The Cold River Nutrition Program
FUELING WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE
At Cold River Boerboels, we believe that exceptional dogs are built through a combination of genetics, training, recovery, and nutrition.
Over the years, we've tried just about everything. We've fed numerous premium dog foods, experimented with homemade feeding programs, researched raw diets, and continually searched for the best nutritional foundation for our dogs.
As breeders and competitors, our standards are simple: if it doesn't produce results, it doesn't stay in our program.
After years of testing and evaluation, we are proud to partner with Bully Max and confidently feed their products throughout our program.
Our dogs are not only family companions, guardians or breeding stock......they are working athletes. They compete, train, recover, and perform at an elite level. Because of that, every ingredient matters.
Today, Cold River Boerboels is proud to fuel our dogs with Bully Max products.
Why We Chose Bully Max
When selecting a dog food, we look beyond flashy marketing and focus on what truly matters.
We wanted a food that provided:
• High-quality protein sources
• No corn
• No wheat
• No soy
• No animal by-products
• Consistent ingredient quality
• Excellent digestibility
• Support for muscle growth and recovery
• Nutritional support for puppies, adults, and performance dogs
Bully Max checked every box.
More importantly, it produced measurable results with our dogs.
We noticed improvements in body condition, muscle development, coat quality, recovery, and overall consistency throughout our program.
Performance Proven
Results matter.
Cold River Boerboels has produced championship dogs, accomplished competitors, and world-record-setting athletes.
Our dogs have trained, competed, and achieved these accomplishments while being fueled by Bully Max nutrition.
When dogs are asked to perform at an elite level, nutrition becomes one of the most important factors in their success.
Genetics create potential.
Nutrition helps unlock it.
Training develops it.
The Proof Is on the Track
Here's what that looks like in our own dogs:
World record: 22,039 pounds on May 9, 2026, in UPF-sanctioned competition, at a competition weight of 164 pounds. That’s more than 134 times his own body weight.
Before that: He set the UPF Most Weight Pulled world record at 16,917 pounds in November 2025.
Titles: The first Boerboel to win an ADBA National Championship (2024) and the first to earn the ADBA ACE title.
World record: Sun’s littermate brother moved the same 22,039 pounds at the same event, at a competition weight of 186 pounds.
Show ring: SABBS Grand Champion, 2026 Boerboel Expo winner and Dog of the Day, appraised at 92.3, and the official ambassador of the 2027 Boerboel Expo. He’s proof that size, structure, and performance can live in the same dog.
Weight pull: First place in her very first weight-pull event. She was handler withdrawn. We stopped her; she never failed a pull.
Show ring: Reserve Grand Champion Female at the 2026 Boerboel Expo.
Weight pull: Another first-time competitor at that same event, stepping onto the track in sanctioned competition for the first time.
All four dogs were prepped through the Keep and fed the way we describe on this page.
Read the full documentation behind the 22,039-pound world record.
What We Feed
Our primary feeding program is centered around Bully Max Pro Series 31/25 High Calorie.
This formula provides:
31% Protein
25% Fat
High calorie density
Excellent digestibility
Outstanding support for working and performance dogs
Whether we're feeding growing puppies, breeding females, retired dogs, or active competitors, Bully Max has consistently delivered the results we expect.
How We Feed a Cold River Boerboel
A bag of good food is only half of a nutrition program. The other half is how you feed it.
Every dog in our program is fed as an individual. We look at the dog in front of us, not just the number on a feeding chart. Two littermates on the same food can need very different amounts, so we watch body condition, energy, coat, and how each dog is working, and we adjust from there.
A few rules we follow with every dog:
• One evening meal for adults. Our adult dogs are fed once a day, in the evening, when they are getting ready to lie down and settle in for the night. That timing is on purpose. Bloat is a real concern in big, deep-chested dogs, and an evening meal is followed by hours of calm rest instead of activity.
• Several small meals for puppies. Puppies are different. They get several small meals throughout the day, usually two to three. As they mature into adults, that schedule is adjusted and settled into one meal a day.
