So, I haven’t had this problem for a while now, always seems to happen when I need her to eat the most. Luna has her first shows (in I don’t know how long) coming up the weekend of July 4th. She could use a touch more weight, and I wanted to see how defined I could get her too (as in building some muscle). She had been doing real well lately, sprinting around with Dover and eating her meals well. But then came a big hot humid heat wave. As you saw in the last post, she has been doing a lot of napping. She has the luxury of a softer owner who will let her relax inside in the “AC” rather than under the porch (though I highly doubt the other dogs mind much). Apparently napping doesn’t build up much of an appetite (she has never been a huge eater anyhow). This is a problem due to the show coming up. So now I’m trying to find ways to exercise her hard (to build muscle), despite the heat.. ideas?
- She has taken a liking to jumping on the 4-wheeler with me to go run..
The first time I ran her with the 4 wheeler since getting a new battery she did awesome, she even ran ahead of me for 3 of the 4 laps.. But since then it has been more of a chore to get her out ahead. For some reason she is still kinda worried about the 4 wheeler. Just her nature about certain things. But at least now when she sees me on the 4 wheeler I have to make a point to tell her to wait, so she doesn’t jump up when I’m not ready for her yet. THAT is a huge improvement from before, when i would have to really coax and prod her to jump on with me. The reason she even has to jump on with me, is due to her being trained to an underground fence. It kind of would defeat the purpose if she was allowed to run across the line with me. Though I have no worries about her running through the e-fence and not coming back. She proved that the day she broke through the fence for a rabbit, and then broke back through to get back to us.
Anyway, I shall hold off on the 4 wheeler this morning, and attempt to start breaking her to be steady to the shot of bumpers. Hopefully this goes smoothly.
Vizsla Inspiration 
Great photo!!! That’s the best kind of exercise for them…letting them run at their own speed! You can always try raw chicken backs to get weight on her. I did that with Gunnar when he was young. He just would not gain weight. I gave him 1/3 of a chicken back every day for about 3 weeks and he picked up weight. It was Laurie’s suggestion.
Yep, we did the whole chicken back thing when she was little too, in hopes of her filling out.. It did help at the time, she got 12 oz a day of those till they were gone almost. 30lbs took a while.. I did like what they did for her, but she was not all that into them. And as I mentioned I may just try some chicken/turkey necks instead. Easier for both of us. Just have to find out where to get them from.
http://redbirddog.blogspot.com/2009/09/for-thin-active-vizsla.html
Anna,
Try this reciepe. It was given to me by a breeder who shows her dogs. They worked for me with my field trial dog.
Good luck.
Rod
Thanks Rod, I will check it out.