Best Dog Food For Hunting Dogs
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The Sporting or Gundog Group is one of the largest and most popular groups of dogs registered by kennel clubs. Many of our favorite breeds today come from this group, such as the Labrador Retriever, the Golden Retriever, the Cocker Spaniel, the Brittany, and others.
Even if you have one of those sporting dogs, you probably won’t need to feed him a diet for a hunting dog unless you are actually doing field work or other performance work with him. If you are hunting regularly, a hunting dog typically burns a huge amount of calories when he’s out for a day of work.
If you hunt with your dog, you’ll need to find the best dog food for hunting dogs.
Compare Best Dog Food For Hunting Dogs
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OVERALL BEST
1. Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Formula Dry Dog Food |
BEST FOR DUCK HUNTING DOGS
4. Kinetic Performance Power 30K Formula Dry Dog Food |
BEST FOR ACTIVE DOGS
5. Sport Dog Food K-9 Series Project K-9 Hero Multiple Protein Formula Flax-Free Dry Dog Food |
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|
Protein
30% Min |
Protein
30% Min |
Protein
26% Min |
Protein
30% Min |
Protein
30% Min |
|
Fat
20% Min |
Fat
20% Min |
Fat
18% Min |
Fat
20% Min |
Fat
22% Min |
|
Fiber
3% Max |
Fiber
4% Max |
Fiber
3.8% Max |
Fiber
3% Max |
Fiber
2.6% Max |
|
Calories
475 kcal/cup |
Calories
384.93 kcal/cup |
Calories
399 kcal/8oz cup |
Calories
462 kcal/cup |
Calories
542 kcal/cup |
Our criteria
Many popular dog food theories are based on dog food marketing, which is not suitable for dogs as they have a specialized gastrointestinal system. To keep your dog healthy and live a long life, it is essential to follow the best canine nutritional research. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association provides criteria for choosing foods for pugs and other dogs.
Hunting dogs typically feed regular dog food during the off-season, but when they start training and working again, they should switch to a food formulated to provide more energy and stamina. It is important to understand the best dog foods for hunting dogs and what to know about these foods.
Best Dog Food For Hunting Dogs Reviewed
Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Formula Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30% Min
- Fat: 20% Min
- Fiber: 3% Max
- Calories: 475 kcal/cup
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- Promotes strength and endurance with lots of real meat protein
- Enhanced with amino acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and glucosamine
- Reasonably priced
- Some people won’t like the ingredients but Purina Pro Plan is formulated by veterinary nutritionists
Purina Pro Plan also makes other Sport Performance Formulas if your dog can’t eat chicken or needs less protein and fat.
Available in 6-lb, 18-lb, 37.5-lb, and 50-lb bags.
Eukanuba Premium Performance 30/20 Adult Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30% Min
- Fat: 20% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 384.93 kcal/cup
- Made with high levels of meat protein and fat to promote lean muscle and sustained energy for your dog’s best performance
- Complete and balanced nutrition without fillers
- Reasonably priced
- Contains fewer calories per cup than Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Formula Dry Dog Food, though this could be a pro if your dog needs fewer calories
This formula has about 384 kcal per cup. Like many of Eukanuba’s foods, it features the 3D DentaDefense System which has been proven to reduce tartar build-up in 28 days. This is a very good food for canine athletes and it’s also an all life stage dog food.
Available in a 29-lb bag.
VICTOR Performance Formula Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 26% Min
- Fat: 18% Min
- Fiber: 3.8% Max
- Calories: 399 kcal/8oz cup
- Contains 81 percent meat protein from beef, chicken, and pork meals
- Added glucosamine and chondroitin help with long-term joint health
- Made from gluten-free grains
- No corn, wheat, or soy; pea-free
- Very affordable
- Adult maintenance formula so it cannot be fed to puppies
This formula features beef meal as the first ingredient. It also contains chicken and pork meals so it has lots of meat protein. Glucosamine and chondroitin are added for joint protection. Victor uses gluten-free grains such as grain sorghum and whole grain millet.