• Calm meals, no hard work right after. We don’t run, pull, or condition a dog right before or after a meal. Mealtime is quiet time.
• Portions follow the dog. How much a dog gets depends on his weight, his body condition, and his workload. A dog in heavy conditioning gets more than a dog relaxing in the off-season.
• Eyes and hands before scales. We want to see a defined waist and feel ribs under a layer of muscle, not see them. The scale confirms what our eyes and hands already tell us.
Competition Weight vs. House Weight
People often ask why we list two weights for our dogs. It comes down to nutrition and conditioning.
Competition weight is the weight where a dog is most comfortable working and gets his best performance. It’s the weight we bring a dog in at for sanctioned events.
House weight is where a dog naturally sits during the off-season, when he’s just hanging out on the farm and not in a conditioning block.
Two of our males show the difference:
Competition weight: 164 lbs | House weight: around 172 lbs
Competition weight: 186 lbs | House weight: about 193 lbs (unconditioned)
Both dogs successfully pulled 22,039 pounds in sanctioned competition at those competition weights. See the world record documentation.
How we move a dog between the two
We condition weight off a dog. We never starve it off. When we bring a dog down to competition weight, the biggest change is workload. His conditioning goes up a lot. At the same time, we closely monitor his weight and body condition and adjust his calories to match. Portions are managed by the dog’s weight, condition, and workload.
It works the same way going the other direction. If a dog needs to come up in weight, or he’s working hard enough that he needs more fuel, we increase his calorie intake and keep watching his weight until he’s where he should be.
The goal is always the same: a dog that holds his muscle, has the energy to work, and steps on the scale at the weight where he performs his best.
The Keep: Our 8 to 10 Week Build
Getting a dog ready for a show doesn’t happen in a weekend. We call our preparation period the Keep. It takes 8 to 10 weeks of strict conditioning, the right vitamins and supplements, and proper food management, with calorie intake brought up or down depending on where that dog needs to be. Every week has a purpose. By the time he steps on the scale, his weight, his muscle, and his conditioning have all been built on purpose.
We talk through our conditioning and the Keep in several of our video interviews, including our exclusive “World’s Strongest Boerboel” interview, The Weight Pull Podcast, and our feature on All World Doberman Club. You can watch them all on our Media, Interviews & Press page.
Want to see how we condition for the pull? Read our dog weight pulling guide.
How We Feed on Competition Day
Event day has its own routine, built around weigh-in:
1. The night before: The dog gets his last full meal the evening before the event.
2. Weigh-in morning: We want our dogs completely emptied out before they step on the scale, so there’s no breakfast before weigh-in.
3. Right after weigh-in: Early in the morning, right after he weighs in, the dog gets a small meal. There are usually a few hours between weigh-in and the time he competes, which gives that small meal time to settle before he pulls.
4. After competing: Once he’s done, the dog gets the rest of his portioned meal for the day, and usually a little extra. Competition can be stressful, and we want to make sure every dog is completely covered on calories and vitamins.
Beyond Kibble: Building a Complete Nutrition Program
At Cold River Boerboels, nutrition doesn't stop with dog food.
Just like human athletes, dogs often benefit from targeted supplementation depending on their age, workload, and nutritional needs.
That's why we utilize several Bully Max supplements throughout our program.
Total Health Vitality Chews
Health starts from the inside out.
Our dogs receive Bully Max Total Health Vitality Chews to help support:
• Immune system function
• Skin and coat health
• Digestive health
• Joint support
• Overall wellness
A healthy dog performs better, recovers better, and enjoys a higher quality of life.
How we use it at Cold River: Total Health is our everyday baseline. Every adult dog in our program gets four chews once a day, year-round, in season and out. Overall health doesn't take a break between events.
Weight Gain Power Chews
Maintaining ideal body condition can be challenging for highly active dogs.
The Weight Gain Power Chews provide additional calories and nutritional support when needed, helping maintain healthy body condition while supporting overall performance.
These are especially useful during periods of heavy conditioning or increased caloric demand.
