The Canine Athlete With spring in the air and summer months before us, we are all planning to take advantage of the weather and long days to get in as much training as possible. We must remember however, that our dogs like any athlete need to start slowly and we need to prepare them each time for the training day. First, be sure to break the fall (jump) out of the vehicle to the ground. This landing on hard surfaces can cause problems over time. Be sure not to throw a bumper immediately upon releasing your dog from the crate. Sudden extension of the muscles when they are cold is like you driving for hours and then getting out and immediately sprinting. Prepare the dog for his performance. Walk your dog or do some up beat heeling to warm up his muscles. It is also a good idea to stretch each limb. You can do this by having the dog go from a begging position to standing on his hind legs to strengthen and stretch his hind quarters and his back. This exercise will also strengthen your dog’s abdominal muscles. From the stand, reach under his elbow and stretch the front legs out in front of the dog and hold them in position for a few seconds. Do each limb one at a time. Having the dog turn his head toward his rear both left and right will stretch the neck and shoulders. You can do this by putting a treat in front of the dog’s nose and have him follow the treat until his head is in position, keeping his body stationary and then let him nibble on the treat for a few seconds completing the stretch. Also moving his head up and down between his legs is another good stretch easily done by having the dog follow a treat. A gentle neck, shoulder and spinal massage is also a good idea to get the blood circulating in those areas and warming up those muscles before the dog performs. After your dog has performed, be sure and cool him down by walking him out for a few minutes and then giving him a chance to have a drink. This will allow his muscles to relax after intense exercise. If your dog is wet, be sure to towel him off or use a chamois cloth to wick away most of the moisture and let him dry off before putting him back into his crate. This is very important in humid climates where the heat and moisture can contribute to hot spots. After the dog is dry a good brushing will help you keep his coat in good condition and allow you to find any burrs or debris in the coat that needs attention. Taking a few minutes to warm up your dog and to stretch his muscles can do a lot to help prevent injuries from running cold, straight out of the truck. Like any athlete, a good warm up and cool down is important. Take time to take proper care of your canine athlete. Enjoy the journey! Lorie Jolly Rosehill Retrievers
For More Great Articles by Glenda Brown click the link below: FIELD
TRIAL GLOSSARY |
|
|