While the first dogs were undoubtedly kept as companions, it probably did not take long to realize the working value of this newly-made friend.

Even in early times probably way before the history of dogs was ever recorded, these pets were helping us for a variety of purposes, but they were mainly to hunt for food. But back in those days hunting was not a sport. It was serious and hard work.

Today the nature of a dog's job has taken on a different form. You will find he is still helping us in the search for food but this is normally for a different reason.

Every working dog's primary dietary need is increased by the energy he spends and no matter what the purpose or nature of the job he is given, his performance will always require some sort of time expenditure of energy. As a consequence, whenever dietary energy is increased, those B-complex vitamins, minerals, and the water necessary for burning the energy must also be increased.

Working dogs require most nutrients at no greater levels than non-working dogs. And if it wasnt for the increased need for energy and the nutrients to burn it you wouldn't have to do anything. However when working dogs eat large quantities of ordinary maintenance dog foods to obtain all of the energy they need, they will frequently consume some of the nutrients in excessive amounts. This may also cause them to eat such large quantities that the digestibility of all the nutrients in their diet are also adversely affected. Which will cause some nutrients to be obtained in inadequate amounts.

In other cases, a working dog simply cannot, physically, eat all of a food needed to supply its energy needs. In these instances the dog suffers from the lack of total digestible energy, and loses weight. If the condition is allowed to continue, the dog will reduce its activities in order to reduce its caloric demands. If the dog is forced to continue working at the same pace, it will lose weight faster and faster, and eventually work itself to death.

Now Herd Dogs are the most common working dogs in the USA. They are also the same dogs that use the least amount of extra energy of any of the working dogs. You will very rarely find that then need to expend energy in excess of a normal dogs activity for any duration of time. Even their short-term expenditures of energy are not very great. The only time herd dogs ever utilize large amounts of energy are when they are rounding up stray cattle on a farm.

A dog's diet is one of the most important things. Do
you know exactly what is in your dogs diet? You could. To
find out more visit the author Justin Bryce at his website:
http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au