Clean Run Magazine - April 2007 - 22

© CLEAN RUN Wendy Pape To prepare a dog to run agility in bad weather, I like to get him to “play” in bad weather. If a dog will play in different weather conditions, it will be easier to get him to work in those conditions. Start in good weather in a location where your dog is comfortable (I call it the “comfort zone”). Play games that involve just you and the dog (no toys or food); for example, chase me, hide and seek, tag, and so on. Then add playing in poor weather conditions. If you want your dog to work in rain, start when there is a light drizzle—not a downpour. Remember to always stop play with your dog wanting more. Start with short sessions and gradually extend the length of playtime. Once the dog wants to play with just you, introduce a tug or food toy. You can play fetch, race me, and so on. Try to add obedience and/or tricks to your play sessions, using play as the reward for exercises. Remember to keep it fun. If it is not fun and enjoyable, why do it with enthusiasm? Wendy Pape started in agility 12 years ago with her Great Dane, Halea, and has since titled multiple breeds. Wendy and husband Mike own and manage K-9 Educational Training Center of Hillsborough in Tampa, Florida. Contact Wendy via her website www.ketch.biz or email her at ketchagility@aol.com. When your dog will play in poor weather conditions in his comfort zone, take it on the road. Try playing in different locations: local park, down the block, friend’s yard, and so forth. Start each play session with just you, then add toys, then obedience and tricks. As you did before, add poor weather conditions as part of the progression. This may be easier for some dogs than others. When your dog can play in different places in poor weather conditions, it is time to add equipment in a comfort zone. Let your dog get used to the surface conditions on the flat, and then do short easy sequences with frequent rewards. Start and end with play. Be careful when adding contacts to your sequences because they can become slippery in rain, mud, and freezing temperatures. Your dog’s safety always comes ﬁrst. Put your dog on a veterinarianapproved ﬁtness program. Extreme weather conditions can stress the dog’s body, even without adding equipment. Teach your dog to accept being wet down before and after exercise. Learn how to massage your dog. Muscles can be sore after running agility in good weather conditions. Add extreme weather and you can bet the dog will need a good massage. Here are some tips for preparing for poor weather conditions: • Heat: Teach your dog to accept getting wet before and after exercise. Find your dog’s minimum warm-up before a run. When you trial only warm up your dog as much as necessary so the dog does not get too hot. If you go over that warm-up limit, wet your dog between the legs and under the neck before running. • Cold: Teach your dog to wear coats that can help warm him. Find your dog’s maximum warmup before a run. When you trial warm up your dog as far as you can but don’t overdo it. • Rain and Mud: Play and train in deep sand when mud is unavailable. Train the dog to be careful and collect his stride when surfaces are not at their best. When trialing in mud and on wet surfaces, give your dog adequate room to make adjustments to obstacle approaches; also give him extremely good approaches to contacts and chutes. B e sure your dog can handle extreme weather that you may encounter and ask yourself if it is safe to run your team in certain extreme weather conditions. Ann ~ Autumn / Barbara ~ Zoe, Roxie, Kace, Hannah, & Delta / Carol ~ Chance, Sophie, Harley, Z, & Rowen / Carole ~ Rommel / Cathy ~ Milo / Connie ~ Penny / David & Stephanie ~ Zoe, & Molly / Gary ~ Echo / Gary & Ginny ~ Buzz, Jessie & Domino / John & Deborah ~ Amber, Bee, & Q / Kelsey ~ Abby & Buddy / Kristin ~ Aslan, Jericho, & Laika / Laura ~ Ooley & Alley / Linda & John ~ Dollie / Linda ~ Cece / Lisa ~ Ropa & Rhea / Lisa ~ Samson / Marilyn ~ Jamie, Echo, Rudy, & Caruso / Mary ~ Indi & Angus / Maureen ~ Wins & Kevin / Mom & Dad ~ Romeo / Nancy & Mike ~ Dorrie & Merlin / Paul ~ Talley / Robert & Lynda ~ Tanky, Khaki, & Cher / Sharon ~ Gunner, Twister, & Scottie / Suzanne ~ Lady Josephine / Ted ~ Abby / Tonya ~ Jackson, Ryleigh, Axle & Rags / TEAM DOGTAG 22 © STEVE BULL, SIRIUS PHOTOGRAPHY Clean Run | April 07

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Clean Run Magazine - April 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - April 2007