To define a working dog, one could say “any dog with a more than average physical and mental performance”. A sporting dog training once or twice a week during a hunting session and doing nothing else, is not a working dog in the sense that it takes more energy than a lap dog.

The old dogcart dog used to drag itself 6 or 8 hours a day, pulling 100 kg or more. That is a dog using a lot of energy. The same goes for a sledge dog running 30 or 40 km daily at high speed. A playful house dog running around all day takes more energy than a dog let out on a leash three times 15 minutes a day.

It is recommended to feed high-performance dogs on easily digestible, high-calorie food. An expert look at the dog and/or the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous fat around the ribs should tell how much food the dog should be given.

Take the skin around the ribs between thumb and index or middle finger. It should not exceed 10 mm. Some breeds are lean (greyhounds) and the ribs should be visible.