The Glorious Twelfth is barely a fortnight away, and across Scotland the kennels are stirring. Whether you run a team of picking-up Labradors in Perthshire or a single spaniel with big ambitions, the right working dog food in Scotland — paired with a sensible fitness plan — is what turns a good season into a great one. And if your dog is more sofa than shooting field, stick with us: late summer is the perfect moment to sharpen up any dog's condition before autumn.
This week's forecast is a classic Scottish assortment — rain and drizzle pushing through the west, blustery sunshine and showers elsewhere, and temperatures easing back to average by the weekend. For dog owners that's quietly good news: cool, fresh conditions are ideal for building fitness without the heat risks of high summer.
What Your Dog Needs This Week
If your dog will be working this season — on the hill, at the peg or picking-up — the next two weeks are about steady conditioning, not cramming. Build exercise gradually: brisk lead walks, short free-running sessions and a few retrieving refreshers will do far more good than one exhausting marathon. Muscles, pads and heart all need time to adapt, and an unfit dog pushed hard in August is a strain injury waiting to happen.
With showers about, you'll be drying off wet dogs more than once this week. Towel-dry properly after soggy outings — damp coats left to their own devices can lead to hot spots and skin irritation, especially in thicker-coated breeds. It's also peak season for two Scottish menaces: grass seeds and ticks. Check paws, ears and armpits after every walk through long grass or bracken, and if you're unsure about tick treatments, our AMTRA-qualified SQPs in store can advise on the right product for your dog's weight and lifestyle.
Family pets deserve a look-in too. Between showers is prime fetch time — a Chuckit! 2 Pack Medium Air Fetch Ball flies far, floats and is gentle on the mouth, brilliant for burning off energy in short dry windows. On properly wet days, swap distance for brainwork: scent games and food puzzles indoors will tire a dog out surprisingly well.
Feeding Right for the Season
Here's the bit many owners leave too late: if your dog's workload is about to jump, the feed should change before the work does. A dog in full work can burn half as much energy again as it does in summer idleness, and a digestive system needs a couple of weeks to adjust to bigger rations. Start nudging portions up gradually now, so your dog arrives at the Twelfth fuelled rather than playing catch-up.
For everyday feeding through the season, our own McCaskie Meaty Mix is the bag we recommend most across the counter. It's a complete, all-natural dog food in a 15kg sack — real meaty chunks, added vitamins and minerals, and added oils for coat condition and taste. As a complete natural dog food made with Scottish working and family dogs in mind, it suits everything from a farm collie doing a full day's gathering to a Labrador whose main job is guarding the sofa.
Got a sensitive soul? Gilbertson & Page Dr. John Lamb & Rice Hypoallergenic is made without wheat and with 26% lamb — a gentle, hypoallergenic feed that's a long-standing favourite with owners of itchy or delicate-stomached dogs, working or otherwise. And if you're unsure which feed suits your dog's breed, age and workload, ask our SQPs — honest farm dog nutrition advice is what we've been giving since 1957.
Find Your Dog's Favourites at McCaskie
You'll find our full dog range in all four Country Stores — dog food in Ayr, Kinross, Lanark and Stirling — alongside grooming kit, tick treatments, toys and accessories. Every store has AMTRA-qualified SQPs on hand for health and nutrition queries, so whether you're after pet supplies in Stirling or working dog advice in Lanark, there's a McCaskie country store in Scotland near you. Prefer to shop from the kennel door? The whole range is online at mccaskie.store, delivered across the UK.
However you and your dog are spending the season ahead — on the moor, on the farm or on the beach between showers — pop into your nearest McCaskie Country Store in Ayr, Kinross, Lanark or Stirling — our team are dog lovers too and always happy to help. Or browse our full dog range at mccaskie.store.