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A healthy dog  makes all the difference:
 

STRETCH ~ Important before and after activity for both you and your dog.  Never stretch cold muscles, it causes injury.  Warm up by jogging around a little or brisk walking about with your dog.  Then do your stretches. When done, do light stretching as you cool down with your dog. 
 
RECOVERY TIME - Like people, dogs need time to recover from physical activity. Too much intense training can lead to injury.  Let your dog have a few days off during the week. I only train a couple of days a week with one long session.  I also don't train for 24 hours after a chriropractic adjustment or 2 days before a trial.
 
 
 

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NUTRITION ~ An overweight dog should not be jumping high jumps.  Dogs at a good working weight should have their ribs easily felt when you run your hands along their sides.  They should have an obvious abdominal tuck as well (in other words...a nice waist-line)
  • SUPPLEMENTS ~ To use them or not?  Your choice, but some supplements can help maintain joint health (those with glucosamine etc) while others improve digestion and then there are vitamin supplements as well. 
    •  Anmial Essentials(www.animalessentials.com)  herbal vitamins, digestive enzymes and other additive to help with allergies and times of stress...I've been using this line for years and am very pleased.

INJURIES ~ If your dog shows signs of lameness, soreness or is refusing to execute an obstacle that it normally does, check for injury. Look for swelling or heat in a certain area.  If in doubt don't run your dog. Give it a couple of days off and if not improving, go to the vet.  Even a pulled muscle could be more damaging than you think.
  • CHIROPRACTIC ~ Proper alignment is important overall health and performance. 
  • ACCUPUNCTURE ~ Accupuncture opens up energy pathways and promotes healing. Goes hand in hand with chiropractic.
  • ORTHOPAEDIC VET - This is a vet who specializes in bone and joint injuries.  If you think something is REALLY wrong go see one.  If the problem is not clearing up, go see one. 

 

Training Tips for practice sessions:

CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR -- Take advice and listen to others. Do what's right for YOUR dog.  But at the same time, be open to suggestions and at least TRY new things. You don't have to adopt them as part of your bag of tricks, but at least give them a try.
 
WATCH OTHERS - When in class, it is fun to socialize, but if you watch others run their dogs and listen to what the instructor has to say, you will learn alot.  Many people make the same mistakes you make, and seeing someone make the mistake and then fix it, may help you to figure out how to correct yours.
 
BRING A NOTEBOOK to class / workshop / seminar....Copy down sequences to set up when you are training alone.  Write down important ideas. It become a nice reference for you.
 
End on a POSITIVE note: No matter what happens or doesn't in your training session, end with something that your dog will have success with. Even if it something easy, he/she will feel good and so will you.  Hug your dog & thank it for playing with you.
 
CHANGE your TREATS / TOYS once and a while ... your dog will love it and maybe work a little harder.  On that note, think about not feeding your dog before you train either.
 
VIDEO! - Get someone to videotape your so you can watch yourself and your dog. You may see something you are missing.
 
GROUP TRAIN - Get a bunch of friends and work on stuff together. 
 
MATCHES & RUN THRUS - Get out to new places to practice.  New environments may pose new training challenges.  Get your dog used to going to new places and working on different equipment.
 
WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS - If you can afford to - take workshops and seminars on training toics of interest to you.  This way you can train with a new group in a new location.  The presenter may pick up on something you are missing.  If you can go to a workshop and take ONE GOOD THING away from it, it is successful.
 
ASK QUESTIONS - The only dumb questions are the ones that go un-asked.  Any instructor worth their salt will take the time to explain or re-explain things to you.
 

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