Fitter = Faster

[mistwalker 0]

There are various components of fitness and they are all relevant to what you are training for (I've kept the definitions simplified):

Cardiovascular fitness: The increased strength and efficiency of the heart & lungs to do their jobs - to supply the body with fresh blood, oxygen and various nutrients contained within.

Aerobic fitness: The ability to perform at a sub-maximal effort for a prolonged period of time without running into an oxygen-debt (i.e. 'with oxygen') - e.g. jogging etc. .

Anaerobic fitness: The ability to perform intense, maximal effort exercise for a short period of time with minimal/ lack of oxygen present - e.g. 100m sprint.

Muscular strength: The ability to exert force against a resistance - e.g. lifting heavy weights.

Muscular endurance: A muscles ability to contract repeatedly for a period of time against a resistance - e.g. walking up stairs.

Flexibility: The range of movement in a joint or series of joints and muscles.

Body composition: The ratio of fat to lean tissue in the body.

As you can see, there is often a need for some cross-over when we are dealing with running dogs. We might need the dog to course a hare (pre-b4n) for a few minutes (aerobic/ muscular endurance), yet be able to finish it off at the right time with a sudden sprint (anaerobic). All the time, the dog is twisting and turning, throwing itself in all directions, turning at high speed. None of which would be possible without good flexibility - this may be limited if the dog is too muscle-bound, although, like any other component, it can be developed.

But what about the whippet who is required to have a sudden burst of intense speed to catch a bolting rabbit? He doesn't need the same level of endurance does he? No - he is an anaerobic specialist - performing an all-out burst for a few seconds. He does, however, require a good recovery rate to allow him to keep running throughout the trip - so he does need an element of cardiovascular fitness.

"What about our bull X's (okay, so I'm generalising but whatever you use), that we use as draw dogs? Who regularly (pre-b4n) pull down bambi on a night out?" I hear you shout. Well, again, I would say look at the kind of work they're doing? Obviously they need some aerobic (for the chase) and anaerobic (final burst of speed to make the catch) but they also require a fair degree of strength to pull it down or to drag a heavy dog-fox from the ground not to mention being able to finish it off.

We can then look at the body composition. If a dog is going to be worked hard, it must have plenty of reserves to allow it to keep working. The preferred source is Glycogen (carbs/ sugars) which are stored locally - in the muscles - and in the liver. As these stores become depleted, the body looks elsewhere and, if need be, starts to utilise fat stores. So, a dog that starts a day/ night with 4 or 5 ribs showing cos it's fat levels are too low has a stronger chance of running out of energy as a dog with a bit more 'back-up' (all things being equal).

Lastly, I would like to finish boring the pants off you with one of the most important components:

Mental fitness: Now, here's one we never hear much of when we're talking about hunting dogs. What state is the dogs mind in?

Has he been run on too many long slips and become jaded with the whole game? Has she taken too many nips from charlie and doesn't really want to have a go, but she'll still run it cos you want her to? Is he getting enough regular work to be able to get 'on his game'? Is she nursing an illness that you can't see cos you are determined to get her to take 3 out of 3? Has he been out lamping for the last 2 weeks without a break and needs a wee night in? Or has she had some early success on the odd myxied rabbit? Has he been nurtured as a pup (and as an adult) by YOU knowing when he's had enough to finish the day/ night on a high note and leave him wanting more? Have YOU given her enough recovery to allow the muscles and mind to repair enough to become stronger, 'fitter', better? (note: bodies do not get fitter while we train, they actually get damaged - they improve, repair, grow and become 'fitter' while we sleep - ever noticed the way babies sleep loads and get bigger very quickly? might just be something there) Anyone who has trained themselves knows the feeling you get when you're 'on your game'. You feel confident in your ability and are able to apply yourself 100%. You're not worrying about puffing & panting, instead you can focus on your technique/ tactics. The boxer who has trained months for his fight. The cyclist who knows he's going to get a personal best on race day. The soldier who knows he has the ability to climb up that rock-face and still be able engage the enemy. The dog who is both physically and mentally prepared for her quarry and KNOWS she can do her job.

