength and muscle building, cardiovascular, bone density, all of it happens in winter.
In order to do this you need to increase the density of nutrients in the ration. Essential fatty acids are in the fish and organic grass fed beef, wild game and fat of those animals. Nutrient density will come from organ such as liver and heart. Beef heart, chicken heart, all are useful and easy to find. Lamb and others, such as Bison can be found too.
Remember in winter you are feeding increased rations of fat, this is what drives the heat to sustain, but also then they can utilize all the nutrients to build up muscle mass, increase tendon strength, bone density increases, brain function improves, lung capacity and blood oxygen increases. They are finely tuned athletes in winter and should be fed accordingly.
All raw diets, very little to zero roughage in winter. I am not a big fan of roughage anytime, meaning fruits, vegetables, things of that nature, I don’t use them much anytime, but definitely try to limit them in winter.
Winter training both Norwegian and Swedish Elkhounds Deep Powder
Soft bone content in the ration is exceptional in winter, so chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, ribs, soft pork bones all the lamb bones, all uncooked and raw, unfrozen, fresh if possible is the greatest. The heavier workouts in snow increases the bone density of the dog, so feeding this increases the ability to build it.
Don’t forget to deworm as there is no sense feeding them.
Once you have the nutrient density increased, you increase the workload with that. As your optimum workout time increases, give maximum rest as well, just like an Olympic athlete, train your dog the same way. Work, eat, rest, work eat rest, they will be in phenomenal shape for life.
Of course, haha, if you have not bulked up a bit heading into winter yourself, you best start as you are about to burn some fat off Baby! Snowshoes, pack, gear for emergency and uphill, believe me come spring time lean and mean! Have fun. Nothing, and I mean nothing beats training day out in the mountains, powder snow, fresh air, Great Elkhounds, Wow!
