road work and what age - Page 1

What age would you start road working your dog and what are the benefits of this?  Will this just strengthen the rear or will it benefit the front too.  Just some general questions.

thanks
vom mager

At a younger age( 6mo- 10mo) I would swim my dogs.That way it doesn't put stress on their growing bones and it builds up muscels in different ways that running on ground doesn't. Then when they are built up slowly incorperate the long walks. When they are 1yr longer runs and faster can be done.(running along aside a bike...with a warm up first and then a cool down.(easier to do on a treadmill)

"I would start AFTER your dogs hips have been certified."

ummm, to each his own, but depending on the individual dog, I don't think this is necessary (though certainly can be a good idea - why rush it?) since that means you wait til the dog is a minimum of 25 months old (24 months to be able to submit for certification, then waiting for the OFA cert.) to even start roadwork.

Also, since a dog can go for the AD at 16 months I'm sure it is possible to gently and effectively condition a younger dog, DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL DOG.

I did one at 24 months with a slower-maturing dog (compared to others I've seen), and I started training specifically for the AD 8 weeks before we did it.  No problems at all, so he was 22 months when we started consistent roadwork.   I'm sure he could've started younger.