Is she too old, or did I go too hard?

[stormrider8 59]

Give the dog some exersize for 6 weeks and then take it lamping it should be fine. you would be stiff if you had to run a marathon after hardly any exersize for a couple years!!

[wheaton x 3]

bye all acounts the dogs no spring chicken it sounds like you might be giving it to much i would be carefull as u might sicken it and cause it to cock. atb craig

[shooter19 0]

As some of you know, I got given a 6 year old collie whippet by a bloke on here, I took her lamping just a few nights as I really couldnt wait until the season....The guy did tell me that she hadnt done much for 2 years but was keen, and she sure was, But I was outlast night for four hours, we got a lot of runs, but no kills as the ground we where on was in round close to the rabbit holes and they where off as soon as I knocked on the light, although my hat went off to her as she twisted and turned across the top of a warren after one, it was very impressive, she caught it right at the edge off the whole, but it slipped and got down the hole, I dont know who was more gutted, me or her....with a big bit of rabbit fluff stuck to her mouth!

 

We did get a few more runs on open ground later, but I think she was just too tired! Anyway, I let her out this morning, and she usually springs out of her bed, today she can hardly walk, really stiff and sore looking ans just wants to be petted, Im gutted, I feel like Ive run the guts out of her through lack of experience, This is the 2nd time this happened, but the first time I thought her fitness was down due to no work....But now Im not sure, Is she past it? Or am I a tube running a small dog hard for four hours.....

im not an expert but i definitly know that having an unfit dog out for 4 hours is way to much. a friend of mine has a dog and hes only about 2 years old and when we stop giving him runs for about 2 weeks you can see by the follwing time we bring him out that his fitness is gone down hill bigtime.working dogs are like athletes. they need constant excercise to keep at the top of there fitness. run the dog in slowly and as time goes on youll start seein the difference in the stamina and he will be a happier dog in the mornings aswel. and i wouldnt worry to much about the age. best of luck

[skycat 6,173]

It sounds to me as though your'e very lucky she hasn't seriously damaged herself: yes: do please go on a mega guilt trip for making the bitch so tired and stiff and sore: at 6 years old she is now heading towards middle aged. As a middle aged old thing myself, if I had to even walk over rough ground for 4 hours I'd be stiff and tired as well! As a dog gets older it is more difficult to maintain fitness, and it sounds as though your bitch wasn't even fit at all before you lamped her.

 

Your bitch needs steady regular: twice a day: exercise for at least a month. Road walking and a little galloping: but not after rabbits. Massage her well every day: not too hard: more of a stroking motion along the length of her muscles with the palms of your hands: this will help the circulation as well as easing any muscle soreness.

 

I'd also get her to a greyhound muscle/back man to be checked over as soon as possible. Let's hope she hasn't torn any muscles with having run so much unfit.

 

Don't beat yourself up too much: just learn from the mistake. You'll soon be able to see when the dog is fit, the difference in her muscles will be obvious once you know what you are looking at. Treat her like an athlete that has had a long lay off, and just as a matter of interest: how are her feet? Any knocked up toes? And are her claws properly trimmed or badly overgrown? Try and find someone to give her a general MOT.

Edited April 25, 2009 by skycat

[craigyboy 1,274]

get the gallows out,jesus christ some people,pembshunter has asked for advice theyve said it may be down to there inexperience,but people cant resist having their tuppence worth,dont take em on mate,imo the dogs just unfit and needs building up slowly and being 6 doesnt mean its the end,just dont overdo it an theres no reason why you wont get another couple of seasons out of the dog and like you say you go out once a week,that should be fine,and one more thing mate try and get her on the barf diet that will certainly help

[doxhope 2]

Any of my lurchers at 6 years years old would be only half way through their working lives, Ive had bitches 8 have pups, dogs nearly 9 that took rabbits in one night..your dog just wants building up to full fitness thats all, its what we used to call, "getting their blow back"

[Guest joe ox]

If my dogs are stiff after a hard nights running I give them a good rub down to get the blood flowing in the muscles. Try doing a workout yourself after a long lay off and see if your not stiff the next day. It doesnt matter how old you are, after a lay off when you start to train you will be stiff and sore the next day!!! ask any athlete.

