Stamina, raw feeding, and dogs

As a nutritionist and a farmer, this is something I see come up a lot when we’re talking stamina and work capacity in dogs.

First things first (and this should always be said):

Is the dog physically sound?

Pain, injury, or underlying issues can absolutely create reduced stamina. Carrying even a low-grade issue will drain energy reserves very quickly.

From a nutrition perspective, there are a few key things to consider.

Thermogenesis matters.

If a dog is “heating up” when they "crap out", thermogenic loading may be part of the problem. Overheating increases fatigue and significantly raises the risk of hyperthermia.

Dark meats use energy to digest.

Darker, denser proteins can require a surprising amount of energy to process. That energy has to come from somewhere - often from the same stores the dog needs for exercise.

If digestion is expensive, stamina suffers.

Most premade raw dog diets are too low in usable fats for high drive dogs.

Fat is your primary fuel source for endurance. Without enough of it, dogs simply don’t have the reserves to sustain work.

If you’re working with a dog that already has a fairly relaxed temperament, I generally suggest:

• Minimising darker meats initially to reduce digestive load

• Introducing small amounts of fat as workload increases

• Lamb and beef fat is usually the easiest to source

• Choose internal fats like suet over subcutaneous fats, but subcutaneous is still far better than none

As the dog’s energy and tolerance improve, you can:

Gradually reintroduce darker/coloured meats

Adjust protein and fat balance based on weather, workload, and season

Stamina is also individual.

Yes, stamina needs to be built — but it’s also true that some dogs naturally have more than others.

For example:

I have a 6-year-old Border Collie with BCC who can work for 4 hours

And a 1-year-old who is tapping out after 15 minutes on stock

Interestingly, ball work is a completely different story for her, and he can't handle ball work.

This matters because mental stimulus (like stock work, or retrieving) can deplete stamina far faster than people realise — often more than physical exertion.

Food, fuel, mental load, temperature, and individual dog capacity all interact. When stamina drops, it’s rarely just “lack of fitness.”

My next blog will be, Is your high drive dog edging into Anxiety behaviours due to food...

Chevelle Williams CMFT, HCN, CCFC @ LLPetsHealth