Stamina/drive

[Clodagh]

Red has worked her little cotton socks off this year. She still does get terribly tired, which isn’t surprising but doesn’t seem to have got much fitter over the last 3 months.
Will having spent nearly 4 years lying in her own muck, pregnant, impact her for ever? I hope that a summer of continual low level fitness will help her stamina but also wonder if I’m just hoping for too much.

 

[druid]

What sort of conditioning do you do between shoot days? Mine run 5k on days they don't train. Swimming, long retrieves up/down hills or jogging are my go to for getting them properly fit

 

[Clodagh]

At the moment I’m out 4 or 5 days a week. So they don’t get a lot in between. The others don’t struggle.
she’s doing 2 or 3 days a week , but only sweeping really.

 

[AmyMay]

I know nothing about shooting - but would a really high protein diet help?

But I guess that yes her poor start in life would have a big impact on her stamina.

 

[Spotherisk]

I expect she’s still getting mentally tired more than physical? It just manifests as needing to sleep.

 

[Clodagh]

I know nothing about shooting - but would a really high protein diet help?

But I guess that yes her poor start in life would have a big impact on her stamina.

They are on 40% high calorie food for stamina. She looks in amazing condition.

 

[Clodagh]

I expect she’s still getting mentally tired more than physical? It just manifests as needing to sleep.

Could be. There must be an awful lot to process. She comes and walks to heel when she’s had enough and will lie down and sleep back at the game cart, out in the open, which is weird and does show she must be knackered.

 

[stormox]

Have you had her bloods done? Could she have anaemia or some other problem?

 

[AmyMay]

Have you had her bloods done? Could she have anaemia or some other problem?

Good call

 

[Clodagh]

Have you had her bloods done? Could she have anaemia or some other problem?

No I haven’t. That’s an idea. But she does look great and I suspect that as a puppy farm bitch who has only been out of hell for 6 months or so she’s processing a lot of stuff.
They are all due jabs etc so I will ask.

 

[druid]

Bloodwork and lung worm check if she was one of mine

 

[CorvusCorax]

If it took her four years to get like that, it'll take more than a few months to improve, IMO.

You'll be surprised to know I think stamina and resilience are genetic ?
My older male and his kids and his father will/would go all day.
110 per cent effort.
Younger dog was selected for a calmer temperament/off switch and will only do as much as he needs to, to get through life.

 

[Clodagh]

Bloodwork and lung worm check if she was one of mine

How do they check for lung worm?

 

[Clodagh]

If it took her four years to get like that, it'll take more than a few months to improve, IMO.

You'll be surprised to know I think stamina and resilience are genetic ?
My older male and his kids and his father will/would go all day.
110 per cent effort.
Younger dog was selected for a calmer temperament/off switch and will only do as much as he needs to, to get through life.

She is very well bred, but to a calmer type of lab than my other nutters.

 

[AmyMay]

How do they check for lung worm?

Blood test and or poo test

 

[druid]

Fecal test (there's other more invasive ways but that's the easy place to start) - I've diagnosed two working/trialling ESS this year whose only symptom was running out of steam (one dramatically after about 30 yards, one over the course of a shoot day)

 

[maisie06]

Have you had her bloods done? Could she have anaemia or some other problem?

I was going to say a full work up, bloods etc
If all is well I have heard of some racing sled/greyhound trainers using propell plus on a working day, might be worth a google?