How do you condition your dogs?

RileysMommy

SpringPole
FlirtPole
Lure
WeightPull
walks
Hikes
Fetch
Swim
Agility
Tredmill
ect?


would love to hear what others do to condition

I use

Springpole
Weightpulling
2 to 3 walks everyday
fetch
<3



here is a pic of my dog I took yesterday to show off her muscles<3

Mikey

We do swimming, rollerblading and some backyard agility in the summer; treadmill when we're colder then 30-C, and we do running and walking at the dog park-every single day-minium one hour of hard running and playing and hiking. In the summer we are often there for 3 or more hours

We built up to that in small steps as Mikey was underweight and unconditioned when we first got him-he could do a ten minute medium paced walk at tops.

I still owe SH some Mikey-muscle pictures so that will be my weekend project-will come back with some pics of my 'ripped' little man

elisabeth

I train in Schutzhund, obedience, agility and tracking so we use quite a bit to condition our dogs on a daily basis (besides formal training which is 2-4 times per week).

I use the flirt pole in Schutzhund to reinforce drive.

I use the lure for the same thing. We also do lure coursing which not only works the whole body (physcial) but the mind as well (prey drive).

Walks and hikes are done daily here (walks - about 3-4 times per day). We usually get a good hike in atleast 4-5 days per week as we live in a great area that has amazing trails.

Fetch is great for obedience training, espcially if you have a dog will ball/toy drive like mine. You can throw the ball, have a recall, sits, platz then a throw of the ball again.. you can recall, formal heel, platz, spin, etc....

Swimming is done with my oldest 3 times per week (she is older) and Stark gets to swim in the summer of if one of the other dogs in Beau's "class" don't show up. Great for a all body work out.

We train in agility and so we condition our dogs around the equipment first, then use positive reinforcement when we introdce and use the equipment to them.

As for the treadmill, don't use it because I don't have one.. lol.


For all of this we build up to it over a period of time.. lol.. quite simple.

Here are some "athletic" pictures since Stark is at the gangly teenage stage and doesn't have much muscle.. lol.

Mikey

ok here's the video-I think it shows Mikey's insane rippedness well PLEASE excuse my house -we're remodelling-the kitchen (stage left) is not done yet and our housekeeper had surgery so we're in a state of mess right now lol

DSCF4764.flv video by newcameramikey - Photobucket

Criosphynx

Flirtpole and Rollerblade

kmes

Daily walks (all 4), and lots of hiking in good weather (normally just Roxy and Penny)!
I'm hoping to get Roxy and Penny into agility classes this spring or even in the summer.

ScentHound

Popcorn, and Pizza...

Actually, I run my dogs through obstacle tracking. Walks of coarse and the occasional fetch and retrieve.

When it is nasty out. Tug of war, and an occasional catch me if you can game.

TegansMyBoy

making me feel so lazy...

Two walks a day, chase in the house or our REALLY dinkus yard, and every other day an hour at the dog park.

Tegan doesn't know how to fetch :'( i've tried teaching him for ages... (I'd love advice on that actually if someone wants to PM me? LoL)

AdoJrts

Lots of off leash walking on the farm everyday.
However when we are conditioning this is the routine.

Day 1-
walking/jogging (long slow distances) 2 miles with the dogs at nice steady trot.
Day 2-Starts as off leash on the farm, then recalls over 500 ft up a slight hill (kills two birds with one stone, also works on our Stay at very long distances lol)
Day 3- Long walk
Day 4- In a padded harness for a half hour walk with him pulling for core strenght training.
Day 5- Swimming and strength building by walking in water
Day 6- Long walks/off leash
Day 7- off leash

Usually trial once to three times a month 1-3 days per trial, less in the winter

Only do agility training to touch up something, short sessions 10 mins, maybe once a month, depends but no regular training or lessons.

And playing clicker games to keep the mind sharp.

The puppy of course is a different story lol.

RileysMommy

Nice pics, and video guys. Beautiful dogs!

here are more of Riley that I took today<3