how do i improve the muscles in my dogs - Page 2

Up and DOWN HILLS is asking for knee and elbow problems!! 

Up is ok, but the impact of a dog running DOWN the hill and the impact on knees can cause serious damage in a very short period of time.

I know three people who have had crippling of their dogs, from playing ball on hills two spent $5k on knee replacements.  In my opinion not a good choice, maybe many dogs are ok, but I would not take the risk.

One of our old club members had a malinois and he swam him every day, that dog was ripped!!!  Long runs are good for dogs for cardio work, 1,7 miles should be nothing to a GSD (unless it is all uphill), just a quick little energy burner, but not a muscle builder.  As mentioned above tire dragging seems to be the one that most people use prior to a show, and also resistance training such as running on an inclined treadmill.

I have seen some dogs worked on treadmills with an incline that look really muscular, and these are the manual treadmills, so no help from the machine.   http://www.fatboymills.com/Home_Page.php this guy has some really nice treadmills, and I had one that was over 10 years old and worked like it was brand new!!!  My girl loved her treadmill!!  I never worked her hard enough on it to get her ripped, but it was great exercise while I was on my own cardio she did hers too!!

~Kari

Cross training is essential if you want to build good condition and a dog that has speed, stamina, strength.

I never do the same exercises every day this is not good, the muscles should be rested; I swim some days, bike some days, tracking is excellent exercise as is hill work.

Feed correctly is most important but as for excercise I would say repititions builds bulk, but strength comes from a gradual increase in the work or the load.    Ask any body builder.  And variety keeps it interesting and make's for an overall physical improvement.   Just like humans there is a need to stretch and limber up as well.  DONT !  over do it!  Its a dog not the next world heavy wieght competition.  And never resort to the drugs we see in other animal sports, you know what I'm talking about.   The dog doesn't care, this is your idea.

I do some road work (no hills), always careefully thought out and planned as not to do to much, too far, too fast. I generally end each session with a wind sprint.  A pedometer on the bike is and absolute must, as is a conditioning log. I walk them after to "cool off" just like a race horse, jusdicious water offerings as they cool down, with Go Dog electrolyte replacement before and after work-outs. I also swim my dogs as often as possible. No percussion on joints, builds stamina, endurance.

Feeding programs here include conditioning supplements. Every dog's diet is customized to the activity, stress-level, etc. THAT dog is experiencing at THAT time. I do "let them down" as far as both training and diet in winter when we can't train in the frozen Northeast, resuming in Spring to prepare for the event seasons.

Hope that helps.

SS

if you want to develop the chest area then a good jog on the sand helps, if you want to develop the rear legs then a up hil climb is good - no running, u also will need to jog with yr dog.

The real secret is a hanging tire. encourage your dog to jump and hold/pull/bite the tire. develops a lot of muscle.

Jess, What do you have available for this dog? Is there an area that he can swim locally?Harness and pulling is good.Free exercise is good.How old is this dog?

Is there a certain age a dog needs to be before pulling? Can pulling be bad for the hips? And also biking? How old should a dog be before really starting conditioning work?

No earlier than 18 months at a minimum, the growth plates will have nto closed before then

I agree Langhaar.I have never done sled pulling but I have a dear friend that has.She allowed her pups to grow up first never stressing any growing plates anatomically with the pup.But mean while she provided different variances of ground and climbing.Conditioning should start at an early age...weaning.If the bitch is a good mother..She will have taken her pups to condition themselves in obstacles as if in the wild.