Show dogs are required to be in excellent physical condition to compete in the conformation ring. Most breeds are required to compete at their ideal weight, with excellent muscle tone and glossy coats. In addition, the condition of a show dog's teeth can be affected by the food they eat. Fortunately, there are solutions to most dietary problems that show dogs experience.
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Losing Weight
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Obese dogs lack the condition needed to compete. Dogs that travel a great deal may end up gaining weight. Although exercise and withholding high-calorie treats are always key in terms of weight loss, diet can also play a part. There are many brands of weight reduction kibble available commercially; however, according to breeder and dog show judge Pat Hastings, such formulas should "only regularly be fed to severely overweight dogs" because they provide insufficient nutritional support for "a healthy, active animal".
Other natural and healthy means exist for helping a dog lose weight or keep weight off once it is lost. For example, dogs love fresh vegetables, especially sweet and crunchy carrots. In addition, substituting fresh or pureed green beans for half the kibble at each of the dog's meals will not only reduce the number of calories it consumes, but will add fiber to its diet. Like people, dogs will feel more full when their diets contain a good amount of fiber.
Gaining Weight
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Highly conditioned sporting dogs and sighthounds may appear to be too thin. Some dogs respond to the travel associated with being shown by losing their appetites. This appetite loss may be accompanied by the loss of a few pounds, as well. Most handlers, professional or amateurs, have recipes for "satin balls," "fat balls," or "cheese balls" on hand for use in such situations. These recipes usually combine high-fat ground beef with various ingredients such as cream cheese, molasses, corn syrup, wheat germ, eggs, peanut butter and joint-supporting additives. These supplemental weight gain treats are not considered "dog food," as they are not nutritionally complete and are not intended to sustain the dog's life over a long period. It is important, however, for new owners and handlers to recognize the difference between a highly conditioned, slender dog and one that is in need of weight gain.
Coat Condition and Muscle Tone
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Dogs' coats and muscles do not grow independently of their other systems; in order for a dog to achieve excellence in these areas, they must have nutritional support for all their systems. Pat Hastings explains that "an underweight dog may never have a great coat, since ingested nutrients are busy maintaining necessary body functions first".
The same protein that helps puppies grow goes will help maintain muscular strength and fullness of coat in the adult show dog, so it should be fed in sufficient quantity over the dog's lifespan. Due to the varied nature of dog breeds and their disparate nutritional needs, it is impossible to address what the ideal quantity and source of protein might be for all dogs.
Feeding Raw Food
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Raw chicken necks are ideal for feeding small dogs. Feeding a raw diet is becoming increasingly popular among people who show dogs. Many websites and books provide valuable and readily accessible information to those individuals who are interested in feeding raw food to their dogs. Raw chicken and turkey necks are particularly popular, due to their ready availability and their low price. However, it is important to remember that just because a diet is "natural" it is not necessarily balanced. A good raw feeding resource will emphasize the nutritional needs of all dogs and will carefully explain the ways by which these needs can be met.
Feeding Kibble
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Kibble is a practical food for a show dog. Veterinarian and performance dog competitor Jocelyn Jacobs lists a number of reasons to feed commercial dog foods, including availability, ease, cost and time effectiveness and the continued research that goes into improving the quality and palatability of many brands.
The show dog should never be fed a generic dog food, since these foods do not provide enough nutrients to sustain the energy required by the training and travel demands of even a moderately busy schedule of shows. However, there are many premium brands of dog food in today's marketplace, formulated to meet the nutritional needs of most dogs. Just as a raw diet must be carefully managed, the dog owner must take care to feed the diet most appropriate to the dog's needs and its activities.
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