Gundogs protecting body condition during lactation and weaning

Only extreme exercise is more energy demanding than lactation. The right nutritional support is incredibly important as the dam will sacrifice her own body condition to continue producing an adequate quantity of nutrient rich milk for her pups.  Helping mum retain condition is something we as a breeder strive for.  Here we offer a quick summary of practical tips to help during lactation and offer advice on how to feed mum during the weaning process.

Practical Feeding Tips during lactation:
1. Feed a diet which is highly digestible and both nutrient and energy dense.
2. Provide adequate calories to help prevent weight loss.
3. Provide clean fresh water in multiple, easy to access to locations.
4. During peak lactation feed two to four times her maintenance energy requirements.
5. Provide free choice feeding or several meals per day (e.g. 4-6) during peak lactation – even when a high quality super premium diet is fed the quantities can exceed the capacity of the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Slowly reduce the dam’s intake after the sixth week of lactation in parallel with the reduced suckling of the puppies.
7. When the puppies are between 3  and 4 weeks old and become interested in food we recommend you should supply mum's food on a high surface; out of the puppies’ reach.  This is especially important for large/giant breeds as mum's diet will be too energy dense for the large breed puppies.  Excess energy for large/giant breed puppies maximises growth rate which compromises skeletal development.  Large/giant breed pups need a reduced energy puppy diet to control growth rate such.

To help reduce body condition losses during lactation:
Week 1 - Feed 1.5 to 2 times maintenance energy needs
Week 2 - Feed 2 times maintenance
Weeks 3 to 5 - Feed 2.5 to 4 times maintenance (peak lactation)
Week 6 - Slowly begin reducing the dam’s energy intake here as the puppies will begin eating solid food and so the amount of milk consumed will decrease.

Feeding mum when weaning:
Pups usually begin eating solid food as early as 3-4 weeks of age, typically increasing around the fifth week.  By the time they are 6-7 weeks old they will be consuming mostly solid food.  If milk production is allowed to continue at a high level during this stage there is a high chance of the dam developing mastitis.  Provided the dam is in good condition all food should be withheld from mum on the first day of weaning - when the puppies are completely separated from her.  After this the daily feeding ration can be gradually introduced at 25%, 50%, 75% and finally 100% of her maintenance level.
As a general guide it is normal for the bitch to lose some weight during lactation but this should not exceed 10% of her normal bodyweight.  Proper feeding throughout pregnancy and lactation will help ensure minimum weight is lost, even with larger litters.   

The repletion period: This is the period when the dam’s body regains stores of nutrients lost in during gestation and lactation. Continuing to feed the nutrient and energy dense food for at least 3 week post weaning will support optimal nutrient repletion.

Dissappointing Gundogs

Well this weekend was certainly a  disappointment for me as my gun dogs did not perform very well, over the last few years I have not attended too many working tests due to other commitments, but having reduced my training commitments at weekends, I decided to do a few more working tests.

My motivation for doing so, is always to see whats being asked of current gun dogs, a chance to visit different grounds and measure my gun dogs performance and fitness levels.

This weekend the Midland Gundog Society organised an AV Retriever Open Working Test at Packington Estate, Meriden in Warkwickshire, a well establish shooting estate by kind permission of the Earl of Aylesford and the Utility Gundog Society orgainsed a Novice and Open AV Spaniel Working Test at Cavernam in Suffolk by kind permission of Robert Gough and Wayne Alford.

A number of demanding tests were set for 27 Open Retrievers, which attracted some of the best handlers in the UK, it was not too long before my fate was set for the day.

First mistake of the day, was hydrating the dogs too much with a sardine and water breakfast, thinking the day was going to be rather hot, dogs started peeing to much!

My first task was to pick a blind at some distance after being distracted with a mark at some equal distance at an acute angle directly into wind, all 3 of my dogs managed to pick both retrieves, but not without considerable handling and a few toilet stops!

My next task was to pick a mark in some undulating ground covered by bracken followed by a blind which was on a similar line but much deeper, all 3 of my dogs failed, my first dog discovered a dead deer carcass on route and decided to retrieve the hind leg, my second dog followed the same route found the same carcass but I did manged to move her off it and into the area but she failed to pick. my fortune change when my third dog picked the mark but I struggled and eventually called him up on the blind.

