Upcoming online fitness classes

Beginner fitness for performance dogs

Suitable for:

Handlers and dogs that have had no formal instruction in fitness before. Please note that this is intended for dogs whose growth plates have closed, with no preexisting health conditions, or lameness, that have a reasonable general level of fitness such as those dogs already participating in dog sports. For each exercise more advanced options can be given for any dogs who have already mastered that particular skill.

Equipment required:

One aerobic step, and two small stable platforms. These should be topped with a non-slip surface. These are available in a limited quantity to purchase from Hybrid Training for $65 (+ organising delivery).

Syllabus:

• Base positions
• Base changes of position:
• Base movements and skills
• Base stretches:
• Discussion about a balanced fitness program

Intermediate fitness for performance dogs

Suitable for:

Handlers and dogs that have had a small amount of instruction in fitness before. Please note that this is intended for dogs whose growth plates have closed, with no preexisting health conditions, or lameness, that have a good general level of fitness, such as those dogs already participating in dog sports, and regularly practising some fitness skills. For each exercise more advanced options can be given for any dogs who have already mastered that particular exercises.

Equipment required:

• One aerobic step, and two small stable platforms. These should be topped with a non-slip surface. These are available in a small quantity to purchase from Hybrid Training for $65 (+ organising delivery).
• Two inflatable pieces of equipment such as wobble cushions, or fitbones.
• Jump poles and cones / cans / plastic containers to make cavaletti

Syllabus:

• Check for form in basic skills: sit to stand, stand to down, bow, side stepping, reversing.
• Strength
• Balance
• Combination exercises
• Aerobic fitness discussion and demo
• Stretching
• Discussion about a balanced fitness program

Advanced fitness for performance dogs

Suitable for:

Handlers and dogs that have had a reasonable amount of instruction in fitness before, and are confident in the skills listed in the intermediate fitness syllabus. Please note that this is intended for dogs whose growth plates have closed, with no preexisting health conditions, or lameness, that have a very good general level of fitness.

Equipment required:

• One aerobic step, and two small stable platforms. These should be topped with a non-slip surface. These are available in a small quantity to purchase from Hybrid Training for $65 + organising delivery.
• Two inflatable pieces of equipment such as wobble cushions, or fitbones, that are the same size.
• Four foot pods.
• A peanut, or two peanuts for larger dogs, with a way to stabilise
• Eight cavaletti, or jump poles and cones / empty coke cans

Syllabus:

• Check for form in basic skills: sit to stand, stand to down, bow, side stepping, reversing.
• Strength
• Balance
• Aerobic fitness
• Cavaletti
• Discussion and task about creating combinations on different equipment set ups
• Discussion and demo about treadmill use
• Discussion about a balanced fitness program

Puppy foundation fitness fun

Suitable for:

Young dog’s 18 months or less whose growth plates have not closed. The program and general syllabus will be similar to the beginner fitness program, though with limitations appropriate for growing dogs.

Equipment required:

One aerobic step, and two small stable platforms. These should be topped with a non-slip surface. These are available in a small quantity to purchase from Hybrid Training for $65 + organising delivery.

Also a range of other materials to get puppy used to different textured surfaces.

Syllabus:

• Information and planning appropriate puppy training.
• Preparing puppy’s for advanced equipment: working on different surfaces.
• Things to avoid with young dogs.
• Nail and feet work
• Preparing for life as a performance dog: preparation for physio or similar treatment.  
• Base positions
• Base movements
• Base skills
• Base stretches

November 2017 - End of January 2018 These courses will be run via secret Facebook groups. All participants can post as many videos as they like, and ask as many questions as they like. Tasks and exercises will be posted through the three months, as a pace that suits participants (some exercises may need longer than others). Exercises will be posted as a video, with a written explanation on the post. $75NZD per dog

Email: hybriddogtraining@gmail.com for more information or to book a spot. 

Nails

So many of you that have been to a seminar with me, or attend lessons, know that I'm a little particular about dog's nails. Well actually more than a little particular.... I've had students arrive saying 'Pease dont look at his nails, I know they are too long!'

I believe that short nails are a simple and easy way to improve your dog's movement, and reduce the change of injury. Not only are long nails more easily caught and damaged, but longer nails mean that toes are easier to injure. Toe injuries can be very difficult to rehabilitate due to the difficulty in immobilising feet, and also the complex nature of the area with so many bones, tendons and joints. 

The other problem with long toe nails is that long nails push the foot into a different position, which impacts every joint above the foot. This means that every one of your dog's joint is bearing weight in a slightly different way to how it should. 

