getting them fit for season pics

[sandymere 8,263]

I'd agree with socks keep them reasonable fit through the summer. When dogs run unfit they have a markedly increased risk of musculoskeletal injury, rhabdomyolysis etc. It takes months to get a dog properly fit so one that starts the season unfit will be just getting in shape for the spring so will run for most of the season unfit with all the extra risks that brings.

In general muscle and bone density loss begins within a couple of weeks of stopping work/exercise but take a long time to regain. I go for around % fitness in the summer with plenty of long runs and ball work so there's not a lot to make up when work begins. No athlete would dream of starting a racing season without months of preparation and although our dogs don't run in a stadium they are very definatly athletes!

Edited August 7, 2012 by sandymere

[Guest Moscow]

No form of exercise throughout the summer will keep a lurcher as fit as it would be when its been run throughout the winter/season, ticking over yes running fit no, anyone who says different will only have ever had there lurchers at ticking over fitness and are kidding themselves that there lurcher has ever been ran to its fittest and its full potential.

[lurcher330 2,297]

My dogs will get the same excersize during the summer as they do during the hunting season,but come the season they get that extra bit fitter from their nights or days out working

[Floyd17586 454]

Nice dogs mate

[sandymere 8,263]

No form of exercise throughout the summer will keep a lurcher as fit as it would be when its been run throughout the winter/season, ticking over yes running fit no, anyone who says different will only have ever had there lurchers at ticking over fitness and are kidding themselves that there lurcher has ever been ran to its fittest and its full potential.

In the terms of lamping fitness ie multiple runs with short recoveries its pretty simple to get a dog fit any time of the year but at peak fittnes as with poor fitness there is an increased risk of injury so its inadvisable to keep them there all year hence % is fine.A bitch in summer trim Just a matter of looking to re produce the stressors.

[Guest Moscow]

If only

[DEERMAN 1,018]

lol.....you cant get everything from a book

Edited August 7, 2012 by DEERMAN

[weasle 1,119]

No matter how fit you think you have a dog by walking biking,a few runs they will blow like trains.The only way to get a working dog fit is by working.

If you and dogs are not fit for a rest by the end of march you aint been doing enough.

[DEERMAN 1,018]

No matter how fit you think you have a dog by walking biking,a few runs they will blow like trains.The only way to get a working dog fit is by working.

If you and dogs are not fit for a rest by the end of march you aint been doing enough.

if your doing enough they will need rest lot sooner belive me

[weasle 1,119]

No matter how fit you think you have a dog by walking biking,a few runs they will blow like trains.The only way to get a working dog fit is by working.

If you and dogs are not fit for a rest by the end of march you aint been doing enough.

if your doing enough they will need rest lot sooner belive me

I only hunt a few bunnies so they get rested when the weathers not right, moons up.Even still a few mile on a bike and not enough food wont get them ready.

[sandymere 8,263]

If only

Some can, some can't, bit of age and experience work wonders .

That goes for man or beast..

Edited August 7, 2012 by sandymere

[turbotyke 62]

i agree i keep mine fit all year round ..... theres newt like fetching a log out the water a few times

[turbotyke 62]

some moor plus i go to the whippet meetings on wednesdays and run my dogs there too

[turbotyke 62]

like this one i took on the phone

[cantona 310]

walk them round a show ring, plenty of exercise that