My final task before lunch was a further two blinds at some considerable distance to shot at an acute angle, the performance was deteriorating fast so I called my first two dogs up, hunting for something else which was not dummy! My luck change with my third dog receiving 19/20 for a near perfect performance.

After a brief lunch and fortunately with no cut, I was allowed to continue with a further two tests, I decided to retire one dog as she clearly was not interested in finding a dummy.

The next test was a simple mark on undulating ground over a ditch in bracken, my fortune improved with both dogs completing the task with respectable scores.

The final task was a long distance blind retrieve with a mark distraction at an obtuse angle to shot in some rushes, I completed this task with both dogs one of them scoring the maximum points.

Overall a rather disappointing performance but I was not on my own, another 15 dogs had failures according to the score card including a member of this years England team, which just goes to show every gundog can has some disappointing days.

The first reaction of some competitors or spectators would be to question the degree difficulty or quality of judging, I found the day very challenging and judging very fare indeed. If the tests on the day are too easy you may go home pleased, but what have you really achieved?

Their was greater emphases on blinds during the day, especially in the morning session, but I certainly went home with a lot to think about!

The next day involved a short journey down the A14 with my Cocker Pip, after such a disappointing Saturday with the Retrievers was rather hoping my fortune was going to change.

In the morning I helped out with the Novice AV Spaniel working test, putting a blind out behind the line and managed to see all the spaniels perform, which was very interesting, the winner was a class above the rest!

After a great lunch, we started the Open which was very similar to the Novice in that we had a simple mark in front with a shot in the line and a blind behind the line. pip completed all the retrieves the blinds with a little more handling than I would have liked, but she was on fire! she was a fidget when asked to sit and wait for the other dog to complete their retrieves, which cost her an A- under one judged, which put her out of the awards.

More work to do, hoping for better results next time.

Want to know more about Canine Eye Disease & Prevention

Want to know more about Canine Eye Disease and Prevention then get your yourself over to Doveridge in Derby shire to listen and participate in a discussion with John Goodyear BVMS CertVOphthal MRCVS.

Saturday Evening 7pm for 7.30pm 25th April ( Next Week)

Venue: Doveridge Village Club, DE6 5JQ

The evening has been organised by Dove Valley Working Gundog Club at NO COST to those attending, their will be a short interval during the evening with hot pork baps.

You just need to book so they have an idea of numbers by texting or telephoning Guy Radford on 07960 796403

Doveridge lies east of Uttoxeter off the A50. Travelling from Uttoxeter/Stoke towards Derby,
leave A50 at the Doveridge turn. At T junction turn right.
At roundabout go straight over into Sand Lane.
Venue on left 150 yards.
Travelling from Derby, leave A50 at A515 Ashbourne turn
then follow local signs to Doveridge. In Doveridge Village, turn left
at roundabout into Sand Lane. Venue on left 150 yards.

Kennel Club Export Pedigrees 2014

Working Gundogs Training Course Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to all courses starting on or after 1st April 2010. By completing and submitting a working gundog training course booking form for a course that commences on or after 1st April 2010, you agree to the following terms and conditions of booking.

CONDITIONS OF BOOKING ACCEPTANCE

You must submit a course booking form online or by post, in order for your booking to go ahead. The booking form must be completed in by the person who will be handling the dog during the course (or their legal guardian if under 18 years of age) and the handler (or their legal guardian) must indicate their agreement to these terms and conditions. Payments received without a booking form will result in a reserved place, until they have filled in a booking form as well.  

CONFIRMATION OF ORDER /AVAILABILITY OF PLACES

We will contact you to confirm you’re booking once we have received your full payment and course booking form. We aim to email all those placing online bookings within two working days of receiving their payment. We try to update our web page immediately a course is fully booked.  If however, the course is already full when we receive your booking, we will contact you and refund any payment you have made in full.   

METHODS OF PAYMENT

You may choose to pay in full on online or by sending a cheque. If you have any difficulty paying online with bank details or type of card, please give us a call.

COOLING OFF PERIOD

You are entitled to a seven day 'cooling off' period following your booking to enable you to cancel if you wish. During this time you may contact us to let us know that you do not wish to continue with your booking, and we will refund your payment in full.

