IMHO and the way my partner did it. You are first going to pre keep your dog and reduce your dog during the pre-keep. Using a high-quality kibble of say 30 percent protein/30 percent fat is best in cold weather. A 22 percent protein/12 percent fat in warm weather or hot summer.

Once you get your dog, down to four ribs and just the tip of the hip bone showing. Use only that amount of kibble through rest of keep. You are going to build the dog back up with the Chicken Backs/Necks. Generally, you have for a few weeks before the pre keep have gotten the dog adjusted to the new kibble. You reduce that amount of kibble that had the dog at its chain weight by 1/4 to 1/2 to one cup/two cups starting into the pre keep. Depending on size of dog. Big dog one to two cups/little dog 1/2 to 1/4 cup.

The very best meat and Protein wise is Chicken meat. V.J. started out with one pressure cooked Chicken back and neck. Has your meat protein/bone protein/ and fat altogether with broth.

Taking a dog down to its lowest weight while still keeping its strength using light work and hand walking. This pre keep tones the dog up, toughens feet pads etc. and works the gut fat out. During that time any additives/worming schedule are to be introduced. Now, Garner has as I understand an excellent additive that meets all of that sort of thing except the worming. Helps to keep it simple.

As you are building the dog back up to its show weight. You add a Chicken Back, neck with only the kibble amount you used in the pre keep no more. Once you get the dog up to its show pulling weight that you feel is right. You use the amount of Chicken Backs and necks and the broth to keep said dog on weight.

You will be getting enough protein/fat and natural bone and bone marrow. The wrong kind and too high a protein and type fat can run a dog hot.

You have also got to consider where you live. Very cold region may have to add some fish meal for added heat to the dog's body to stay warm, if kenneled outside. Showing and pulling a dog in a hot/humid or desert type weather in summertime. Dog has got to be shown leaner and kibble Protein/Fat needs to be lower. The Chicken meat /Chicken fat still works best in this type of environment.

Unless in extreme cold conditions. Chicken meat/ Chicken bone/Chicken fat is the over best way to feed a working type of dog. Do it this way you will not have to worry about how much protein etc. Too much and wrong type of protein will be hard on a dog's kidneys when under conditioning stress. You have to learn to keep it as simple as possible.

Start weighing this amount or adding how much of this and that. If something goes wrong, you will not know or even have enough time to fix the problem. Why it is best to do pre keeps on every promising show dog you are going to pull and take a look at. Do your experiments during that time of learning. Not on a main show dog event. LOL

Now here is the kicker. James Crenshaw did the opposite. He used a certain amount of pressure-cooked Chicken meat and leg bone and no extra added. Kept dog on weight with a good quality Kibble. Results were the same either way.

The secret was when using any kibble and your main workouts gradually get into three to five hours past the normal twenty-four-hour daily feeding. Those last four days including the three rest days. You do not put that dog back on a twenty-four- hour feeding cycle. Stay with the 28 to 30 hour feeding time. If not, the dog will not be fully cleaned out at weigh in and show time.

Can still run hot and all the hard work can be for naught. Cheers