Clean Run Magazine - December 2008 - 17

Older dogs may only be able to walk 2-5 minutes and may require rest periods. For weight loss, the sessions may begin at 5 minutes secondary to the dog’s condition and lack of endurance. Sessions may be performed twice a day initially until the dog is capable of 20 minutes of sustained activity. To avoid a training plateau due to your dog’s boredom with the exercise, vary both speed and time on the treadmill. Alternating between endurance and strengthening levels will provide an all-around workout for your dog. • Endurance activities may include a trot for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the dog’s stamina. • Strength activities include a slower pace at an incline for 10 to 15 minutes. • Interval training is also beneficial and allows variations in speed. The intervals will vary between walking and trotting, or trotting and running, and the intervals can be anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds in length. Some treadmills can be pre-programmed for various workouts that can be saved to be altered as your dog gains strength and endurance. Following is an example of a week of treadmill training during the winter months. • Monday: 15 minutes of trotting at 4 mph to 5 mph • Tuesday: 20 minutes of interval training. Warm up 5 minutes at 3 mph. Vary intervals for 10 minutes: between 60 seconds at 5 mph and 60 seconds at 3 mph. Cool down for 5 minutes. • Wednesday: 15 minutes of incline work; 10% incline at 3 mph • Thursday: 30 minutes of endurance work at 4 mph • Friday: Take a day o • Saturday: 15 minutes of trotting at 4 to 5 mph • Sunday: 20 minutes of interval training as above Warm-up and Cool Down Each treadmill session should begin with a warm-up and stretching activities. Also, the session should end with a cool down followed by stretching. • The warm-up should consist of at least 5 minutes of a slow walk, on or o the treadmill, followed by light stretching of the major muscle groups. • Begin the cool down with a slow, progressive reduction in speed on the treadmill. For example, if the dog has been trotting at 5 mph, slow the speed down to 4 mph for 1 minute, then 3 mph for another minute, 2 mph for a minute, and then 1 mph for a minute. Once the dog is off the treadmill, walk him around for a few minutes and nish with stretching. A treadmill should not replace time spent with your dog, and if the weather allows, walks outside are favored. A treadmill does, however, o er an alternative for those rainy, snowy, and cold days, or for those handlers who do not have access to good walking areas. D Dr. Debbie Gross Saunders has worked with animals for over 15 years and is a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner and licensed physical therapist. Her clinic and training facility, Wizard of Paws, is located in Connecticut, and specializes in the performance dog. Visit her website at www.wizardofpaws.net or email her at wizofpaws@aol.com. © CLeaN rUN December 08 | Clean Run 17 17

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Clean Run Magazine - December 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - December 2008