• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Run
    • Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race
    • Castle Peak 100k
    • Race Discounts
    • Group Runs
    • Snowshoe Loans
    • Code of Conduct
  • Join
    • Membership Cost & Benefits
    • Join Now
  • Volunteer
    • Aid Stations
    • Trail Stewardship
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • Calendar
  • Store
  • Donate

Donner Party Mountain Runners

Inform Inspire Connect

  • Member Highlights
  • Race Reports
  • Newsletter
  • Webinar Videos

DPMR Kids: Caring for our Fur-Baby Running Companions

February 28, 2021 by Meggie Inouye Leave a Comment

This month I am taking a little different approach focusing on our four-legged family members. For many of us, our dogs are our fur-babies and beloved running companions. We enjoy miles with them out on the trails and want to make sure they are well taken care of.

My family welcomed a puppy just about a year ago, and as a first-time dog owner, it has been a journey and I am learning a lot. In our first months together, we were able to figure out some of the basics of puppy care like potty-training, kennel training, and basic obedience and tricks mostly through You-Tube videos, tips from friends, and advice from our veterinarian. But in the last couple of months, my dog entered adolescence and we started getting frustrated with some challenging behaviors and I had lots of questions about how best to care for our dog on longer and longer adventures on the trails and in the snow.

Our dog Zorii as a cute puppy

Thankfully I found an amazing team at Buddy Dog Training and Care in Truckee to help. We opted to do a one on one training sessions with Lilith Erlenbusch, the owner of Buddy Dog Care, and also signed up for a week long Board and Train program in which our dog stayed with Michael and Jen Raffaeli (aka Team Alaska). Their approach uses positive reinforcement to train dogs and they taught us how to create a stronger connection to our dog, which was a great fit for our ethos of dog ownership.

Michael and Jen have an extensive history working with athletic dogs specifically raising, training, and racing dog sled teams. Working with them set this experience apart for me as not only did they teach me and my dog some new skills, they also shared advice and resources on how to care for the special needs of endurance performance dogs through pages and pages of emails and in person discussion. They are true experts, excellent teachers, and were very patient with all of my newbie questions. They have given me permission to share their advice and resources with the DPMR family and I have done my best to summarize below.

Feeding and Nutrition: First off, the best ways to tell a dog is getting proper nutrition are based on weight, coat, stools, and energy. Chart below shows how to determine if your dog is ideal weight. Your dog’s coat should be shiny, not dry. Stools should be formed but not dry. Your dog should have good energy while running.

One of the big things we focused on for our sled dogs in training was ensuring that they had enough protein and fat to burn for energy since sled dogs metabolize fats the way humans use carbohydrates for energy while exercising. We fed a 32% protein kibble in winter and supplemented with a lot of fat (a tri fat blend made up of a mix of vegetable oil, fish oil, and chicken fat to provide the right balance of omega 3 and 6) due to the cold temperatures on the trail. An example of a tri fat blend oil is Ultra Oil Skin and Coat Supplement which can be added to daily feeding. In summer we fed around 26-28% protein and much less fat during the warmer months. Some of the brands of kibble that we have fed and like for our sled dogs over the years include Dr. Tim’s Momentum, Annamaet, and Red Paw.

It is important to consider the timing of feeding too. You never want to feed a dog immediately before or after strenuous exercise. Give at least 1 hour to digest meals before strenuous activity and allow time to cool down after before feeding her a big meal. Training treats/ snacks are fine before, during and after exercise. We snack sled dog teams all the time with small meals as they are running.

After puppyhood, dogs are typically fed larger meals two times a day. The only downfall to feeding larger meals 2x daily is that some dogs can eat very quickly. Dogs that eat quickly, especially large, deep chested dogs like huskies and labs are more susceptible to bloat (aka gastric dilation volvulus or GDV) which can cause a life-threatening situation. Here is a basic summary of bloat https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/dog-bloat-causes-signs-and-symptoms/. One way to prevent a dog from eating quickly is to use an interactive feeder like the Outward Hound Slow Feeder.

You can also consider adding supplemental raw food. You can feed fruits and veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, etc, if your dog enjoys them. You can also add additional proteins for treats like peanut butter, cottage cheese, sardines, and raw bones from a local butcher. Bones are important as they keep teeth and gums clean and healthy and are better than anything else we have found. They also keep a dog happy and entertained for a good amount of time. This free recipe book download from Furbal Remedies has some more ideas and information on adding in raw foods.

The other thing to focus on for athletes, of course, is hydration. Dogs should always be offered free water throughout the day. A product that is well tested for post run recovery is Annamaet Glycocharge. You might consider feeding your dog water baited with this after long runs especially in the summer months.

