Sports nutrition works out, dog by dog, how many calories to give each day based on weight, age, body condition and above all recent training load. The module suggests a target ration (in kcal), a macronutrient split, a hydration plan for runs, and tracking of supplements and weight over time. Included in the Sport Pro plan.
In practice: a dog stringing together big training sessions does not have the same needs as a dog at rest. The module automatically adjusts the ration according to actual activity (read from your log) and recovery, so you neither underfeed an athlete nor let a dog gain weight during a break. The formulas rely on veterinary references (RER, modified Atwater, WSAVA BCS); this remains decision support, not a prescription — for a medical diet, ask your vet.
Key concepts
The calculation starts from the basic requirement at rest (RER), then multiplies it by the activity level (workload) to get the real daily requirement (MER) — the target ration. Body condition (BCS) then corrects it up or down, and a weight goal (maintain, lose, gain) steers the macro split.
What moves the ration
- Weight: the heavier a dog is, the higher its basic requirement. The latest weigh-in in the log takes precedence over the weight on the profile.
- Recent training load: the more the dog runs, the higher the activity factor climbs (from “rest” to “elite”).
- Body condition (BCS): a dog that is too thin gets a calorie bonus, a dog that is too fat gets a reduction.
- Age and status (growing puppy, senior, neutered): these adjust the baseline requirement.
Step by step
Setting up a plan
- Open Sports nutrition and select a dog.
- Check its weight and its body condition (BCS): those are the two inputs that weigh the most in the calculation.
- The module suggests a target ration (MER) and a macro split through a template (endurance, sprint, weight loss…). You can adjust the activity level or pick another template.
- Enter your main food to convert the kcal into concrete grams/portions, and add the supplements you track.
- Save the plan. Then log the weigh-in each day and, if you want, the kcal actually given — the module tracks the weight trend and warns you if it needs readjusting.
Reading the data
The plan shows the day's target ration (MER in kcal), the share of protein / fat / carbs, and a hydration plan (water before / during / after the effort) that takes distance, temperature and humidity into account. If you log weight regularly, a trend appears: the module can suggest “+8 %” or “−5 %” of ration to get back on target. A “needs updating” indicator warns you when the saved plan drifts too far from the current calculation. The “today's rations” view gets the bowls ready for the whole team in one go.
Today's ration (MER) — The target amount of energy for the day, in kilocalories, converted into grams according to your food. The module never goes below the basic requirement at rest (RER).
Adjustment for load — The recent effort level (rest → elite) multiplies the basic requirement. The more the dog runs, the higher the ration goes; here “intense” applies an activity factor, refined by the actual load read from the log.
Weight & body condition (BCS) — The latest weigh-in and the condition score (BCS 1–9, ideal 4–5). Too thin = kcal bonus, too fat = reduction. Those are the two inputs that weigh the most in the calculation.
Macros & supplements — The protein / fat / carb split according to the chosen template, and the suggested supplements (omega-3, L-carnitine…) to confirm with your vet.
Weight trend — How the weight moves across several weigh-ins. The module infers from it whether the ration should go up or down (here “+8 %”) to get back on target. It needs at least 4 weigh-ins over about 2 weeks.
Tips
- Keep the weight up to date (regular weigh-ins): that is what makes the rations consistent and turns on the automatic readjustment.
- The hydration plan is also useful when planning a run: you can estimate the water to take along based on the distance and the forecast weather.
If something goes wrong
- Ration that looks high/low? Check the recent load (log), the weight entered and the dog's body condition (BCS).
- No weight trend? It takes at least 4 weigh-ins spread over about 2 weeks for the curve and the adjustment suggestion to kick in.
- The ration never goes below a certain threshold: that is normal, the module never goes below the basic requirement (RER) — you do not starve a working dog.
- No conversion into grams/portions? Enter a main food with its kcal to turn the conversion on.
Good to know / abbreviations
- Ration
- The amount of food to give per day, expressed in calories (kcal) then converted into grams/portions according to your food.
- kcal (calorie)
- Kilocalorie: the energy unit of food. Every ration and expenditure in the module is in kcal.
- MJ (megajoule)
- Another energy unit sometimes quoted in nutrition (1 MJ ≈ 239 kcal). The module works in kcal day to day.
- RER
- Resting Energy Requirement: the basic energy requirement at rest, calculated from weight. It is the floor: the ration never goes below it.
- MER
- Maintenance Energy Requirement: the real daily requirement = RER multiplied by the activity level, then adjusted (BCS, age). It is the target ration displayed.
- Workload (activity level)
- The effort tier that multiplies the RER: rest, light, moderate, intense, elite. The higher it is, the higher the ration climbs. The module infers it from training, and you can override it.
- BCS (body condition)
- Body Condition Score, the WSAVA scale from 1 to 9. 4-5 = ideal, below = too thin (kcal bonus), above = overweight (reduction). Each point ≈ 5 % body fat.
- Macros (macronutrients)
- The three big families of energy nutrients: protein, fat and carbohydrates. The plan gives their split as a percentage of energy.
- Protein
- The macronutrient that builds and repairs muscle. Its share is increased in sporting dogs and during weight loss.
- Fat
- The main fuel for endurance in dogs: an endurance template pushes the fat share very high.
- Carbohydrates
- A source of fast energy. More present in balanced or sprint profiles than in endurance profiles.
- Template (profile)
- A ready-made macro split for a given goal: balanced, endurance, sprint, weight loss, puppy growth, senior, or custom.
- Supplements
- The additions outside the base ration (oils, omega-3, joints, electrolytes…) that you track, with their dose and the reason.
- Hydration
- The water plan for a run: how much to drink before, during and after, based on distance, temperature and humidity.
- Feeding window
- The timing of meals around the effort: how many hours before the session, how many minutes after, and the number of meals per day.
- Weigh-in
- A weight measurement recorded in the log. The most recent one is the basis of the calculation, instead of the weight on the profile.
- Weight trend
- How the weight moves across several weigh-ins. The module infers from it whether the ration should go up or down to reach the goal.
- Weight goal
- The target set for the dog: maintain, lose or gain. It steers the template (e.g. “lose” forces a slimming profile) and how the trend is read.
- Plan drift (needs updating)
- A signal shown when the saved plan strays too far (>10 %) from the current calculation — for example after weight gain or an increase in training.