Nutrition/Supplementation advice.

 It's not a little exercise. I'm not an idiot. I've had dogs all of my life. I live with my animals, not for them. My kids still come first. Try and be a realist, huh?

We get the dogs out about three times a week for a couple mile walk, they love the interraction at the dog park every weekend, and both are getting ready to start hunt test training.

for a large sporting dog it is practically no exercise at all. A two mile leash walk? That doesn't exercise a large dog, better to use the time getting the dog to trot and run somehow. Run him off a bike or take him jogging. Five miles of trotting every other day is a bare minimum for this dog. On the alternating days take a walk and let him sniff to stimulate the mind. And it's easy enough to stick in short fetching sessions throughout the day every day. Complaining about not having any time gets no compassion from me. You chose to get a breed with high exercise needs. You and your kids need daily exercise, combine it with the dog's needs somehow.  

 Well if you had read my posts, you would have noticed that in addition to the three two mile walks he gets, he is worked on the weekend in addition to two or three hours of racing around and swimming at the dog park. He does get two or three training/retrieve sessions daily, as I already mentioned. It is not all the exercise he gets. If that doesn't meet your satisfaction, I guess that's too bad. I'm not looking for sympathy. I was simply looking for nutrition information, and figured this might be a good place to look. Some folks have been great. You don't know me or my family. I wasn't complaining about not having enough time. I'm a responsible dog owner and I love my dogs like my kids. If you have time to do all of that stuff with your animals, great. I don't. I do what I can. Now you can keep the rest of your opinions to yourself.

I'm not sure if nutrition, or supplementation is really the answer because I don't think the issue has anything to do with relaxation, or inability to be calm.  It just sounds like you have an extremely high energy dog that needs constant physical and mental stimulation. The amount of exercise needed varies for every dog.  You even said it yourself he is the hardest working lab you've seen.    It may be very well that the amount of exercise he needs is beyond what your schedule can provide.  I just don't think that chemicals are the answer.

I think feeding him out of a Kong, or Buster Cube (something like that) would really help. They get the mind working, while filling the belly.

I feed Blue Buffalo - my high energy dog does well on it. But, it does not work well for all dogs. We have good poops, and a nice coat. It's also worked well for his itchy skin.

I would look into Orijen - I had a foster on that, and they did fantastic! We used the puppy formula, but I've heard good things about the fish.

Labs in general are a high energy breed - and I think that's what a lot of people don't get when getting one. (not saying that in your direction, just in general).

It sounds like you do quite a bit. Certainly way more than I have done with my dog. I didn't notice it in the thread but I bet Bo is young. Young dogs of any breed seem boundless in their energy.

I think the exercise is just fine and you can probably adjust the diet. Maybe back off on the kcals just a bit. Or increase per the workload. I sent you a private message with links to an MER calculator and to the formulas for working dogs. You can best determine the dietary needs of your dog.

 Thanks folks. I appreciate the info. Bo is still young, yes.. he is almost four. I have had three other labs, but I have had three others live with me for short periods. He does have a great amount of energy, no doubt about it. That I can handle. I'm actually thankful for it. It's the inabillity to settle himself down during down periods that has me a bit crazed. I'm not trying to be an ass towards anyone. I appreciate all of the imput. I'm trying to get more time freed up to work him out more structuredly, and I think that'll help, but I know that he's been on a crappy diet, and have already started wiening him off that nasty stuff, adding egg, chicken, small amounts of tuna leftovers to his current kibble, and cutting back on that. I'm just trying to determine if an all-raw diet is a better way to go than some of the others mentioned. All are good suggestions. I have been looking into them. My gordon is also a high energy dog, but she is easy. She limits herself well, and likes her down time. The calculator might be a good idea. I'll take a look at that. Thanks again!

 My little one has done really well on a combination raw diet (meaning that, yeah, she gets a few veggies and the occasional carby cooked thing). I don't think that all dogs have that inherent "off" switch. Emma did not have an "off" switch, and I had to install one, LOL. Every time she's calm, I praise her, fling treats at her, whatever. It's worked. She's 4 1/2 years old, a Parson Russell Terrier, and calm inside. She literally will just lay around all day with me when it's too icky to go out. It's great.

jennie_c_d

Emma did not have an "off" switch, and I had to install one, LOL. Every time she's calm, I praise her, fling treats at her, whatever. It's worked.

That could just be a result of age, though.  Zoe would never sit still until she turned 3, now she lounges with the best of 'em, lol.  She can go from being fast asleep to bolting off the couch in seconds though.

Jack Russels are a bit different than your average dog..... I've worked with 9 year old JRTs that have more energy than 3 of my dog combined. Terriers have to be taught to settle, esp. jrts.

My cousin had a JRT. I had a giant cairn terrier once. She was my Pitt-terrier. Great little dog. She was pretty calm though. Great dogs JRTs. Brilliant little dogs not smart enough to realize they aint Great Danes.

I was just thinking. . .what about turkey?  Can he eat turkey?  It has some sort of natural sleep aid, doesn't it?? 

 Triptophan...Yeah, he'd eat that. Don't know if it has the same effect on dogs, but it's def. worth a try. Easy to stock up on during holidays.

Also, I was thinking of the Comfort Zone diffuser that you plug into the wall.  It's not something they eat of course, but it's not harmful or anything.  They have a spray also that I've got for Willow and sometimes I will spray her bedding with it.

  You should pm Callie; she knows more than anyone else about natural remedies and could probably recommend some herbs. Her user name is calliecritturs.  It is hard to give a dog a lot of daily exercise when you have  small children; I have four (all  grown now) and I wouldn't be able to give Jessie as much daily exercise if they were  still  young.  It's a shame he doesn't like to chew; that's one of the best ways to calm a dog. If your children are old enough, maybe they could teach Bo some tricks. I also like the suggestion someone made called 101 things to do with a box. Maybe that's something the kids could do with him.