Annamaet also makes a great joint supplement product called “Endure” which dogs may need as they get older. The veterinarians we worked with felt that green lipped mussel sources of joint support were one of the few that is actually usable for a dog’s body. In addition, they make a powdered protein supplement called “Impact” that we used to use to increase protein and calories for our sled dogs when they were maxing out on kibble to provide the calories they needed. (https://annamaet.com/products/)

One of the primary sled dog (and canine athletes in general) nutrition researchers is Arleigh Reynolds. He is a long-time sprint racing dog musher and researcher with University of Alaska Fairbanks and Cornell. His research is often funded by Purina, but he is first and foremost a dog musher and a researcher and he won’t back anything that hasn’t presented the data and first-hand experience he is looking for in his dogs. Keep in mind that “sprint” racing for dogs is often 20-25 miles at 25-25mph. Distance racing sled dogs typically do 50 mile runs at about 8-12mph with 4-6 hours rest and then repeat throughout a 1,000-mile race in the middle of harsh Alaska winter conditions so the feeding program we put dogs on is going to be different than what is best for a dog accompanying a runner on the trail at various lengths. Nutrition should be individualized based on the dog’s level of activity. This link has helpful nutrition advice for a wide range of athletic dog breeds based on Arleigh’s research. (https://www.purinaproplanvets.com/media/1463/getresourceaxd-11.pdf)

Dog Care in the Snow:

Zorii with booties “skiing” in the fresh snow

If you notice that your dog starts forming lots of snowballs on leg fur or paws, you may want to consider purchasing Absorbine spray. Comb it through the fur before going outside to help prevent/ reduce snowballs forming. We used it with success on long haired sled dogs in Alaska and have recommended it to several folks to try out here on their dogs this winter. 

We also recommend booties to protect paws from snowballing. There are two brands we like: the finished top Mountain Ridge Booties and these Denier Cordura Booties. These mushing style booties are much simpler and lighter weight than typical pet dog booties and dogs tend to tolerate them and keep them on better in the snow. Use the size chart on the website to determine the right size. Purchase a couple extra as they will eventually wear out and get holes and can come off or get lost in really deep snow until you perfect your technique for putting them on. We recommend the 300 or 500 Denier Cordura booties…don’t ever get the fleece ones.

Booties are for protection from snowballs not for warmth. In certain snow conditions when the snow is fresh or sticky, snow can ball up between the paw pads much like a rock stuck in a shoe and cause discomfort while running and even damage to the paw. Only use the booties as needed. It is best to leave booties off in icy conditions to allow the dog to use the texture of their pads in addition to their nails to gain as much traction as possible and reduce the risk of slipping and pulling a muscle. Booties or paw wax like Musher’s Secret would also provide protection from ice melt salt that can be harmful to paws.

Jen demonstrates how to put on booties in videos found on Buddy Dog Care’s Blog https://www.buddydogcare.com/post/booties-protect-paws. My dog Zorii is the pup seen in the video 🙂

I hope that this summary has been enlightening but, if you are like me and still have questions specific to your canine running companion or need help with dog training, I encourage you to seek out Buddy Dog Training and Care services directly. They are a wonderful team and worth the time and money we spent with them.

Happy trails…woof!

Meggie and Zorii

Filed Under: General, Homepage Feature

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Become a Member Today »
Watch: Tahoe Rim Trail FKT Chat with Adam & Helen

Connect in Person

Apr
24
Sat
all-day DPMR Aid Station at Canyons Endu...
DPMR Aid Station at Canyons Endu...
Apr 24 all-day
Join the (Donner) Party on the storied Western States trail in support of all our friends running the Canyons Endurance Run at the Cal 2 aid station! (38.9739, -120.8602) We will need help with the[...]
Apr
27
Tue
9:30 am Mid-Morning Group Trail Run @ Drunken Deer
Mid-Morning Group Trail Run @ Drunken Deer
Apr 27 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Mid-Morning Group Trail Run @ Drunken Deer | Lewisville | Texas | United States
Join us Tuesday at 9:30 am for a weekly “no-host unofficial” social trail run on the various trails in the Tahoe area. We’ll decide on mileage based upon group interest at the trailhead. Well-behaved dogs[...]
5:15 pm DPMR Newbies Run Club Second Ses... @ Prosser Dam trails
DPMR Newbies Run Club Second Ses... @ Prosser Dam trails
Apr 27 @ 5:15 pm – 7:15 pm
DPMR Newbies Run Club Second Session, Co-hosted by Tahoe Mountain Sports @ Prosser Dam trails
Come out and join Steve Buelna and crew for introductory running on a variety of local dirt and paved trails for a fun group run specifically designed for the beginning/mellow runner. Whether you are looking[...]
May
1
Sat
9:00 am Wilderness First Aid Course @ LIFT Truckee
Wilderness First Aid Course @ LIFT Truckee
May 1 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wilderness First Aid Course @ LIFT Truckee
Wilderness First Aid Course Taught by Sierra Rescue, this is an 8hr First Aid and CPR course with a wilderness focus. Whether you have taken a First Aid Course before or if this will be[...]
May
4
Tue
9:30 am Mid-Morning Group Trail Run @ TBD
Mid-Morning Group Trail Run @ TBD
May 4 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Mid-Morning Group Trail Run @ TBD | Lewisville | Texas | United States
Join us Tuesday at 9:30 am for a weekly “no-host unofficial” social trail run on the various trails in the Tahoe area. We’ll decide on mileage based upon group interest at the trailhead. Well-behaved dogs[...]
5:15 pm DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted ... @ TBD
DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted ... @ TBD
May 4 @ 5:15 pm – 7:15 pm
DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted by Tahoe Mountain Sports @ TBD
Come out and join Steve Buelna and crew for introductory running on a variety of local dirt and paved trails for a fun group run specifically designed for the beginning/mellow runner. Whether you are looking[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Connect Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

