Dietary methods for canine performance enhancement

#The present invention generally relates to diet based methods for improving the physical performance and cognitive performance of animals, such as endurance, olfactory perception, improved responsiveness to Pavlovian conditioning, alertness, and target detection. More specifically, the present invention provides methods for improved hunt or search performance of sport and task animals, such as hunting dogs and search dogs.

#Many canine food formulations on the market are so-called maintenance diets which are designed and formulated to provide adequate nutrition for the average companion dog on a day-to-day basis. There are also special-purpose diets designed to meet special needs or specific nutritional requirements, such as those encountered in pregnancy, nursing, high stress periods, or growth. A number of scientifically designed special-purpose diet formulas are commercially available which can provide desired outcomes in an animal, for example, growth, maintenance, or high energy. The amount of food an animal requires for maintenance or growth depends upon, for example, age, activity, and environment.

#An important objective of animal owners, trainers, or care givers is to provide their animal with a diet which maintains overall health, well being, appearance, and prevents disease of the animal; all at a reasonable cost. Another objective is to provide a diet which promotes optimum performance in specific tasks, for example, high energy expenditure activities associated with show, sport, or work animals. Performance diets are known in the art and typically contain, for example, about 25-35% by weight protein and 18-22% by weight fat, and can be used mainly for working or show dogs, pregnant or nursing bitches, or animals under stress. However, performance diets are not recommended for all pets, particularly those with a sedentary lifestyle unless food allowances are controlled.

#Year 2—Canine Rectal Temperatures The rectal temperature of each dog was obtained by a licensed veterinarian while the dog was at rest and immediately after a 40 minute hunting session. These measurements were obtained at the end of the Year-2 hunting season (post-season collection). The body temperature of the dogs was similar before hunting regardless of diet (101.7 versus 101.4° F.). The body temperature of all dogs was higher after hunting, but the increase in body temperature was greater for dogs fed the Purina® Pro Plan diet (4.5 versus 3.1° F. increase in rectal temperature). The dogs fed the Purina® Pro Plan diet had significantly higher (P<0.05) body temperatures than those dogs fed the Eukanuba® diet (105.9 versus 104.8° F., a difference of 1.1). Thus the post-hunt body temperature of the dogs fed the Eukanuba® diet was from about 0.5 to about 1.5° F. lower or cooler compared to the Purina® Pro Plan diet. The lower or cooler post-hunt body temperature suggests the dogs expend less energy on waste heat and consequently have greater endurance and greater energy available for hunt-related tasks, such as scouting and pointing. Thus, for example, the body temperature of the hunting mammal fed Eukanuba® diet is maintained to within about 3.0° F. of the pre-hunt body temperature which is significantly lower than hunting mammals fed Purina® Pro Plan diet and as summarized in the accompanying Table. 3 Canine Rectal Temperature (° Fahrenheit) at Post-Season Collections Eukanuba ® Purina ® P(<) Pre-hunt 101.7 101.4 NS Post-hunt 104.81 105.91 0.05 Difference 3.1 4.5 1Probability or confidence level greater than 95%.

#All publications, patents, and patent documents are incorporated by reference herein individually in their entirely. The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.