The following conditions apply:

i) The cooling off period ends at on the eighth day following your booking. The eight day commences immediately after the time and date of your original booking. If your course starts before this time, the cooling-off ends at the planned start time of the first session of the course

ii) Your booking is considered to have commenced when you make your first payment, or submit a booking form, whichever is the first.

iii) Cancellation during the cooling off period should be made in writing to 'Working Gundogs, 352 Fosse Road North, Leicester, LE3 5RS’ or by emailing workinggundogs@msn.com

CANCELLATION OR POSTPONEMENT BY US

Cancellation:  We reserve the right to cancel any course at our discretion.  Reasons for cancellation might include (but are not limited to) courses where numbers are insufficient or a trainer is indisposed.   If we cancel a course your payment including the booking fee will be refunded in full.

Postponement: We reserve the right to postpone any course at our discretion.  Reasons for postponement might include (but are not limited to) courses where numbers are insufficient or where a trainer is indisposed.   If we postpone a course we will refund your payment in full or you may choose to keep your place on the course at the re-assigned start date.

CANCELLATION BY YOU AFTER THE 'COOLING OFF' PERIOD

Cancellation by customers that have paid in advance: Once you’re cooling off period has ended, if you are unable to attend the course and let us know no later than 21 days before the start date of the course, we will refund your payment, minus the non-refundable deposit of £60.  We regret that we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations made within 21 days of the start date of a course.

CANCELLATION BY YOU AFTER THE COURSE HAS COMMENCED

No refunds are available to any customer who cancels or withdraws from the course once the course has started. Any complaints regarding the facilities, training methods, teaching quality, conduct of trainers, conduct of students or their dogs should be put in writing within 7 days of the event, such that it may be investigated immediately. We will acknowledge your complaint with 48 hours of written notice and we aim to give you a written response within 10 days. If your complaint is found to be valid we will issue a partial refund of the course fees.

VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographs taken by us: Working Gundogs instructors may occasionally take photographs or video during your classes. We reserve the right to use these photographs or video for publicity purposes. Photographs or video may be published on our web site and sent to other publications for them to consider printing, together with the names and details of awards achieved. If you do not wish your image to be used for this purpose, please do not stand in the photo! If you are happy for your image to be used, but do not wish your details to be printed, please inform us by email or writing to Working Gundogs as soon as possible. Details may be published or sent out as early as the first working day after the picture is taken.

Photographs taken by you: If you wish to take photographs of your own, during the course, please ask permission from your instructor. Their decision is final in this matter. If permission is granted, please respect the wishes of any member of your group who does not wish to be photographed. 

Copyright and reproduction: Working Gundogs expressly forbids the right to reproduce any part of our lessons in any form (e.g. on the internet, DVDs, photographs etc). Anyone suspected of filming or photographing the lessons for any purpose of publication, or investigation without the written permission of the Working Gundogs, will be asked to leave the course.

Liability: Working Gundogs cannot be held liable for the actions of third parties, and therefore excludes to the fullest extent possible by law, any liability arising from a breach of this section headed “Video and photography” by any party.  

TRAINING ASSESSMENTS

Assessments are arranged in advance for each training course group. Entry to the assessment is optional, and your instructor will advise you as to whether you and your dog are ready.   

DOGS

Bitches on heat are not permitted on the training courses without email agreement from the instructor.  Such permission will only be given if all the other dogs on the course are also bitches.  Please do not book a place on a course during a period of time when you think your bitch may come into season.

Behavioral problems:  The instructor has the right to exclude from his course any dog which in the opinion of the instructor has behavioral problems which may interfere with the classes to the detriment of other students and their dogs.  This includes but is not limited to, dogs which are aggressive, or bark excessively, and dogs which run away (no recall). 

Health:  All dogs attending the course must be in good health and have up to date vaccinations.  The trainer may ask to see evidence of vaccination status before allowing access to his classes Please do not bring a dog to the course which has been in contact with an infectious disease within the previous 21 days. 

STUDENTS

Disruptive behavior: The instructor has the right to exclude from his course any student who in the opinion of the trainer, is behaving in such a way as to interfere with the proper running of the course, or with the rights of the other students on the course to an enjoyable and educational experience. 