See us on Instagram

dpmrunners

Are you ready to hit the trails? Join us on Wedne Are you ready to hit the trails? 
Join us on Wednesda, April 21st at 5:30 pm for this month’s webinar as we chat with DPMR member @docjohnnya about first aid preparation, considerations and management for runners when you are (way) out on the trails.

Event is free, register on the website!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #firstaid #preparedness #adventuretime
Who's excited about getting an extra snow run for Who's excited about getting an extra snow run for the season?

Send us or tag is in your photos!!

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #snowrun #snowrunning #winterwonderland #donnerlake
The Newbies Runs are Back!! Starting April 20th j The Newbies Runs are Back!!

Starting April 20th join @_buelna_ and other current and future friends every Tuesday at 5:15pm for DPMR  Members-only Newbies run co-hosted by @tahoemountainsports. 

First one will meet at the squaw valley bike path next to hwy 89, check the website for more info and future locations. 

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #truckee #squawvalley
It's not a joke, the April newsletter is out and f It's not a joke, the April newsletter is out and filled with great content, from our Newbies run, back to racing, volunteer opportunitees or yummy recipes. 
Not a member yet? Consider signing up and check out all the great benefits of this community, like a $25 discount to #castlepeak100k (membership is $20)
.
.
.

#unafraid #trailrunning #runningcommunity #runninglife #runningmotivation #donnerpartymountainrunners #tahoe #tahoerunners #mountainrunners #DPMR #TruckeeTahoeTrailRunning #WeRunTrails #ultrarunning #volunteer
Thank you First Responders and Medical Professiona Thank you First Responders and Medical Professionals for keeping us safe in the midst of the #coronavirus pandemic. ❤️ 🙏😷 You may recognize some of these amazing faces from the trails, or from volunteering or running races... but for now they are at work, making sacrifices every day so that we can stay safe and healthy at home. Let’s do our part to show them we care, and help keep THEM safe at work while we  #flattenthecurve 🏠#healthcareheroes #firstresponders #donnerpartymountainrunners #unsungheroes #covid19 #frontline
March Newsletter is live! Click on the link in our March Newsletter is live! Click on the link in our Bio. Featuring: Racing Gnome Recap, DPMR’s 2020 Vision, a Highlight on @krenkimble , @lukegartenwastaken Squaw to Donner- winter run, Intermittent Fasting by @tiffanysageswan , TDLT Trail Ops Report and more!
The snow is perfect for running and the February n The snow is perfect for running and the February newsletter is live! Link in bio and here:
 http://bit.ly/dpmrfeb #donnerpartymountainrunners
Happy Friday! Scene from the Truckee River bike pa Happy Friday! Scene from the Truckee River bike path between Tahoe City and Alpine Meadows this morning. There are so many winter-friendly trails to choose from in our area. Where are you running this weekend? 🏃🏻‍♀️ 🏃🏻 #basecampforabiglife #visittruckee #donnerpartymountainrunners
Season's greetings from Donner Party Mountain Runn Season's greetings from Donner Party Mountain Runners! #basecampforabiglife #truckeemoments #donnerpartymountainrunners
Registration for the 2020 Castle Peak 100k opens a Registration for the 2020 Castle Peak 100k opens at midnight! All current DPMR members can email runondirt@gmail.com for their 15% discount. Not a member? Join tonight- membership starts at $20/year. #donnerpartymountainrunners #allaltitudenoattitude #castlepeak100k @castlepeak100k
We are thankful for all of you and all of this fin We are thankful for all of you and all of this fine and fluffy white powder! #donnerpartymountainrunners #snowshoeseason #getoutside #basecampforabiglife #visittruckee
Swinging into the weekend like... 👌 #friYAY #tr Swinging into the weekend like... 👌 #friYAY #truckeeswingersclub 👉 Best of luck to all our friends running the North Face Endurance Runs tomorrow! #getsome 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️💃🕺🏽🎉
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

Run with Us

  • Group Runs
  • Code of Conduct

Race with Us

  • Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race
  • Castle Peak 100k
  • Discount Codes

Join Us

  • Membership Cost & Benefits
  • Join Now
  • DPMR Gear
  • Donate

About Us

  • About Us
  • Volunteer
  • Board
  • Contact Us

Login

Contributors, please click here to login.

© 2021 · Donner Party Mountain Runners · Truckee, California · Website by Tahoe Web Works