Nutrition Basics Every Owner Should Know
If your dog trains hard, competes regularly, or pushes their limits in any sport or activity, their nutrition must provide the fuel, recovery support, and long-term wellness they need to keep performing at their best.
Active and competitive dogs are different, and their bodies demand more. They burn through energy quickly, place added stress on their muscles and joints, and require stronger recovery support than the average pet. Simply adding extra food is not enough. The right approach is a carefully balanced mix of calories, nutrients, and hydration that fuels their daily workload, promotes recovery, and protects their health over the long term.
Start with the Right Amount of Calories
Every performance dog has higher calorie demands than a typical pet. A good starting point is their Resting Energy Requirement (RER), which estimates how many calories they need at rest. Active dogs often require two to six times their RER depending on the sport or workload. Too few calories can lead to muscle loss and fatigue, while too many can slow them down and add unnecessary strain to joints.
You can calculate your dog’s needs using this Merck Veterinary Manual tool, then adjust based on performance, body condition, and recovery.
CPN Tip: Vertex offers balanced calories from protein and fat to meet increased demands efficiently. For dogs that struggle to maintain weight during training or competition, Weight Boost provides concentrated calories along with probiotics to support digestive health.
Prioritize High-Quality Protein
Protein rebuilds muscles, supports immune function, and keeps performance dogs strong. Not all protein is equal. Dogs benefit most from animal-based proteins like chicken, beef, or fish, which deliver essential amino acids in forms they can use efficiently. Working and sporting dogs often require higher protein intake to support recovery and muscle repair.
CPN Tip: Vertex delivers highly digestible protein with added creatine, glutamine, and omega fatty acids, making it ideal for supporting muscle repair, stamina, and faster recovery.
Use Healthy Fats for Long-Lasting Energy
Dogs burn fat more efficiently than carbohydrates during sustained activity, making it their primary fuel source. Healthy fats provide concentrated energy, support coat and skin health, and help reduce inflammation from repeated work. Nutritional needs vary by activity level, with endurance dogs benefiting from higher-fat diets while sprint athletes require more carbohydrates.
CPN Tip: Vertex includes balanced omega fatty acids to sustain endurance, aid recovery, and help reduce inflammation in hardworking dogs.
Add Carbohydrates When They Serve a Purpose
Dogs don’t require a carbohydrate-heavy diet, but in sports that involve repeated short bursts such as agility, flyball, or weight-pulling, adding carbs at the right time can help. Research in canine athletes found that supplements combining rapidly digestible carbohydrates and protein improved markers of recovery, even if immediate performance remained unchanged.
CPN Tip: Power Boost provides glucose polymers to restore energy, and pairing it with Vertex supplies the protein needed for muscle repair, especially valuable during back-to-back competition days.
Hydration Comes First, Electrolytes When Needed
Water is the most important nutrient for performance dogs. Dehydration can reduce stamina, increase the risk of overheating, and slow recovery. Fresh water should always be available before, during, and after activity. In hot or humid environments, hydration becomes even more critical.
Field research has shown that working dogs may drink more readily when given electrolyte solutions, which helps maintain hydration during intense work.
CPN Tip: Power Boost combines electrolytes, glucose polymers, and vitamin C to encourage hydration, maintain energy levels, and support recovery during demanding training or competition.
Monitor and Adjust Over Time
Every dog is different. Some metabolize food quickly while others require smaller, steady adjustments. Body condition, energy levels, coat quality, and recovery speed should all guide your feeding strategy. A Body Condition Score chart is a useful tool for keeping your dog at peak condition.
CPN Tip: Adapt your use of Vertex, Power Boost, and Weight Boost based on workload, competition schedule, and body condition to keep your dog performing and recovering at their best.
Bottom Line
Feeding a performance dog requires more than filling a bowl. It is about precision: matching energy demands, supporting recovery, and protecting long-term health. With the right mix of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and hydration, performance dogs can stay strong, resilient, and competitive.
Explore CPN’s full product line to find the formula that matches your dog’s unique needs.