Physical Conditioning before hunting season

[michael m]

As we approach another Fall Hunting season, I wondered... what extra fitness conditioning the members of this forum utilize for their dogs, and possibly themselves?
Cooler weather has arrived in my area, so I can start to increase the amount of physical conditioning my dog experiences. He is over 10 years old, so I keep him safe during hot summer months by not making things too intense. Pheasant Season starts here in about a month and both he and I need to get back into peak condition, as compared to the "good condition" we are now. We have been doing 3 miles walks together each evening all summer but need to up the intensity, though maybe not the distance.
Your Thoughts?
Michael M.

[emma_Dad]

If you have access to a lake he can swim a few times a week. Tends to bring conditioning levels up quickly and with a low risk of overdoing his joints and muscles.

[stepnout]

I second the swimming idea. Retrieving in water keeps them cool and works everything in and out. I also train in a fast moving river swimming in the current adds that extra workout.

If you are hunting pheasants you likely already keep you dogs weight down
Although BooBoo is my first Labrador I always ran pointers I believe in keeping my dogs weight down. Some of the old school thinking was to have weight on your dog for the cold season. I disagree I prefer to buy a very high quality, high protein, high fat and highly digestible food to supplement my dogs high activity during the hunting season. I think hard working dogs should be fed the best food the owner CAN AFFORD. I realize not everyone can afford $60 plus for 30 pounds of dog food but since running dogs almost 30 years(mostly English pointers) I can tell you, you get out of your dogs what you put into them. Of coarse you would cut back on the performance food after the season.

[michael m]

His weight is a bit high this year, that is what got me thinking about his conditioning before season. I do feed high quality food year round- Holistic Select Lamb and Rice or Duck varieties- but this year he has slowed his exercise pace. Used to be that while I did 3 miles, he was doing 7 miles. Now, he is content to stay closer and do less running around during our walks.
Started increasing the intensity level today, we still did our 3 miles at the faster pace and I did about 1/2 mile jogging. I am trying to protect his joints as he is now a "senior" in age. I do plan to take him to a nearby lake again, but there have been no ducks or geese on it, so he is less interested in taking long swims, since there is nothing to "flush to me". I still take a gun because I have a duck stamp but no geese so far during this early goose season. He has flushed Turkeys on a couple of occassions, in the fields that surround this lake, but obviously, there was no shot and retrieve. Once he starts finding pheasants, he will be thrilled again, but making sure he is physically ready prior to that first bird.

[BaconsMom]

Bacon does training with our local Lab club all summer, and we swim 2-3x per week. i would slowly increase swimming activity level over a few weeks, dont want to overdo it.

[IRISHWISTLER]

TRAD swims under the direction of his physical trainer "COACH MALLARD".






Highly aerobic, easy on the musculoskeletal system, teaches the dog to deal effectively
with crippled birds and to maintain persistence of the hunt / retrieve. TRAD would stay on a bird until he drowned if I let him. A great drill to synergize the young retriever in his or her drive for birds. Can ye hear the theme music from the movie JAWS playing in ye head as ye view these photo's?


Cheers,
IRISHWHISTLER

[Coalman]

Belle has also been under the watchful eye of COACH MALLARD. Thanks Mike!

[Labradorks]

Swimming, slowing increasing distance, and sprints.

[emma_Dad]

I need to find a Coach Mallard near us!

[EvanG]

Swimming, slowing increasing distance, and sprints.

If you're doing regular training, especially drill based work, your dog should be in great shape for the season. He will also be sharper when he needs to do his job. In the words of the late Hall of Fame trainer Rex Carr, "Just train the dog."

EvanG