Advice please on getting my dog fit?

[crorider 174]

Looking to hear about different peoples fitness regimes.

 

My dog's 13 months (roughly) and I've met someone that lives near me with a fair bit of permission that said he'll take me out. I'm hoping this might lead to me having the permission for myself cos his dogs too old now and he's not sure he'll get another dog.

 

He's going to be lamping rabbits, nothing else.

 

At the moment he makes do with 2 to 3 hours mouching and playing with other dogs of an evening midweek and sometimes all day at the weekend. As of next week I'm taking him jogging with me, 6 miles twice a week. I'm wondering how effective this will be, will it be quick enough to get him fit or should i be cycling instead?

 

Recently got some helpful advice off Moll and she told me I should be focusing on explosive sprints by throwing a ball on a rope or something for him, the only problem is, i cant get him to chase anything with any kind of enthusiasm. Any ideas how to make him explode after the ball? The only time he seems to sprint now is if he meets a new hound at the park or a new terrier or toy breed that he wants to course. And obviously if he sees a rabbit but thats very rarely.

 

He spends a lot of time wrestling a bull grey triple his size, is this any good for his muscles?

 

Is he old enough to get in good condition yet or will i be limiting his progress later down the line by over doing it now?

 

Any advice or just a description of how any of you do it will be much appreciated

 

cheers

[Dranny GLC 112]

Iv ad the same trouble and iv been trying to get a lure drag machine. A couple of runs every night will bring them on well.i will set it up

With 3 bends in a big field let both my dogs chase it a few times every night. Its Just finding one cheap enought.

[reddawn 2,173]

if your mutt is getting a couple of hours of free running everyday in life an even more at weekends pal, your dog is more than fit enuff to start lamping, only lamping a dog will get it lamp fit, an by sound sof it your dog aint unfit to start with, good food an good quality rest after his shifts will see the dog right, as for the sprints, he will soon sprint when he sees a bunnys fleeing for cover

 

eddited to add, dont over do it, i know how exciting it can be when ye new pup starts running, slowly but surely increase the number of runs as the season gets under way

Edited September 2, 2012 by reddawn

[crorider 174]

Iv ad the same trouble and iv been trying to get a lure drag machine. A couple of runs every night will bring them on well.i will set it up

With 3 bends in a big field let both my dogs chase it a few times every night. Its Just finding one cheap enought.

i did think about that but didnt know how long it takes to set up and the cost of it. My main worry though would be him not wanting to chase that either after working out its not real. id be pissed off i bought one just for him to look at. How much are they new cos i cant find any shopping results on the web?

[crorider 174]

if your mutt is getting a couple of hours of free running everyday in life an even more at weekends pal, your dog is more than fit enuff to start lamping, only lamping a dog will get it lamp fit, an by sound sof it your dog aint unfit to start with, good food an good quality rest after his shifts will see the dog right, as for the sprints, he will soon sprint when he sees a bunnys fleeing for cover

 

eddited to add, dont over do it, i know how exciting it can be when ye new pup starts running, slowly but surely increase the number of runs as the season gets under way

Cheers, thats good to know, from some of the things ive read before i thought he might be miles away from fitness. Ive changed his diet over the last few weeks from mainly buscuit to about 20% biscuit now, the rest is random raw meat and bones. Liver, chicken wings, chicken carcass, minced lamb, tripe, beef and chicken. Dont know if its in my head or not but im sure his muscles are harder already

 

when you say dont over do it and slowly increase the number of runs, i wouldnt know where to start. Like how many runs a night shall i start with and how many nights a week?

[reddawn 2,173]

if your mutt is getting a couple of hours of free running everyday in life an even more at weekends pal, your dog is more than fit enuff to start lamping, only lamping a dog will get it lamp fit, an by sound sof it your dog aint unfit to start with, good food an good quality rest after his shifts will see the dog right, as for the sprints, he will soon sprint when he sees a bunnys fleeing for cover

 

eddited to add, dont over do it, i know how exciting it can be when ye new pup starts running, slowly but surely increase the number of runs as the season gets under way

Cheers, thats good to know, from some of the things ive read before i thought he might be miles away from fitness. Ive changed his diet over the last few weeks from mainly buscuit to about 20% biscuit now, the rest is random raw meat and bones. Liver, chicken wings, chicken carcass, minced lamb, tripe, beef and chicken. Dont know if its in my head or not but im sure his muscles are harder already

 

when you say dont over do it and slowly increase the number of runs, i wouldnt know where to start. Like how many runs a night shall i start with and how many nights a week?