British Shooting Show 2015

My Saturday activity turned out to be one of those spontaneous decisions, a result of a phone call from a close friend. February is usually one of those months with nothing planned and not much enthusiasm, after a long shooting season of competing and training.

Nevertheless the opportunity to catch up with a close friend who has probably shot over nearly all the best shooting grounds in the UK. Was a opportunity not to pass over, It was probably going to be a Saturday cleaning up and collecting feeders!. I mention this to my training ground landlord, who had the same thoughts as me. So all three of us set off from Leicester at 8.45am for the The Great British Shooting Show at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

The short journey of 45mins and no hassle parking was a great start with a short debate over the temperature for the day, we decided that as it was all under cover, just jackets or a fleece would be ok.

Not anticipating the long walk to the entrance, I did start to question my wisdom on my jacket choice that said the brisk walk in the cool air was refreshing passing a quasi lego land of buildings most of which had seen better days.

When entering the show, the temperature improved significantly and after a quick coffee stop it was off to the William Powell stand for an education in new and used guns. Like all good suppliers they have a bespoke range of shotguns to suit your budget. I particular enjoyed the conversation about a personal gun fit, which I now would regard as essential if spending over £2000!

Close by Cheshire Gun Room had the Nite Site Wolf on show, I have a LEDRAY torch beam mounted on my moderated TIKA 22-250 with Schmidt & Bender 8x56, I have a lot of light bounce, which is really annoying, so rather hoping this may be a solution to the problem.

Nite Site have produced a number of models

I still may have a problem, because Schmidt & Bender coat their lenses with a special material to optimise their performance in low light conditions, this coating interferes with the performance of this product.

I have a lesser quality sights on my 22, so this may well be the way forward but at a starting price of £450 it need to be right.

Since training spaniels, I have been on the look out for a fully moderated 20 bore, never found one at the show, but got to see a number of moderated 410's also a pump action certainly got me thinking of different options.

Rather pleased I left the plastic and shot gun license at home on the fire arms front may be applying for an auto or pump action soon?

Needed to move on a bit quicker as we had over 300 exhibitors in 5 halls to get round.

Just before lunch spent some time with  Legelelas safari's enjoy a beer and planned a trip for 2016! watch this space

Time for a spot of lunch, so decided to have that full breakfast we avoided at 9am.

In the afternoon lots more to see, they had a complete hall for the airgun enthusiasts, but the gundog signs drew my attention, so i decided to got and introduce myself to Andy Cullen of Laochin Gundogs, very experienced gun trainer who specialises in HPR's .

I have been following Andy's gundog work on the internet for a number of years with interest and he has been a member of my working gundog social media network for sometime.

Having been a Labrador trainer for a number of years and recently having some success with a working cocker spaniel, I have always wondered how ell I could do with a HPR! in the field trialling world.

Always being one for new adventures, I chatted with Andy, about recent success and sought his advice on training a Hungarian Wire haired Vizsla a breed I have had some success with on the training ground.

Andy, introduced me to Julian Apps from Harrigoss Gundogs who has many years experience training HWV, I found the conversation very interesting, looking forward to exploring future possibilities!

At this stage I had lost my companions, thank goodness for mobile phones, caught up at a coffee stop then onto view some bespoke gun boxes and Perazzi.

Had a very enjoyable tasting session at Bruadar is a perfect marriage of single malt Scotch whiskey and honey, balanced with just the right amount of sloes.

My Schoffel fleece is looking a bit worst for wear, so was about to treat myself and discovered Alan Paine equivalent at half the price, I presume after a few washes I will discover if it really is a bargain, certainly looks as good as !

Made such a saving also purchased some new over trousers, barb wire had destroyed my duck dry leggings, rather disappointed they tore so easily.

It wasn't until around 3pm, I was reminded by text that it was valentines day, a day that should be significant  in my calendar being the start of 37 year relationship, which prompted me and my 2 friends to vacate a head of the traffic, stop off on route for that valentine Rose, card and chocolates to appease my disappearance for the day.

Feeling guilty, decided to book dinner at a regular Italian, had to use all my influence as a gundog trainer to get a table at 6pm, very lucky the mangers gundog needs training next month!