Getting dogs fit

[Clodagh]

I’ve just had an op which ended up being bigger than anticipated, with a longer recovery time. I’ve got no bending or lifting for 4 weeks! So mid August.
2nd September is first days shooting so the dogs and hopefully me need to be fully up to speed. OH is ticking them over walk wise and I can start doing more walking after a week. But I can’t deal with a crisis like another dog kicking off so will be limited as to where I can go.
Obviously no training possible, although OH will do some ball wanging so they get a run, and he’s good on the wait and all that.
Thoughts on buying a dummy launcher? Or any other hints that might help.
Thank you.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Is there anywhere you can take them for a good swim?

 

[Clodagh]

Not without driving. And then a short walk. And they won’t swim unless I throw a dummy. (Although it is my to do plan for as soon as I can)

 

[Jenko109]

I know you almost certainly wont be as bonkers as me....but....if you walk super early in the morning, then you can walk anywhere.

We were on the forest by 3.55am this morning.

It wasn't busy

 

[druid]

Mine get fit swimming or doing long memory retrieves, preferably up hills. No need for throwing dummies, just drop them on the floor

 

[Clodagh]

I know you almost certainly wont be as bonkers as me....but....if you walk super early in the morning, then you can walk anywhere.

We were on the forest by 3.55am this morning.

It wasn't busy

As I can’t drive for a while it would be walking up our road, which is fine but farmers are as nuts as you! (I’m not ).

 

[Clodagh]

Mine get fit swimming or doing long memory retrieves, preferably up hills. No need for throwing dummies, just drop them on the floor

Actually yes that I can do, as soon as I can walk to the bottom of the hill.

 

[whirlwind]

Can you cycle? Might be an easier way to get some miles into them (as long as they’re not too likely to send you flying )

 

[Clodagh]

Can you cycle? Might be an easier way to get some miles into them (as long as they’re not too likely to send you flying )

Haven’t done so for years… no intention of starting again and it would be physically impossible atm!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Agree sprints uphill are very good. It depends what kind of fitness also...explosive work or endurance, etc etc!!

 

[Clodagh]

Agree sprints uphill are very good. It depends what kind of fitness also...explosive work or endurance, etc etc!!

Both!? . In normal years I do serious road work daily (well fairly serious, 3 or 4 miles) and then training either in water, fields or woods for the running. But that ain’t gonna be happening just yet.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Have you access to a treadmill? That would help with the endurance. For sprints I would leave the dog in a stay or have someone else hold them and send them to an item or person up a hill, rather than lots of turns generated by chasing, if that makes sense.
As has been mentioned by other people about their dogs, with those breeds that are built to conserve energy/travel long distances, they are capable of just walking/roadwork for days, but are wiped out by short bursts of explosive work.
Some folks use parachutes/weight pull and resistance bands and whatnot. I have a set of weighted bands which were fab when the boys were competing but they are far too big for the tiny dog I have now!!

 

[Clodagh]

They don’t turn to chase as any training is done to retrieves, so they sit until I send them. Iyswim.
They sort of need endurance as well as cardio fitness.
No access to a treadmill. I do the roadwork to harden their feet and get all over muscle tone. I can actually tire them mentally just on the lawn but it’s more actual fittening I need.

 

[Spot the Merry Risk]

Water treadmill? Anything up at the trainers yard we went to see (can’t remember his name again)? That’ll work for the dogs, I think you will just have to do what you can physically manage. Thankfully you’re fairly fit already!

 

[Clodagh]

Water treadmill? Anything up at the trainers yard we went to see (can’t remember his name again)? That’ll work for the dogs, I think you will just have to do what you can physically manage. Thankfully you’re fairly fit already!

Mmm… I could ask but it might be stretching his goodwill too far!

 

[druid]

You can put 3 spaniels side by side on a horses sized hyrdo treadmill.......!Water to stifle level, working walk speed. 20mins is plenty

 

[Spot the Merry Risk]

Mmm… I could ask but it might be stretching his goodwill too far!

Isn’t there a dog rehab (appreciate it’s not rehab) place there too?

 

[I'm Dun]

Have you got a dog pool near you? I take mine once a week and the difference in fitness is staggering. Its edurance fitness as well, rather than sprint fitness. Tricky if you cant drive though I bet a pack of labs will happily launch in so you dont need to get in with them.

Failing that, a dog walker? Its nearly summer holidays so you might find a nearby competent teenager who listens to instructions and wants some pocket money.

 

[Clodagh]

Isn’t there a dog rehab (appreciate it’s not rehab) place there too?

Horse rehab.

 

[Clodagh]

Have you got a dog pool near you? I take mine once a week and the difference in fitness is staggering. Its edurance fitness as well, rather than sprint fitness. Tricky if you cant drive though I bet a pack of labs will happily launch in so you dont need to get in with them.

Failing that, a dog walker? Its nearly summer holidays so you might find a nearby competent teenager who listens to instructions and wants some pocket money.

I live very rurally. I have a river near me but right now it’s as easy as to fly to the moon!
And I’m afraid I’d never use a dog walker.
But thank you!