Available in 5-lb and 40-lb bags.
Kinetic Performance Power 30K Formula Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30% Min
- Fat: 20% Min
- Fiber: 3% Max
- Calories: 462 kcal/cup
- Contains plenty of meat and animal protein
- Contains a natural source of glucosamine for joint support
- Digestible fiber and a prebiotic blend support good digestion
- No corn, wheat, soy, or peas
- Reasonably priced
- Kinetic is not well-known which may put some people off, but many people with hunting and performance dogs love this food
This food is nutrient-dense so you don’t have to feed as much food as with some other dog foods. It has 462 kcal per cup. The formula contains no corn, wheat, or soy; and it’s pea-free. Chicken meal and chicken by-product meal are the first ingredients. The recipe also includes menhaden fish meal for more animal protein.
Available in a 35-lb bag.
Sport Dog Food K-9 Series Project K-9 Hero Multiple Protein Formula Flax-Free Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30% Min
- Fat: 22% Min
- Fiber: 2.6% Max
- Calories: 542 kcal/cup
- Good sources of meat protein
- No artificial preservatives, flavors, fillers, or by-products; no eggs or egg products
- Uses whole ground sorghum and whole ground millet as carbs for energy
- This is a 30/22 formula for protein and fat
- No wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Expensive
Chicken meal is the first ingredient but the food also contains pork meal for more meat protein. This food has a whopping 542 kcal per cup.
Available in 40-lb bags.
What to Consider when Buying Dog Food for a Hunting Dog
Performance dog foods can be adjusted based on various factors such as activity level, size, age, weight, and weather conditions. Activity level refers to the amount of protein or fat a dog needs, while size affects the number of calories burned.
A 50-pound hunting dog can burn 1,450 calories by resting, 1,800 calories with moderate activity, and 2,200 calories with a hard day of hunting. A dog’s age also influences the amount and type of food they need.
Performance dog foods are suitable for puppies, junior dogs, adults, and seniors, but may need to be adjusted based on age, weight, and health factors.
Weather conditions, such as cold weather and snow, can also affect the number of calories a dog needs. For each 10 Fahrenheit drop in outdoor temperature, an additional 7.5 percent should be added to their daily calories.
To ensure your dog receives the right nutrition for hunting, consider these factors and adjust their portions and diets after hunting season to prevent excessive weight gain due to reduced activity.
Nutritional Requirements for Hunting Dogs
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High protein: The recommended percentages for hunting dogs are 30 percent crude protein and 20 percent crude fat. However, for moderate hunting dogs, foods with 27/15 and 28/17 percentages may be suitable. Meat protein is easier for dogs to digest than plant proteins. Most performance dog foods use common meat proteins like chicken or beef, but some are made for dogs with sensitive digestion, such as those containing fish or eggs as a primary source of protein.
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High fat: Hunting dogs require between 16 and 20% fat for energy, with higher percentages recommended for harder dogs. For hunting days, 20 percent crude fat is recommended. Insufficient fat and calories can lead to weight loss. Hunting dogs are often driven to work, so ensuring they consume calorie-dense food is crucial. It is important to ensure your dog gets enough fat and calories during hunting season to prevent weight loss.
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Good carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are crucial for a hunting dog’s diet, providing energy and stability. Rice, corn, and milo (sorghum) are good sources, making up to 50% of a dog’s diet. These grains are recommended during hunting season for their slow-release energy, even if they are not liked by the owner. Carbs help dogs work longer without fatigue and maintain a healthy weight.
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Micronutrients: The remainder of a dog food for hunting dogs is usually made up of micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics, and other ingredients that the company uses. Some of these ingredients can vary, depending on the company.
Final Thoughts
Hunting dogs work hard, and it’s important that these gifted athletes receive the nutrition they need so they can do their job. A pointer, setter, retriever, or other hunting dog needs plenty of good protein, fat, and carbohydrates for energy and stamina. The performance dog foods recommended here should help your dog perform at an elite level.