How we use it at Cold River: All of our adult dogs get four Weight Gain Power Chews once a day. For big, hard-working dogs, those extra daily calories help us keep weight and muscle where they belong without making the bowl much bigger.
Weight Gain Supplement
For dogs that need additional caloric intake, Bully Max Weight Gain Supplement provides a convenient way to increase calories without dramatically increasing meal volume.
This can be particularly useful for hard keepers, growing dogs, or dogs undergoing intense conditioning programs.
How we use it at Cold River: We use the Weight Gain Supplement as a topper on our adult dogs’ meals, once a day, during competition season and whenever a dog needs it. When workload goes up, it lets us add real calories without a much bigger meal.
Pro Muscle Gain Chews
Building and maintaining muscle requires proper nutrition.
The Pro Muscle Gain Chews help support lean muscle development and recovery while complementing our overall feeding program.
For working dogs and canine athletes, recovery is every bit as important as training.
How we use it at Cold River: Every working dog in our program gets four Pro Muscle Gain Chews a day, every day. Training builds the dog. Recovery is where the work holds.
Puppy Growth & Immunity Chews
The future of our program begins with our puppies.
We utilize Puppy Growth & Immunity Chews to help support:
• Healthy growth and development
• Immune system support
• Digestive health
• Early nutritional foundations
Proper nutrition during development is one of the most important investments we can make in a puppy’s future.
How we use it at Cold River: Our puppies start on Puppy Growth & Immunity Chews at eight weeks old, as part of Cold River HomeStart™, the early foundation every Cold River puppy receives. With a Boerboel puppy, our goal is steady, sound growth, not a fast, heavy puppy. Learn why in our guide to growing pains in Boerboels.
Amounts listed are what we use for our own dogs, based on their size and workload. Always follow the product label for your dog’s weight, and check with your veterinarian if you have questions.
Nutrition From Puppyhood to World Records
One of the things we appreciate most about Bully Max is that they offer products designed to support every stage of a dog’s life.
From developing puppies to world-record-setting adult competitors, our nutritional philosophy remains the same:
Provide high-quality nutrition.
Support overall health.
Maximize performance.
Never compromise on quality.
Nutrition at Every Stage
• Puppies: Steady growth comes first. Our puppies eat several small meals a day, usually two to three, and start Puppy Growth & Immunity Chews at eight weeks old. We feed for sound bone and lean muscle, not size. Overfeeding a giant-breed puppy to make it grow faster is one of the most common mistakes we see.
• Moving to adult feeding: We don’t switch puppies to adult portions or an adult schedule at a set age. Every puppy grows at a different rate, so we assess each one individually. We visually monitor body condition and development, and as the puppy matures we adjust portions and settle him into one meal a day.
• Working and competing adults: These are full athletes. Dogs getting ready for competition get one meal a day, in the evening. They eat Bully Max Pro Series 31/25 High Calorie, with Total Health, Weight Gain Power Chews, and Pro Muscle Gain Chews every day, plus the Weight Gain Supplement topper during competition season.
• Off-season adults: Less work means adjusted portions. We let dogs settle to their house weight without letting them get heavy.
• Breeding females: A female’s portions are adjusted before breeding, throughout pregnancy, and during nursing. We’re supporting her body condition, the puppies’ development, her recovery after weaning, and milk production. Food and supplements are tailored to each female’s individual needs.
• Retired dogs: Retirement doesn’t mean letting a dog go soft. We keep our retired dogs lean, because extra weight is hard on an older giant-breed dog’s joints.
Food Allergies and Recurring Ear Problems
Does your Boerboel keep developing ear problems? Food reactions are one possible contributor, and the relevant trigger varies by dog. A recipe without corn, wheat, or soy may suit some dogs, but it does not guarantee allergy control. Repeated ear trouble deserves a veterinary investigation.
Read our guide to Boerboel ear infections, food allergies, and recurring ear problems.
Boerboel Nutrition Questions
What do you feed your Boerboels?
