Seasonal keeps...

Basically, if you live in the colder climate areas, how much does your routine change from what you do in the summer months as oppose to the winter months to get one in shape to race?

 

Keep a closer eye on weight.

 

You can work a dog longer harder in the cold without the dog getting hot. Dogs seem to want to work more ,and have more energy.But watch the paws.

 

The colder months are the best time to work a dog in my opinion.

 

Why? Just interested in your reasoning.

 

u wanna work the dog in a climate that replicates that of the show........ if the show is at 8 pm, outdoors in alaska.... then you better work that dog in a freezer! lol if its at noon in FLA in JUL....work em in a sauna!!! LMAO

 

i think summer may be funner just because you can incorperate swimming.....

 

I agree with you there as I like to incorporate swimming myself!

 

in colder time you won't overheat your dog so easy, because outside temperature is lower the dog body cooling down faster, so he can work longer and harder, everything's depend from excercises program which your dog doind, thats my opinion.

 

summer isnt fun, working in the heat sucks a dick. like someone said you can defintely work harder, longer with it being cooler but my keep doesnt change much aside from that.

 

Naus, check you inbox.

 

yeah but out here in cali naus it doesnt get too humid, we got that dry heat! but i feel ya if you got them humid summers like the southeast.......

 

Its better to go from hot to cold than cold to hot. Its better to go from high to low than low to high elevation wise.

 

Time of year in my opinion doesn't matter too much as far as type of exercises we do. Winter is good because the dogs breath better, but it's much easier to pull muscles and get work related injuries due to the cold. The main focus with the keep in the winter is hydration and rest, more so than the work. Hydration is key period, but in the winter is more important because the dogs body works harder to maintain weight & warmth. (lactic acid build up, muscle tare & shivering) happen more frequent in the winter in my opinion, and can alter the weight of a dog. I like summer hunts because you can't make as many mistakes in the keep and get away with it. Need more precision in the keep during the summer, JMO.

 

Because you can work longer and harder without the dog overheating or getting fatigued as fast.

 

Many good points!!

 

fall is the easiest if you ask me. sucks working in Abbey extreme temperature either hot or cold

 

Pretty deep slim!! I see you working though.

 

It's actually backwards, lungs contract when breathing cold air. Allowing for less air and oxygen to be utilized by the lungs, in warmer months you actually breath about 10%-12% better. Winter workouts typically have a lower circulation rate than workouts in the spring/summer because of the contraction of muscles, arteries, skin, etc... In fact that is why people who show signs of fatigue during cold months are put on oxygen and in the warmer months the same fatigued person would be given water or some type of electrolyte replacement. JMO