So, you see, it all comes down to what you want your dog to do. If the dog's going to be an endurance expert - work on that (a bit of walking the fields and biking, perhaps?). If it's a sprinter work on that (get the old tennis racquet and ball down the local park) If you want an all-rounder? how about a bit of both? You wouldn't expect a marathon runner to be able to catch Usain Bolt in the 100 m sprint, but I know which one will keep up their initial speed for the next two hours. But please remember this: If a dog receives mainly road-walking, her body will be conditioned to the flat, solid ground of the road. How much harder will it be for her (mentally as well as physically) to run on uneven ground when it's wet, slippery, muddy, grassy etc. and she doesn't have the necessary flexibility in her joints to deal with it?

So, 'fitter' you say...?

[SMOGGY 34]

To me, any individual dog will run faster and longer if fit, there is no dog that runs faster when unfit.

 

But a dog can only uses the make up its born with.

 

I.e a naturally slow dog will run faster when fit, but compared to a lot of dogs will still be slow.

 

a naturally fast dog, may run very quick and be faster than most when unfit, but if it was fit it would run that little faster,

 

Fittness is all about getting the most out of what a individual dog can give.

[Paul in North Lincs 15]

Labsnlurcher...........very clever indeed!!!!!! this could rumble on for ages

 

 

A very open ended question actually....with a multitude and potential answers and theories and possibilties.......

 

 

good un............

 

 

Cant wait to see what the self opinionated amongst us think to this one!! LoL

[brock1 2]

ok a mate of mine has a salukixgry bedyxgry that cought a hare after not being out of the pen for nealy a month.and a other mate has a bedyxgry that got walked every day.the salukix cought a hare first time out without being walked then was no good. but the beddyx was no good on a hare but could catch rabbits all night with regular exersize. so the speed must of come from the dog natural fitness.

[Guest mickyrich]

To me, any individual dog will run faster and longer if fit, there is no dog that runs faster when unfit.

 

But a dog can only uses the make up its born with.

 

I.e a naturally slow dog will run faster when fit, but compared to a lot of dogs will still be slow.

 

a naturally fast dog, may run very quick and be faster than most when unfit, but if it was fit it would run that little faster,

 

Fittness is all about getting the most out of what a individual dog can give.

i agree with you on this one SMOGGY

[JPTfellterrier 65]

would probably say that the fitter the dog the longer it can go for and basically the more staminer it has

[brock1 2]

i agree with the jptfellterrier

[artic 595]

so a human born to good fast parents will be fast?? if you didnt exersise him much? of course not......

 

Grow up, and think about what i have written!

 

Then reply with an appropriate answer.

 

 

Sorry mate for my reply. I didnt mean it.

[Little Butch 16]

You can't make a Dog run faster than It's naturally capable of but If you had a Dog which was fit at say 45lb, If you let It reach 60lb It's not going to be Fit and therefore wouldn't keep up with the 45lb (fit) Dog...

Butch

[labsnlurchers 39]

I'm sorry, but you cant make a dog go any faster than what it can do.

Keeping the dog fit yes, to maintain it's speed and performance, but not making it faster!

 

Some dogs are quicker than others, due to size, the x's, the saluki blooded will stay longer than a bull x where a whippet x will have a quicker take off but lack the pace in time.

 

So the dog is born with what it is born with!

 

I see what you are saying and yes there is a genetic element BUT say a pup goes to a working home, used on hares successfully, very fast, if that same dog went to a pet home and was never trained for running it would not achieve the speed it would in a working home

[Halfinch 51]

I'm sorry, but you cant make a dog go any faster than what it can do.

Keeping the dog fit yes, to maintain it's speed and performance, but not making it faster!

