Conditioning

[NCPatchwork]

Keep in mind I live in NC and we really haven't seen much of a winter yet.

When should I start working my dogs for show? My first show in March 10, 2007. Both dogs are inside right now. I intend to dead weight and walk my male and just walk my female pup. They are on no supplements for muscle or weight. I was considering the second week of February, but I've heard a few people mentioning starting earlier.

Thanks ahead of time!

Beth

[Saiyagin]

Walk/Jog your dog up steep hills if you can or at least a slope where there is some resistance. You going need 8-12 weeks for your dog to look good.

[miakoda]

Walk/Jog your dog up steep hills if you can or at least a slope where there is some resistance. You going need 8-12 weeks for your dog to look good.
I agree. If it were me, I'd start now. I'm partial to an 8-10 week keep/conditioning program as this allows you time to do it right & not have to have to cheat (i.e. starve your dog down at the last minute b/c you ran out of time to properly drop weight off the dog & get correct muscle tone).

[pennsooner]

I'd start now. It seems like conditoning for the show season would be very different than conditoning for a one shot event. After all, you have to keep the dog more or less in condition for many months. More like conditioning for football season as opposed to conditioning for a boxing match. So it seems like you'd want to more or less condtion with various levels of intensity through out the year.

Please, anyone with more experence please feel free to mention what approach has worked best for you.

[OnionHead]

I agree with you all plus depends on the dog as well. Since each dog differs. Put small amount of apple cider vinger in the water for about 3 days on and three or four off... this will help with the gut fat.

[diva]

Walk/Jog your dog up steep hills if you can or at least a slope where there is some resistance. You going need 8-12 weeks for your dog to look good.

I do something similiar to that. I take my dogs up to the mountains. We walk up and down those mountains a lot. They like it and it keeps them in good shape. If I can't get to the mountain for some reason, then we go to the park and hit the steps.

[davidlau_2002]

I agree with you all plus depends on the dog as well. Since each dog differs. Put small amount of apple cider vinger in the water for about 3 days on and three or four off... this will help with the gut fat.can anyone second this? i just want to see the reasoning behind this. does the vinegar flush out the fat from the food?

[game_test]

can anyone second this? i just want to see the reasoning behind this. does the vinegar flush out the fat from the food?
it will help remove internal gut fat and other deposits left in the body that excesize cannot do alone. it has to be apple cider vinegar. it is also beneficial for human use. google it and you will find all sorts of info.

[miakoda]

it will help remove internal gut fat and other deposits left in the body that excesize cannot do alone. it has to be apple cider vinegar. it is also beneficial for human use. google it and you will find all sorts of info.
I have heard this, but as of right now there is no scientific proof to show that vinegar breaks down body fat. If it really worked, there would be no need for gastric bypasses in humans for people to loose weight.

[game_test]

actually, there is a lot of info out there regarding vinegar and its health benefits. sure lots of it is opinion, a bit less of it fact, but there isnt much in the way of disproving the idea. there have been scientific studies conducted where researchers found subjects recieving vinegar for other reasons were actually losing weight. i myself have tried this for about a month and lost 3 pounds. the main idea is for it to remove toxins and other deposits fatty or not from the body that normal exersize cannot do. what we refer to as "gut fat". here is one link i found on google:


http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20041218/food.asp



as far as gastric bypass is concerned there isnt a need for it anyway. the original idea was to help those with medical problems( 1% of the obese pop) to lose weight gained uncontrolably. unfortuantely it has turned into a crutch of the weak that cant keep certain foods out of their fat mouths. JMO.

[miakoda]

actually, there is a lot of info out there regarding vinegar and its health benefits. sure lots of it is opinion, a bit less of it fact, but there isnt much in the way of disproving the idea. there have been scientific studies conducted where researchers found subjects recieving vinegar for other reasons were actually losing weight. i myself have tried this for about a month and lost 3 pounds. the main idea is for it to remove toxins and other deposits fatty or not from the body that normal exersize cannot do. what we refer to as "gut fat". here is one link i found on google:


http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20041218/food.asp



as far as gastric bypass is concerned there isnt a need for it anyway. the original idea was to help those with medical problems( 1% of the obese pop) to lose weight gained uncontrolably. unfortuantely it has turned into a crutch of the weak that cant keep certain foods out of their fat mouths. JMO.
I agree that giving the a.c. vinegar won't hurt anything so it's definitely worth a shot.

And you are damn right about bypass for the majority of the people. ;)

[NCPatchwork]

Thanks for the information guys. I'll think about the vingear....Anyways...I'll start Monday...Do you think a lil' deadweighting would be too much??

[miakoda]

Thanks for the information guys. I'll think about the vingear....Anyways...I'll start Monday...Do you think a lil' deadweighting would be too much??
I'd wait a couple of days just to get the dogs warmed up & in the swing of things first as they've been holding the couch down for a while. ;)

[NCPatchwork]

Thanks guys...A lil' off topic, but what do you think of the Jolly Balls? I bought one(from the horse department at work) its apple scented. Phantom LOVES it...has been chewing on it all night...

[14rock]

Ah, come on! Your in sunny NC. I just had one dropped off to shape. Its nice out now, somehow, can you imagine 2 months from now, running a dog through 2' of Northern Illinois Winter snow. Burr! No treadmills, miles and miles of handwalking and running with the quad. I can't imagine having much fun a month and a half from now. LOL I'd give anything to work a dog in humid 100 degree weather, over -10 degree, foot deep snow anyday! Be thankful your in the warm states down South!

[NCPatchwork]

Yeah, its been warm this year for some reason..I'm waiting on winter to hit...LOL! But yeah..I'm going to start hand walking my dogs..then go to deadweight soon..

[diggit]

uhhh ya i live in CANADA..... theres like 2 feet of snow and im trying my best to get magnum in shape LOL. its somewhat working but i need to work harder LOL.

speaking of which... i should work him right now :).

[BoogiemanBlood]

can anyone second this? i just want to see the reasoning behind this. does the vinegar flush out the fat from the food?it can be vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even pickle juice. they will all help tuck the dog before a show. maybe no scientific data to back it up but some very reliable dog people gave the info to me and i saw it work with my own eyes on my dog. do it 7 days before a show.

[SJBPolo28]

Start now!!! 8 week keeps are my personal favorite because the time allows you to lose what ever fat the right and slow way. Hard work and dedecation are going to be need but good luck!

[diggit]

could you give more info on the vinegar?.... do you put a bit in the water everyday for 7 days before a show? or can you do it while you are working your dog?

[game_test]

I agree that giving the a.c. vinegar won't hurt anything so it's definitely worth a shot.

And you are damn right about bypass for the majority of the people. ;)

LOL, i have seen several women that "couldnt lose weight no matter what they tried" go through with the surgery. although it worked dramatically i still feel sorry for thier arteries, all the same cholesterol and garbage still going in there just in smaller quantities. cant hide from a stroke.......