Do you feed your dog before agility/obedience etc training?

[silke]

If you use food in training, what do you do on a training night? Feed or not, all or just a bit?

The dogs are fed at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and tonight, Charlie has agility at 7.30. I'm not sure whether to feed him or not...

What do other people do?

[Penelope]

Personally - I don't. I find they are more focussed if they haven't eaten! Also with agility, I don't think it's a good idea to run around on a full tum - I never feed within an hour of walking/exercise anyway.
Enjoy your classes!

[silke]

Good point! Charlie gets in a terrible state, though, if he isn't fed at his usual time. And OH feels sorry for him.

[elaine.e]

You could compromise and give him about 1/4 or 1/3 of his meal at the usual time and the remainder an hour or more after agility finishes. That's what I used to do and it worked well with William.

[Eve]

Never.

[Max X 2]

Alot of people say not to as the dog will be more eager to work for food, but TBH I could feed Max at the side of the ring & he'd still work for more treats.
At those times though I'd be tempted to maybe just give a little at 5pm (or before if you can) & then the rest an hour after class


ETA
  Sorry, more or less said what Elaine suggested

[Boof]

I don't feed mine if they're going to a class, they just want to sleep after they've eaten and aren't motivated to do much.

[supergirl]

You could compromise and give him about 1/4 or 1/3 of his meal at the usual time and the remainder an hour or more after agility finishes. That's what I used to do and it worked well with William.

Thats what I do before flyball comps - they get a 1/3 of their normal kibble in the morning before we leave, so theres about 3-4 hours before they actually have to race, and then they will get a bit more  between 1st and 2nd half racing when there is usually about 4 hours to kill.  We usually try to encourage the dogs to sleep after the 1st half racing, so giving them a little kibble helps to encourage that.

[SkyeSue]

Chloe's agility class is usually early afternoon, so I give her a reduced breakfast! She definitely works better if she's hungry. I also have to be careful about her morning walk...if she gets too much exercise, she can't be bothered doing agility, but if she doesn't get enough she storms around the place like a mad thing! Difficult to get the right balance!

[tangy tango]

I do agility on an evening and don't feed until afterwards, although he does get small treats as rewards and to focus his attention whilst we are training! 

When we do flyball I don't feed the dogs until a good hour or so after we finish racing.  I would probably give them a couple of little biscuits or say some f4d's treats, when we wake up and maybe around lunchtime to keep them going (more so because I am usually stuffing my face lol) but it just depends what time we are racing.  I think when I started flyball I was advised they shouldn't be doing that level of exercise with a full tummy and that I needed to wait a while afterwards before feeding as it can cause stomach problems.  Regardless of health issues, personally I don't think I would run by best if I had just eaten my dinner. 

[Max X 2]

Regardless of health issues, personally I don't think I would run by best if I had just eaten my dinner. 

Me neither, but then I wouldn't be at my best on an empty stomach either 

[silke]

Charlie had 5 kibbles at his usual time  and he was great at agility.  He had the rest of the kibbles as reward and after the agility.

[Jessie_Pup]

I have tried all ways with Jessie with her HTM.  Tried not feeding her before, but felt she was hungry and too focused on the treat. So give a small portion before her class and she gets the rest when she  gets home.  Also leave an hour either  side of exercise before feeding.

Erica.