"Beefing Up" The Back End

"Beefing Up" The Back End

My dog's breeder is really pushing me to get active in conformation, so I have been working Jack in preparation for an upcoming show.

He is looking alright thus far; I hand-walk about 2.5 miles for a warm-up, run him hard for about 1.5 miles, and then do another 2 miles of walking/trotting to cool off.

She is telling me I need to "beef up" his back end because his head is just so freaking out of proportion that he looks unbalanced and pretty goofy.

Other than dragging weights, which we do a bit of now (It's challenging... With Jack), are there any real good methods of toning up the back end?

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

I am always going to say swimming cause it will tone him up so much that Judge will focus more on body than head. It will tone up back side and front side. You may also try springpole. You can do one on the ground if you have funny laws in your area good luck. He will do awesome Jack is one of my favs.

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

yeah gotta say springpole. with feet just touching ground. work him hard on it and it should tone his back end up real nice

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

Thanks guys. I'll have to set our springpole back up.

And swimming works great for my other dogs but Jack hasn't mastered the concept yet lol

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

How old is Jack? I have a male that we called a bobble head for the longest time. When he got to be around 2 years he finally grew into his head and looked like it fit his body.
So, my answer is time. If his head is really that much bigger than his body, wait for the body to catch up. All the conditioning in the world isn't going to make his head look smaller. JMO

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

Give that melon-head as hug for me! Am I gonna get to see him next month? lol I know the springpole does well for Spinner......

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

He turned 2 in August I'm not trying to make his head look smaller (An impossible task lol), just trying to even him up. His front end is larger overall; he has wide shoulders, a fairly thick neck, and a melon head. But a tiny waist and fairly slender back end.



PBP, we will see ya then! Bringing Spinner out I hope? :cool: You taking him out in Nov to the point show?

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

Smoking Hemi and the others hit the nail on the head...springpole! Make sure he's on a good feed with the right amount of amino acids too.

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

Yes ma'am! I'll have Five-Oh as well as long as I get her lookin right in time! I'm puttin Spinner in his class in next months show, and in November's show, hopefully Spinner (i'll have to slim him down more) and Five-Oh both in the ADBA ring.

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

Springpole. I would also suggest jumping in and out of a truck or onto platforms.

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

I do this with one of mine, its a good alternative exercise, especially for a dog thats difficult to work or doesn't like the springpole or whatever. i just put a big piece of plywood with carpet attached to the top of it and put it in the bed of my truck then park it in the grass (so not to hurt the pads when jumping back down to the ground) and get the dog to chase a hide back and forth up into the truck then back down to the ground, works real well...just take it easy on the speed so they don't crash and burn into the tailgate lol

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

From my stand point, I say more intense long walks and flirt pole. both of those done on a routine will give you the best results. Walking does the toning and flirt pole does the buliding.

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

I have an old male here. His front is out of proportion with his rear.
The thing about exercise and four legged animals is that what affects rear usually affects the front to the same degree. So basically, after all the incline running and springpole work, he's more defined, but still out of proportion. But, he's old, so that isn't ever likely to change. Your male is a youngster, and with pups being prone funny growth spurts his rear may decide to catch up with the rest of him in a year or so. However, I've often seen front ends catch up/mature with age; rears-very rarely. Look down on him from the top, if the width of his shoulders and hips/stifles look about the same despite how tapered the waiste its a maturity and exercise problem, if the rear is clearly narrower than the front, that's a structure thing that probably won't change much.

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

I AGREE 100% WORKS GREAT FOR MY BOY TRISTAN..

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

I use the springpole for mine.. I actuall do it at different levels on the stand. I start out with it directly above his head with feet just off the ground, then move it down so both feet are on the ground, and keep moving till it is at the bottom of the post and he is pulling straight back...has made a huge diffrence in all his muscles but mostly his rear..... Great looking dog btw

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

i walk my girl 5 miles everyother day and swim her when i have a chance. being in arizona there isn't much water around

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

Do you have any hills near you? I know that running UP hills will work the dogs ass. However, when the dog runs down, it will work his upper body. Therefore, If you only want to work the dogs back end, Then, if you have a mill, put it at a little slope. ( With some stuff under the top part of the mill. ) So that the dog walks uphill a tad it. Just use your common sense, if you add the stuff to the bottom of the mill to give it the upwards slope.

 

Re: "Beefing Up" The Back End

sounds like six miles of running would be concidered endurance training which should result in leaner muscles

so my idea would be less running training and more resistance training

although your dog looks great in that pick

could you post another pic of him relaxed?

so we can see what you are talking about