Work out opinions

I agree WWII.
I mean, it's a great maintain exercise, but we all cannot deny a dog is going to get a better workout going for a run than walking a human pace. And I can walk DAMN fast, and I do (back permitting, of course). It's good to get the muscles and joints warmed up and stretched.

I think games of fetch are under-rated. I think bike riding and probably swimming are some of the better cardio exercises out there, and not even only that, they work the hell out of muscles. In fact, dogs probably benefit more from bike riding than humans do because their ENTIRE body gets a workout.

But I walk Ella for structured, interaction exercise. We seriously bond while on our walks. It's also a good time to work on her obedience outside of her comfortable environment.

 

I have been handwalking Hemi. I have also been taking him Swimming. He loves it. I bought a lead that would stretch about 20plus feet and I will throw a stick or something in the water and off he goes..


This is a pic of me and Hemi. I was getting him excited about the stick I was about to throw in the water

 

All I can add is reinforcement of the techniques already given. Lots and lots of hand walking swimming and tug. It's great...The running up the hill is good too.

 

I like to use cowhide with the catmill. Instead of letting my dogs simply chase the hide attached to the front of the mill, I fasten a heavy-duty spring to it and give it enough length that my dogs can grab ahold of it and tug, shake, and wrestle with it as if they were doing springpole work. This is excellent for both strength and endurance! Everytime they lose ahold of the hide, it's back to running full throttle again trying to get it back. I guarantee you that your dogs will cry for more after the first day! If your dogs won't chase hide, use a coon, rabbit, etc., in a cage and place it infront of the hide. I use a mongoose for one of my dogs and it drives him absolutely crrrrrrrazy! They'll shake and work that hide something terrible as they pace themselves trotting around the mill, both forward and back.

 

Im lucky that the mountain preserves are practically my backyard, many rocky hills on these trails, I have my dog wear a harness, leash is connected to my belt (If your tired of your arm feeling like you lifted a ton I would try this) and off we go walking for about 45min non stop, as I am walking its not like he is pulling all my weight, maybe a fraction of it and he gets a good exercise , I normally take him running with me with the same setup, but here in Az, its still to hot for him, he will get at it when it starts to cool down.

 

This is the best thing to do but start off slowly. You will know when your dog is tired but be sure to check his/her paws after every work out and give the dog a nice body massage when done working out.

 

Good advice BullDog..... Expecialy the "rub down" after a work out. Help with that lactic acid. They get cramps and sore muscles just like we do.

 

Good job brotha!.... Hemi is growin up really nice.

 

A catmill is the best BAR NONE! for peaking a dog. a good cat mill will give them everything, Wind speed and power. bitework is very over rated a dog can bite or cant, You aint going to give him more mouth. swiming is good it will teach him to breath out his nose, But for the money nothing beats the cat mill. A dog that can pull 1 hour on the c-mill will out work a dog that has been walked 10 miles a day for 10 weeks. J