Our base diet is Bully Max Pro Series 31/25 High Calorie. Our adult dogs eat once a day, at night. Every adult also gets Bully Max Total Health Vitality Chews and Weight Gain Power Chews daily. Our working dogs get Pro Muscle Gain Chews every day, and during competition season we add the Weight Gain Supplement as a topper. Puppies start Puppy Growth & Immunity Chews at eight weeks.
How often do you feed a Boerboel?
It depends on age. Our puppies get several small meals throughout the day, usually two to three. As they mature into adults, that’s adjusted and settled into one meal a day. Our adult dogs, including our working dogs getting ready for competition, are fed once a day in the evening, when they’re getting ready to lie down for the night. We feed at night on purpose because of bloat risk: the meal is followed by hours of calm rest instead of activity. Portions are set by each dog’s weight, body condition, and workload.
Is a 31/25 food too rich for a Boerboel puppy?
Protein isn’t the problem. Overfeeding is. A Boerboel puppy needs quality protein to build muscle and tissue. What causes trouble is pushing growth with too many calories. We feed each puppy for its own growth rate, watch its body condition, and adjust. Our Boerboel FAQ includes a starting-point feeding chart by body weight.
When should a Boerboel puppy switch to adult portions?
There’s no single right age. Every puppy grows at a different rate. We assess each puppy individually, watching body condition and development, and adjust portions as it grows.
How do you put weight on a Boerboel that’s a hard keeper?
First, make sure there isn’t a health reason behind it. Talk to your vet. After that, we increase calories in steps and keep watching the dog’s weight and body condition. Daily Weight Gain Power Chews and the Weight Gain Supplement as a meal topper let us add calories without making the meal dramatically bigger.
How do you feed a Boerboel before a weight-pull event?
The last full meal is the night before. On event morning, the dog stays empty until weigh-in. Right after he weighs in, he gets a small meal, which has a few hours to settle before he competes. Once he’s done competing, he gets the rest of his portioned meal for the day and usually a little extra to cover the stress of competition.
What’s the difference between competition weight and house weight?
Competition weight is the weight where a dog is most comfortable working and performs best. House weight is where the dog naturally sits in the off-season. Sun Wukong competes at 164 lbs and sits around 172 lbs at home. Mr. Wednesday competes at 186 lbs and sits about 193 lbs unconditioned.
How long does it take to get a Boerboel ready for competition?
For us, it’s the Keep: 8 to 10 weeks of strict conditioning, vitamins and supplements, and proper food management, with calories adjusted up or down depending on what the dog needs. We walk through the Keep in our video interviews on our Media, Interviews & Press page.
How do you bring a Boerboel down to competition weight?
We condition the weight off. We never starve it off. Workload goes up a lot, and we closely monitor weight and body condition while we adjust calories to match the work.
Do Boerboels need supplements?
Not every dog needs every supplement. A complete, high-quality food is the foundation. We use supplements for a reason: recovery during heavy training, calories for a hard keeper, or support for a growing puppy. Then we adjust when the dog’s needs change.
How can I tell if my Boerboel is at a healthy weight?
Look from above for a visible waist. Run your hands along the ribs. You should feel them under a layer of muscle without seeing them stick out. A healthy working Boerboel should look strong and athletic, not round. Your vet can help you check your dog’s body condition.
Where can I buy Bully Max?
You can shop Bully Max directly using the Shop Bully Max link on this page.
Our Commitment
Every recommendation we make comes from firsthand experience.
We don’t recommend products because of marketing.
We recommend products because we’ve tested them ourselves and trust them with our own dogs.
We feed Bully Max.
We believe in Bully Max.
And we’re proud to partner with a company that shares our commitment to producing healthy, capable, high-performing dogs.
Because champions aren’t built by accident.
They’re built one meal at a time.
Keep Learning
• Dog Weight Pulling Guide: How to Get Started
• Dog Weight Pull World Record: 22,039 LBS
• Cold River StrongStart™ Program
• Growing Pains in Boerboels: Panosteitis and Healthy Growth
• Boerboel Ear Infections: Food Allergies and Recurring Ear Problems
Cold River Boerboels is proudly sponsored by Bully Max.