Let's See Your Dogs Fitness Regimes!!

[Who let the dogs out! 223]

Right so I've only started running dogs the last couple of years. Started reading reading and more reading to learn as much as possible about getting dogs fit. What are the fitness regimes you put your dog through to get them in tip top shape for the season?

[Hydropotesinermis 724]

Your username should have a question mark after it rather than an exclaimation mark.

[TAXI DRIVER 549]

I`ve kept my dog fit over the summer.Loads of walks and free running BUT I took him out lamping last night and he caught a few rabbits and missed a few.He was blowing hard after some runs. I was happy with it as a first night out on the lamp this season.To me you can only get em proper fit by working them regularly.

[peng 136]

Read skycats post at the top of page fitness and conditioning won't go far off getting a dog fit then just adjust it when you get to know your dog and depending on how much work it gets through the season

[Who let the dogs out! 223]

Your username should have a question mark after it rather than an exclaimation mark.

Hahaha good shout...remember when you was a kid and your parents were like "Do not let the dogs out!" because you had an out of control menace to society Dogs and your a kid with a strong heart for equal rights canine and otherwise. Your dogs are there at the door looking at you like please just let us run this neighbourhood We'll be back soon.... pinky promise. Then you open the door and let he dogs free. Mum comes down the stairs see's the door open and shouts " Who let the dogs out! "

[Who let the dogs out! 223]

Read skycats post at the top of page fitness and conditioning won't go far off getting a dog fit then just adjust it when you get to know your dog and depending on how much work it gets through the season

I've read the book by Penny Taylor and it's a good read. just seeing if anyone has any out of the box kind of training which gives a different approach to getting there dogs really fit fast.

[peng 136]

Don't think there's any short cuts to it I think a good 6 weeks getting them right with road work and trotting them on a push bike sets em up for a start and then a work them and there fitness will peak

[Who let the dogs out! 223]

Don't think there's any short cuts to it I think a good 6 weeks getting them right with road work and trotting them on a push bike sets em up for a start and then a work them and there fitness will peak

I get what your saying. What sort of mileage on the road and how often do you do road work. Just that a lot of people differ.

[peng 136]

I do about four miles on the road buts it broken up where I can let them off the lead abit I do that most nights but to get them drop abit of weight I trot them along the canal on my bike I take them about 5 mile each way

[peterhunter86 8,627]

I road walk mine swim them some bike work and plenty of bushing.

[badger 91]

whatever you do, take care of their feet.

If you shine a pad, back off.

if you blow a pad he's done for longer than you think.

Trim his nails, if you shell one you're in for a delay, don't forget the dewclaw either.

Worm em, deflea em.

Feed em added meat.

You can swim em, road em, treadmill em and get them legged up and at a hard weight, but you got to get a blow out of em to start getting the lungs and heart ready to hold a course. No matter how good of road shape I get on em, the first few hard blows show you how far off they really are from "running shape"

. Don't overheat em too soon in the year, be where you can cool em off (pond or stock tank) if they run too hard

 

just a few well meant tips, more to remind myself than anything else

[Who let the dogs out! 223]

ive seen someone on here mention doing recovery training, have you heard of this? I'm guessing it's going to be some kind of sprint and recover using lure possibly.

[Maximus Ferret 2,055]

ive seen someone on here mention doing recovery training, have you heard of this? I'm guessing it's going to be some kind of sprint and recover using lure possibly.

You can do it on the bike. Start with just two or three miles at trot if the dog's unfit. After 2 or 3 weeks, or when the dogs used to it, increase to 5, still at the trot.

When they can do this easily you can start on the recovery. Trot a mile or so to warm up then increase to a canter or gallop. When they're puffed go back to trot and let them recover while still trotting. Don't forget to walk a bit before home to let the blood flush through their muscles. Also don't gallop them on tarmac or you'll wear their pads sore and set the whole thing back. They need a green lane or a wide verge on a quiet road for the gallop bit.

Now having said all that they still won't be properly fit 'til they've run a few early season rabbits.

Edited September 4, 2017 by Maximus Ferret

[Declan. 318]

Good walks, good food and plenty of hill sprints!

[CARADOCMICK 21]

In the greyhound world it's walking leads to galloping, galloping leads to trialing, and trialing leads to racing by the time your dogs running races it should be pretty fit. All you have to do is monitor there health and keep them fresh in between racing shortwalks the occasional canter in the field. So once you got your dog lamping or whatever regular nothing much is required