Hi, I was just wondering if anyone can recommend a book or online resource for tips on a fitness programme for a dog? I don't mean a general 'get fit and loose weight' thing. I'm looking for tips to improve sport fitness and to improve stamina for flyball. I used to have a horse and I had loads of books for training performance horses for competition but can't seem to find anything similar for dogs. All advice and tips gratefully received! Vikki and Molly
Re: Sport fitness training for dogs I'm guessing by the lack of replies that's a no then! I've heard swimming can be a good fitness improver so Molly likes doing that anyway. Maybe I'll try working some jogging into our daily routine as well?
Re: Sport fitness training for dogs Retrieving from water is one of the best ways for my dogs to get fit, I find. I also get them to do lots and lots of memory retrieves up and down hills.
Re: Sport fitness training for dogs I asked a slightly similar question a while ago And yes.....mostly people just do what they do and their dogs get fitter as far as I can tell ;D I think as long as you ramp up gradually and the exercise is age appropriate you should be ok!
Re: Sport fitness training for dogs I try to walk up as many hills as possible to push myself aswell as Hattie and we walk for between 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day and she is as fit as a fiddle at 7 years old xx
Re: Sport fitness training for dogs Thanks for your replies. We already walk for around 2 hours a day out in the country up steep sandstone ridges so I've started building in retrieving games within that to exercise her more. She is certainly more mentally tired in the evenings! I'll also carry on with water retrieves. She loves swimming but she will only go in the water if I throw something for her to bring back to me- otherwise she just stands there on the bank looking at me! I also had a thought that she might be getting thirsty towards the end of a flyball session as she drinks a lot when we get home so I'm going to try and get her to drink whilst we're training as this might be affecting her performance. Although as she will normally only drink our own water from her special bowl at home this may prove challenging!
