Running dog fitness

[Tarmac 1]

As the season is approaching fast now , I presume everybody else is beginning to concentrate on his or her dogs exercise and fitness regimes, what are your personal preferences for getting your running dog fit?

Everybody has their own ways and views, and I know some that don’t really bother building better fitness levels at all and just wait until September and begin running them and that’s it, but personally, I like my dog to be up to a high level of fitness by the time we start our season seriously.

I used to jog the lurcher at the side of the push bike, but I now have two running dogs fitness levels to concentrate on for the forthcoming season and along with my hunting partners, who also have a few dogs on each, we now run them behind the motor, down a single quiet road at roughly 10mph, for 3 miles to start with, we then begin increasing the distance we jog them for once the dogs have begun to adjust again, we are now doing 4.5 miles- There not on leads just free running behind the motor. We do this 4/5 times a week and then on the nights off from roadwork we start lamping them on rabbits to improve sharpness and general running performance.

I have already noticed a massive difference in the dog’s fitness and the summer fat is already shredding off.

Does anybody else do this? How fast do you go, what distances do you do?

Is anybody using treadmills? Positives/ negatives? I suppose they would save on diesel costs, especially at the current price a litre!

[Guest hpool_hunter]

out every morning at 5am , gettting in at around 8am , 3 hours walking every morning , then the occaisonal daft lamped hour out keeping him keen on the local golf course ,

[stormrider8 59]

I used to do the same mate, out the back of a 4x4 with the roof down. Now its push bike, only doin about 2 miles at moment as its stiil quite hot. Gradually i'll get them up to about 6miles at a slow trot.

[DEERMAN 1,016]

AT MO DOING 6/7 MILES ON BIKE AT 6 IN MORNING ONE DAY ,THEN LONG STEADY WALK ON NEXT DAY, TRY AND GET THEM ON RABBITS ONCE A WEEK

[Paul in North Lincs 15]

mine get a normal 2-3 mile mooch in the morning...and a 5-6 jog behind the motor on an evening....and thats only because of kids and work committments........otherwise I'd walk em.

 

 

If you listen to all the super-dooper proffessional - A1 lurchermen on here.....they'll tell you thier dogs are like granite all year round........... which to me is a totally pointless excercise.......

[samba 534]

JUST STARTED WITH MY DOG WITH LAMPING A FEW RABBITS

WILL DO THIS TWICE A WEEK AND THE LAD WALKS THEM

A COUPLE HRS A DAY

ITS ENOUGH FOR HIM AS HE COMING UP 7YRS NEXT TIME

[bill88 6]

Mine get walked 3-5 miles everyday,but when you take into account that they will flush and chase the odd bunny and generally run about like headless chickens,they'll be covering 2 or 3 times the distance i walk. Id have to drive 5 miles to find a quiet road so running them behind a motor is out of the question.

[SkeetChamp 0]

i generally take mine for a walk and then go out once or twice with the lamp but as he is only 1year old im concentrating on getting him alert. But running them behind the motor sounds lyk a good idea

[Tarmac 1]

we use a tread for the bull cross, but walk the little bitch.

 

What treadmill are you using?

[Guest wex]

Mine are kept relatively fit all summer, so i just tend to run them fit out in the field.cheers wex

[springfield 20]

1 Hour free running 5 nights a week for 2 weeks then just start lamping,Make sure nails are trimmed.Would feel that any roadwork over 3 miles would make a dog to muscle bound.1 nights lamping a week and a evening free running should keep them fit.

[Kye 77]

Mine get roaded on county roads (like gravel farm tracks) start of walking them on leash for about three miles to get the pads tough, then road them outta the truck for five miles at about 7mph...once they have had that for two odd weeks, we bump it up...buy the time we are in full swing, they are out real regular, and we will road them three times a week...about 23 miles a night at 10mph....gets them in great shape...plus they get fed twice a day on flesh and veg etc, plus rub downs and such...its the heat/humidty that we have to be carefull with here...the saluki kill go forever, in whatever heat, but the Stags, they will kill themselves...we have to be careful as the game is prolific in our area, and so we usualy get two or three head just roading the dogs....we run them at night to try and avoid the heat, and put flashing collars on the dogs...different colours for different dogs, which helps.

 

Kye..

[Guest WILF]

Looking good messer

[Tarmac 1]

1 Hour free running 5 nights a week for 2 weeks then just start lamping,Make sure nails are trimmed.Would feel that any roadwork over 3 miles would make a dog to muscle bound.1 nights lamping a week and a evening free running should keep them fit.

 

What do you mean by muscle bound? Build up of too much muscle that isn't necessarily? That may cause problems such as cramp etc after a few runs on the lamp or daytime? Have you encountered problems like this before?

 

 

Looking good messer

 

Getting them fit and waiting for your invite, for me to come "track" all the fallow etc you messers have down there...

[Guest WILF]

Getting them fit and waiting for your invite, for me to come "track" all the fallow etc you messers have down there...

 

Ahh, you wouldnt like it....belive me