Here is some more information on Susan Garrett's blog: http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2013/08/cutting-your-dogs-nails-how-important-is-it-really/ 

I prefer to Dremel my dog's nails, and do this approximately once a week. My dogs do not walk on concrete, so do not wear their nails down at all naturally. Also Deo's tiny nails grow like weeds, and are very sharp! I only use the clippers if the nails are a little longer than normal, so I can reduce the time that it takes to dremel. 

Deo and Evo have been trained since tiny puppies in loving manicures. I started with them as puppies getting upside down cuddles on my knees, and spent lots of time handling feet and toes, including tapping toes with a metal teaspoon. So now they are a breeze to do. They literally fight to be first in the line for nail work. 

Chace however is a sensitive soul, and find's nail trimming very difficult. It's a constant work in progress. I've spent her entire life counterconditioning and desensitising her to this process, but she still dosent particularly like it. So I've just had my first session shaping her shortening her own nails on a DIY scratch board. You can see at the end of this video how much she likes this! Whilst I will still have to dremel her nails, hopefully with this I wont have do this quite as frequently. 

I also trim the fur between the dog's pads, as this helps reduce slipping, and also things getting stuck between their pads. Some people use clippers for this, but I just use little scissors. 

Another option to help make nail's a positive experience, is the use of a stickable licking device. This is particularly useful for dog's who find nails better while standing. Below is a photo of one that I made using a $2 shop suction hook and Kmart silicon pot holder, that I'm using to brush Chace.... something she hates almost as much as nails! 

Big events and the planning involved

So in New Zealand our national agility competition is coming up. For most competitors, this is a competition that is worked towards over the year, as well as highlight - both in terms of our competing, and socially.

So how are you planning your lead up to this event?  I posted earlier in the year about planning ahead.

Here's some things to consider:

• Goals

Have SMART goals for the event. As hard as it is to not just say 'I'd really love one ribbon' this is not realistic, as this is not specific to what you are able to control. It's related to the performance of others.  For example, I'm aiming to have two runs where Evo holds his start line in a sit, where I leave him, until I release him with 'Okay'. This is the main skill I have been working on with my baby dog over the last few months, as overarousal is a big factor for him in the ring. 

• Number of events

Not all dogs should be entered in every event. Chace is only entered in two runs over the weekend, and there is still a chance I may scratch her from these. Some dog's just aren't physically fit enough for the huge volume of runs. Some dog's will not deal well with the intense environment, or nerves of the handler, and some handlers will struggle to do justice while running multiple dogs. There is also always the chance that the weather and ground conditions are not ideal. Keep in mind it's just a competition. You are allowed to scratch your dog if it's the best thing for them. 

• Training and fitness work: tapering and peaking

For training to be effective, and to continue to challenge dog's training should put their body into a certain level of training stress. Without sufficient stress, the body will not have the physiological adaptions required to show improvement. In canine fitness training, this means continually changing and adding to their program. 

However, you dont want to be working on their full program leading right up to the big event. We want some reduction in activity, so they are not sore, tired, and are well rested. Research has shown that tapering activity in the few days up to the event is the most effective way to do this.   

"A well-designed taper can improve performance by about 3% over the year’s best performance. The taper should involve a progressive decrease in training volume of 70 to 90% and an increase or maintenance of training intensity over a seven- to 21-day period. The decreased training volume should be accomplished by decreasing distance or time per session. The number of training sessions per week should not be reduced by more than 20 to 50%. "

• Specialist's 

So I have to admit. I pre-booked in with my physio about three months out from the event, to ensure that my dogs would have the treatments they require. She is super busy, and amazing so I wanted to make sure I can get in to see her! I also want to ensure that my dogs are cleared to compete, with the intensity in training increasing leading up to the event. 

• Over the event

Look after your canine athlete's body! Pay attention to their fluid intake, and consider if they need a fuel boost over the day. Take the time to warm them up, and cool them down. Keep them warm in between events, and give them time to decompress at the end of the day - a bone to chew, frozen Kong, and a nice stroll where sniffing is encouraged! This isn't any normal from any other show, just sometimes harder to fit into a long event. 

Remember to take some time to enjoy you and your dog. Smile, give them a hug, and celebrate the success you are having. 

 

• Recovery

Have some physical and mental time off after planned in. You will both be tired! Physically it's a long event, and you and your canine athlete will be tired, and have small micro muscle tears that need time and energy to repair. I tend to take a few days off everything except for a few gentle short walks, and also a week or two off all agility training if possible. Enjoy this time, celebrate your success as a team. 

Remember to be grateful: of your dog, your team work, the ability to compete, and most of all the journey that you and your teammate have made. 

 - https://www.peakcentre.ca/general-endurance-sports/tapering-for-the-big-event/ 

 - https://keatsacademy.mykajabi.com/blog/after-the-peak 

 - https://www.freelapusa.com/tapering-for-speed-power-events-a-look-at-the-science/