[goldfinch2007 2,332]

what are you feeding her on tripe and chicken mince is good

 

 

Dry greyhound 28% protein, occassionally some other stuff, odd raw egg etc. I didnt think that would make a difference....Does anyone know why she is so sore today? Or was it just too long for her?

WOULD NT YOU BE SORE IF YOU WAS WORKING HARD FOR 4 HOURS.GIVE HER A FEW DAYS REST.GET SOME MEAT INTO HER.BUILD HER FITNESS UP SLOWLY.PLENTY OF ROAD WORK.

[alimac 882]

gave her too much imo

 

 

I think so too

 

 

I dont think its a case of too much, more of a case of needing more exercise....Think of it like this if you've done any kind of strenuous sport, football,running etc it's like not having done these for a few weeks then going back in and running about like a maddie....the next day you'll be as stiff as a board and it takes a few days to get over it....but as you do more the muscles get used to it and there's less stiffness the next day...it's kinda similar for a dog that doesn't get used much especially one thats a bit older....you say you only go out once a week....what do you do with the dog for the remainder of the week?

 

lol, ie you do TO MUCH TOO SOON

[adrianvygus 0]

Six years old for a Whippet is not old, as has been said before loads of steady road work, if you have a sandy beach near by that'd be a good place to build up stamina.

[Guest lurchers&terriers]

I don't think age as anything to do with this. Like already said pal you was probably to keen to get her out to the field. Lamping unfit dogs will cause lots of problems even death. I got a 6 year old and i make sure he warms up before he starts his graft. just a gentle walk on the lead is enough and then when you finish put it back on the lead and rub him down before you put him in the car. NEVER JUST THROW A DOG IN THE MORTOR AFTER A NIGHTS LAMPING. Get him fit before you take him out again pal and do what the members on here say and he will work for you for many years to come.

[Guest WILF]

In season and when the ground is soft enough then give em plenty, a couple of days rest and some good grub (plenty of it too) and give it them again.........nothing wrong with that IMHO

[JPTfellterrier 65]

sounds to me like shes a bit stiff......like you have been to the gym after not going for a couple of years, its going to hurt the next day for a couple of times....try working on her fitness

[beddy greyhound mad 0]

she will be stiff if shes not done much for a while

build her fitness up mate, at 6 she should be in her prime

i give my dogs 1 cod liver oil cap a day try that.

 

 

lofti..

i agree cod liver oil is good for coat and general health but it cant turn old has been into good dog can it?lol. he should have waited til aug-sept and got her right first, hard ground, unfit, stiff and 6 yr old, different trying her out on one run, but four hours is too much especially when they are keen, my dog is 9 and still catching long ears on fen never give him anything except dry food and water and lots of raw hare, but he is run right and kept fit, anyway i think the fella should get rid of dog and get ferret lol.

[Pembshunter 23]

she will be stiff if shes not done much for a while

build her fitness up mate, at 6 she should be in her prime

i give my dogs 1 cod liver oil cap a day try that.

 

 

lofti..

i agree cod liver oil is good for coat and general health but it cant turn old has been into good dog can it?lol. he should have waited til aug-sept and got her right first, hard ground, unfit, stiff and 6 yr old, different trying her out on one run, but four hours is too much especially when they are keen, my dog is 9 and still catching long ears on fen never give him anything except dry food and water and lots of raw hare, but he is run right and kept fit, anyway i think the fella should get rid of dog and get ferret lol.

 

Well I still have her and intend to keep her, I havent run her since and have been exercising her twice daily and taking on board the GOOD advice from the guys on here who do know what there talking about, This is why I joined the site, as you all know this is my first dog, I had no experience of dogs and I made a mistake running to much withiut enough execise, I have no friends or family to rely on for any guidance with my dog, So this site is all I have, and hopefully with a lot more exercise, myself and my dog will have a good season in front of us, Thanks to everyone for there kind advice and to those pm'ed and gave further advice, you know who you are....And as for the negative comments, maybe I deserved them, But we all had to start somewhere.

 

PH