 

many nites can ye realistcally get out?? an what type a lurcher is he?

[RossM 8,119]

if your mutt is getting a couple of hours of free running everyday in life an even more at weekends pal, your dog is more than fit enuff to start lamping, only lamping a dog will get it lamp fit, an by sound sof it your dog aint unfit to start with, good food an good quality rest after his shifts will see the dog right, as for the sprints, he will soon sprint when he sees a bunnys fleeing for cover

 

eddited to add, dont over do it, i know how exciting it can be when ye new pup starts running, slowly but surely increase the number of runs as the season gets under way

Cheers, thats good to know, from some of the things ive read before i thought he might be miles away from fitness. Ive changed his diet over the last few weeks from mainly buscuit to about 20% biscuit now, the rest is random raw meat and bones. Liver, chicken wings, chicken carcass, minced lamb, tripe, beef and chicken. Dont know if its in my head or not but im sure his muscles are harder already

 

when you say dont over do it and slowly increase the number of runs, i wouldnt know where to start. Like how many runs a night shall i start with and how many nights a week?

 

many nites can ye realistcally get out?? an what type a lurcher is he?

 

Please don't say pure bred.............

[crorider 174]

Could probably get out every other night?

 

Not sure i should say what breed he is after the fuss it caused last time . Basically whippet x terrier. i know he wont be the greatest lamping dog mainly due to his tiny size but i'm pretty sure he'll catch a few. He's a lot quicker than youd expect, turns on a sixpence, never seems to tire and has an extremely high prey drive. I'm defintely going to get a proper lurcher but ive been advised to wait untill next season so i can bring him on first as im new to it all. I bought him as a pet with the ex, only decided i wanted to work him after a few different people with hounds and lurchers have told me i should when theyve seen him run with their dogs. Not to mention his massive desire to hunt, only seems fair to let him have a proper go at it. He's had 2 rabbits from bushes recently

Edited September 3, 2012 by crorider

[MuddyPaws! 27]

My dog is the same.. He will not entertain a ball or a stick but if he see's a bird, rabbit or cat he will try and have it haha he is only 8 months.

[South hams hunter 8,922]

Cro is you out every other night and he's green just start of with 2-3 then home, trying to finish on a high. Try to make sure you run him on squatters

[matt1979 766]

Bit of a pain but if you get can another pair of hands and a decent size field, get the mate to hold the dog on the slip lead and you sprint off down the other end of the field with a rag or something and slip the dog, usually encourages the dog to sprint out full pelt (just be careful he doesnt take you down) throw the rag out on the dogs arrival. This is how the old mans gets the greys going, usually does about 6-10 x 150m slips with 2 mins rest between sets, 3 times per week plus the road work, gets them fit enough, cheers.

[reddawn 2,173]

i agree way south hams, every other nite is a good start if injurys dont crop up, id always stay under 5 runs, if the dog looked good an full a life id gee it 4/5 but if it messed about or looked tired or just wasnt putting it all together then id give it less, little an often an after a while start increasing the number of runs, should be up an running like an old hand after a few month if he picks things up quick, pick ye slips tho to start with if he only a small dog, get up as close as possible an gee him the best chance

[Dranny GLC 112]

Iv ad the same trouble and iv been trying to get a lure drag machine. A couple of runs every night will bring them on well.i will set it up

With 3 bends in a big field let both my dogs chase it a few times every night. Its Just finding one cheap enought.

i did think about that but didnt know how long it takes to set up and the cost of it. My main worry though would be him not wanting to chase that either after working out its not real. id be pissed off i bought one just for him to look at. How much are they new cos i cant find any shopping results on the web?

[reddawn 2,173]

im sure graham on here sells lure machines lads, dont hold me to it tho, worth a check if yees are serious

[Dranny GLC 112]

If you search on here drag lure machine someone

Has put a website that sells them or try google it. I race mine at lurcher shows when there on and they never get board ov chasing it. It dosnt take long to set up but you do need a couple of you one to work the machine and one to slip the dogs.