Training with dogs!

[Longdogs]

Can't believe i didn't see this thread sooner either-also my favourite subject. I am a lurcher fanatic and masquerade as the local vet when not fell running. I own the best dog for training with ever- no argument, and that is the mighty Brown Dog. She is the ultimate canine athlete, i will not have a word said against her.

I am not in favour of feeding them much if anything during long runs. They are built to go long distances and have infrequent large meals. With lurchers and other deep-chested breeds gastric torsion is a risk. Brown Dog has run for over 10 hours with plenty of energy eating nothing but a stolen cake from a passing BGR participant..

Speaking of stolen cake, the dog on my avatar, who is frankly useless at running, ate the end off someone's wedding cake at the weekend!

[Britta]

What is the best food (if any) to take with you to feed the dog on a long run ?

Very rarely take anything unless it's a real epic - around the 20 mile mark they are usually happy to share my sandwich or flapjack or maltloaf or in emergencies even a bite of mars bar...

[IainR]

Ours run better after a good brekky, normally porridge. I tried feeding her dog food before a 10 hr run a few weeks back and she refused to eat it and sat watching me eating my porridge, looking mightily pissed off that she wasn't having her usual.

We take our collieish dogs out in all conditions.

http://sarzmountainrun.blogspot.com/...n-glyders.html

They are great for motivation, great company. I tend to feed them bits on the run, but Fly was a stray so she just goes back to 'stray' mode scavenges of walkers.

Bella seems to get tired after 3-4 hrs, but she had a liver Shunt as a pup and we were told she'd have reduced stamina, which is probably a good thing now as a fully pepped up Bella would be in a rescue shelter as she's almost unkeepable as it is. At least now she sleeps occassionally, but she only has 2 gears, manic or dead. Bella also doesn't like running the same routes and hates hill reps on the Llanberis path. Clearly her worst session. She has been known to refuse to go out in the rain though as well.

Fly will just plod along faithfully following all day. She's a lot more conservative on the hill though.

[Welsh Harrier]

Can't believe i didn't see this thread sooner either-also my favourite subject. I am a lurcher fanatic and masquerade as the local vet when not fell running.

I've seen your lovely dogs at several races lately - we have a lurcher with a bit of Saluki in him, wonderful runner and has both speed and stamina but he readily admits that his brain is a bit on the small side! Our Irish Wolfhound on the other hand lies down and won't go any further after about a mile or so.

[sbrt]

After 2 months of restricted walks due to injury, Billy(see avatar) came out for a run with me. Both happy again.

[Alphin]

Don't feed Tilly at all on a long run, gets her water enroute from whichever water source she discovers.....Problems only arise when Soreen Malt Loaf appears, she then uses her Staffie Jedi mind tricks and I give in .