how often do folk work there dog

[Naj]

+2

The guidelines on a feed bag are nonsense if you think about it. If you start with a dog that's even slightly overweight, which most pet dogs and many working dogs are, and then feed it according to the guidelines then it is only going to get fatter. And some dogs will just keep eating so feeding to appetite isn't helpful. Feed to (fit) condition and you'll never go wrong.

Naj

[ips]

I will feed her enough to satisfy (which will be more than the guide)

No. Feed the dog in front of you. Not "to satisfy"!

+1, and remember a really fit dog will look thin to most people who don't keep working dogs,!!

Well my bitch (if human) would be a nice size 10. Not a stick thin model or crazy woman who does jogging (I hate joggers) and not one that looks like she has made too many trips to MacDonalds. Just a nice normal shapely size.

[High On]

Conditioning takes several weeks to put a dog in peak condition. Depending on the dogs condition when you start. I start slow and increase work accordingly. Different work techniques\drills in rotation. Balancing everything so the results provide a dog that is ready for a days work. When my dogs are severely out of condition I start with 15/20 minute sessions and end with sessions lasting well over an hour. Also do multiple conditioning sessions in one day. Lots of time and effort like putting an athlete into training. If you do this you will notice a change in weight and metabolism at a certain point. Weight loss will be controlled with an increase of kibble. I weigh my dogs regularly when conditioning them. I find my dogs performance is affected by weight and condition. My dogs compete in trials in the USA.

[Springfield Pointers]

What do you mean by a "conditioning session"- what does that involve?

[Rough_mut]

What do you mean by a "conditioning session"- what does that involve?

I have my own conditionin sessions once a week. Its called me taking the dog to the reservoir which has a built up side, steep gradient and about 100yards in length. I walk to the second 'step' of this hill, use the tennis ball launcher to get the ball into the woods, send him and as he is running for it, put a blind in the wood on the side.

As long as the ball goes far enough into the wood to be a challenge to find, he will do this until his heart packs in! And its a big old hill coming back up!

As I do a lot of mountain days with him, or more so I use to do a lot, I like to think keeping the muscle on him will do him a lot of good!

Strangeley though..

He will do this for an hour (changing spots and cooling down in the reservoir as needed) , but have him hunt for 20 minutes and he seems more tired!

RM

[ips]

RM
Apparently police sniffer dogs only work 20mins then have a break so your observation seems to be correct.

[Springfield Pointers]

After 20 minutes they rest? Really?

I have a different approach, I just take them hunting. That seems to get them fit, and does everything in one go.

[munstyman]

After 20 minutes they rest? Really?

Its more about `the nose' and focus, rather than fitness though SP

[ips]

After 20 minutes they rest? Really?

Its more about `the nose' and focus, rather than fitness though SP

apparently all that hunting / sniffing for stuff is very fatiguing. I was merely saying that what RM had noticed in that his dog is more tired after "working" for twenty minutes than it is walking up mountains would make sense.

[Springfield Pointers]

All that hunting and sniffing around for stuff? - that's what these dogs are bred for!! If my dogs could only manage 20 minutes at a stretch, I would take them to the vet.