5th July 2023

#1 When it’s cold, extra energy is needed to maintain body temperature 

Year-round, working dogs have higher energy needs than regular dogs. But when they’re working in cold, wet or windy conditions, your dogs’ energy needs are even higher. This is because they have to exert extra energy just to maintain body temperature. When your dogs are also housed outside – as is the case for most working dogs – these energy demands are greater still (because let’s face it, it gets cold out there!).  

Feeding a diet that is high in fat and contains a source of readily digestible carbohydrates (such as rice) is a great way to ensure these energy requirements are met (with a smaller amount of food). 

#2 Body condition scoring your dogs. 

Body condition scoring is a combined, hands-on plus visual method of measuring the level of fat cover on your working dog’s body. Paying attention to this can be especially helpful in winter. The scale ranges from 1-9. A score of 4-5 is ideal for dogs who carry out a moderate to high level of exercise. If you can see your dog’s ribs and the tops of their vertebrae, this likely means that they’re not getting enough energy from their diet – so their energy intake should be increased. However, if an excess layer of fat covers their ribs (or their ribs can’t be easily felt) the opposite is true – their energy intake is probably too high for their level of exercise and should be reduced.  

During winter, providing enough energy in the diet to maintain their weight at a slightly higher body condition score of 5 (i.e. with a small amount of fat) is recommended. This provides some natural insulation to help keep them warm. 

#3 Warm beds and winter coats 

If you notice your dog shivering and tucking up into tight a ball at night, it’s likely that they are feeling the cold. Shivering is the body’s natural mechanism to maintain its internal temperature and involves rapid muscle contractions (which requires energy). If your dog is shivering overnight to keep warm, they are using up extra energy, which is the reason many dogs lose weight over winter. If they are burning extra energy to keep warm, you’ll likely have to feed them more food to maintain weight (and let’s face it, it’s not pleasant for them to be that cold either). 

So, if your dogs are housed outside, giving them a kennel and a warm bed (sheltered from the elements) along with a warm winter coat, can reduce the amount of energy (and food) they burn to stay warm. 

#4 Look for ingredients that support joint, skin and coat health 

Cooler weather can put more pressure on working dogs’ joints and skin. Hence working dog feeds that contain ingredients such as Glucosamine (to help support healthy joints) and Omega 3 and 6 (to help promote healthy skin and coat) can be especially desirable. These ingredients also have anti-inflammatory benefits, which are all the more important in the cold weather. 

#5 Ensure they are drinking plenty of water 

As it cools down, we are less inclined to think about water… but water intake in working dogs is just as critical in winter as it is in the warmer months. Year round, be sure and provide your dogs with clean, fresh water during breaks and make sure they always have water available when they aren’t working. 

CopRice – Nutrition that stacks up. 

Got questions? Need advice on the right diet for your working dogs? The Team at CopRice would love to help! Give us a call on 1800 029 901. 

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Information contained in this article has been provided by the manufacturer/ You should not rely on the information in this article, and it should not be considered advice. You should seek professional advice regarding relevant factors specific to your situation. This article does not take into account variable conditions that may impact performance. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Nutrien Ag Solutions Limited and its related associated entities will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising out of any reliance on any information contained in this article