 

Some dogs are quicker than others, due to size, the x's, the saluki blooded will stay longer than a bull x where a whippet x will have a quicker take off but lack the pace in time.

 

So the dog is born with what it is born with!

 

I see what you are saying and yes there is a genetic element BUT say a pup goes to a working home, used on hares successfully, very fast, if that same dog went to a pet home and was never trained for running it would not achieve the speed it would in a working home

Depends what you mean by "faster" Ultimate top speed or timed over a given distance?

Given a reasonable degree of fitness, (not talking about a fat lump of lard here) the pet dog probably would reach the same TOP speed, but wouldn't be able to sustain it for the amount of time the fitter working dog could. IMHO.

[cymruguy69 5]

Well I play alot of rugby and pre-season and during the season we do a hell of a lot of sprint training. Now this isn't 2 make us fitter for endurance so we can run all afternoon it's 2 get us from point A to point B quicker than the opposition.

 

Isn't that faster/quicker. So if us humans can train to increase our speed (fastness) why can't our k9 friends???

 

It is a common known fact that if your parents are quick then you tend to have better fast twitch muscles which make you quick so it's the same in dogs.

 

But you definitley can train a dog or a person to be quicker than if they were natural!!!!

Edited November 13, 2008 by cymruguy69

[mexlad 189]

I'm sorry, but you cant make a dog go any faster than what it can do.

Keeping the dog fit yes, to maintain it's speed and performance, but not making it faster!

 

Some dogs are quicker than others, due to size, the x's, the saluki blooded will stay longer than a bull x where a whippet x will have a quicker take off but lack the pace in time.

 

So the dog is born with what it is born with!

 

I see what you are saying and yes there is a genetic element BUT say a pup goes to a working home, used on hares successfully, very fast, if that same dog went to a pet home and was never trained for running it would not achieve the speed it would in a working home

Depends what you mean by "faster" Ultimate top speed or timed over a given distance?

Given a reasonable degree of fitness, (not talking about a fat lump of lard here) the pet dog probably would reach the same TOP speed, but wouldn't be able to sustain it for the amount of time the fitter working dog could. IMHO.

 

 

I agree

[Halfinch 51]

Well I play alot of rugby and pre-season and during the season we do a hell of a lot of sprint training. Now this isn't 2 make us fitter for endurance so we can run all afternoon it's 2 get us from point A to point B quicker than the opposition.

 

Isn't that faster/quicker. So if us humans can train to increase our speed (fastness) why can't our k9 friends???

 

It is a common known fact that if your parents are quick then you tend to have better fast twitch muscles which make you quick so it's the same in dogs.

 

But you definitley can train a dog or a person to be quicker than if they were natural!!!!

That IS faster over a given distance ie: point A to point B.

Put it this way, if someone says "how fast is your car mate?" I don't tell them i can do london to leeds in two hours. (average over a given distance)

I'd say 160mph. (Top speed)

So when you do your training is your max speed faster? or is it your acceleration to it and how long you can hold it?

[sandymere 8,261]

I'm sorry, but you cant make a dog go any faster than what it can do.

Keeping the dog fit yes, to maintain it's speed and performance, but not making it faster!

 

Some dogs are quicker than others, due to size, the x's, the saluki blooded will stay longer than a bull x where a whippet x will have a quicker take off but lack the pace in time.

 

So the dog is born with what it is born with!

 

I see what you are saying and yes there is a genetic element BUT say a pup goes to a working home, used on hares successfully, very fast, if that same dog went to a pet home and was never trained for running it would not achieve the speed it would in a working home

I would agree with that, a fast dog is at it's fastest when fit as would be a human. To demonstrate when you grade a greyhound for the track you run it at % so getting a slightly slower time and so lower grade then bring it to full fitness/speed to win a given race. Or I have raced 2 olympians and beat them, admittedly one was a woman, not because I'm naturally a faster runner but they were running at less than 100% fitness and I was at my best.