One of the greatest disservices done by nutrition companies to the hunting dog world was the naming of higher protein, higher fat foods as “performance diets.” The term “performance” is incredibly general—it applies equally to the 100-meter dash and the marathon, both of which are impressive athletic feats, but require vastly different training regimens, fueling strategies, and body types.
A more fitting name might have been something like an “endurance formula.” These diets are best suited for dogs asked to perform extended tasks over multiple days. As a rule of thumb, I recommend these diets for dogs working about an hour a day, four days out of the week. This is just a general guideline and will vary from dog to dog. For example, Boomer burns enough energy just running around the yard that he’s always been on a performance formula to maintain his body weight, with the amount adjusted based on his workload. Vi, on the other hand, meets those activity metrics but would probably be better off on a maintenance formula for most of the year.
The issue I have is purely with the name. The products themselves—from reputable manufacturers—are fantastic. In fact, I believe they are one of the best innovations in the nutrition world for hard-working athletic dogs, right up there with large breed puppy formulas.
However, like many things that have the potential for great benefit, these formulas can also cause harm. Too many dogs that don’t need these diets are placed on them under the mistaken belief that the food will create performance. The truth is, these formulas are higher in energy, meaning higher in calories, which can lead to excessive weight gain in most dogs.
This is usually the point where I get comments on social media like, “But my dog does great on these formulas year-round,” or “I just vary the amounts, and my dog is fine.” While that might be true for some dogs, as a veterinarian with nearly a quarter of a century of experience (yes, I was practically a baby when I started), I’ve seen far too many dogs become overweight due to inappropriate feeding of these formulas.
The evidence is overwhelming on the negative effects of obesity—everything from joint issues to metabolic problems to reduced longevity. In late summer and early fall, when I bring up obesity concerns to owners, I often hear, “He’s heavy now, but he’ll be in good shape by the end of the season.” Unfortunately, starting the season overweight is when extra weight can do the most harm. If your dog is overweight going into the season, he’s probably also out of condition, which increases his risk of injury due to the extra weight and conditions like heat stroke. There is never a time when carrying extra weight is good for a dog. Period. Full stop.
What often gets overlooked in this discussion is that in this era of high-quality dog foods, the companies producing excellent performance formulas also offer superb maintenance formulas that are more than adequate for the vast majority of hunting dogs. These maintenance diets contain the same high-quality proteins and fats but at more appropriate levels. For me, the key is the volume of food I’m feeding. If I have to underfeed a performance formula to maintain a healthy body condition, then my dog is probably better off on a maintenance formula. Conversely, if I’m feeding a large quantity of maintenance formula, then switching to a performance diet might be a better option.
The key difference in a performance formula is the protein and fat levels, which are typically higher. Traditionally, this means a protein level of 30% or greater and a fat level of 20% or greater. The rationale is that during athletic performance, we cause small amounts of muscle damage that require repair, along with burning through various enzymatic pathways in the body that protein helps rebuild and replenish. On the fat front, especially with endurance activities, we view dogs as preferential fat burners, which is why these formulas contain higher fat levels. Again, though, it’s about the duration of activity and what that activity looks like.
Recently, at least one major pet food manufacturer has started addressing this discrepancy by introducing exercise and sprint formulas under their Performance Umbrella. These formulas have lower levels of protein and fat, as well as a specialized blend of carbohydrates, to better address the needs of performance dogs that don’t require high levels of fat and protein but rather a quick burst of energy for their activities. It’s foolish to think that a pointer running big open western country needs the same fuel as a duck dog retrieving a one-man limit. Both of these dogs can have epic performances, but the stage and the actors are vastly different.
Feeding your dog the right food is far more important than feeding your dog a popular food just because some influencer, trainer, or breeder recommends it. Feed according to your dog’s activity and workload. It’s one of the only things you do today that will affect your dog’s health today, tomorrow, and for weeks, months, and years to come.
