Front Matter

Chapter 10 Conditioning and Retraining the Canine Athlete 249

be encouraged to follow a kayak or canoe by
using verbal praise and treats.
Land treadmills can be used for endurance
conditioning as long as the treadmill is at least
2.5 times the length of the dog’s body from the
manubrium to the ischiatic tuberosity
(Figure 10.31). With most larger dogs this rules
out the use of treadmills designed for humans.
Because trotting on a treadmill does not exer­
cise as many muscles as trotting over ground,
and because having the legs pulled out from
under the body is thought to affect the muscu­
lature differently from using the limbs to power
across the ground (Van Caekenberghe et  al.,
2013), treadmills should not constitute the main
method for endurance conditioning in canine
athletes that specialize in endurance events

such as mushing, field trials, and herding trials.

They can, however, be an outstanding alterna­

tive during inclement weather and can provide

variety in training. Other cautions for use of the

treadmill include not having the treadmill face

a wall or other solid surface, not harnessing a

dog to a treadmill, and using treadmills only

with dogs that enjoy the practice.

Underwater treadmills can add a significant

amount of resistance to the training regimen of

a canine athlete. As with land treadmills, the

dog should predominantly be gaited at a trot,

although bursts of faster speeds can be added

for variety. This exercise provides a nice combi­

nation of both strength and endurance. See

Chapter  9 for more information on the use of

underwater treadmills.

Balance between strength

and endurance training

Dogs should receive strength and endurance

training in proportion to the amount of each

type of activity the dog is required to perform

in its sport(s) or job. Figure  10.32 shows a

continuum between endurance and strength

sports in dogs and the points on that contin­

uum at which the most common canine perfor­

mance events lie. Performance events that

require mainly endurance include mushing,

herding, and field trials. Performance events

that have both endurance and strength com­

ponents include upper level (masters) hunt

tests and tracking. Performance events that

Figure 10.31 Dog exercising on a land treadmill. This
treadmill is just large enough at 2.5 times the length of
the dog’s body. Notice that the dog is trotting.

Long distance mushing

Sprint mushingHerding

Lure coursing

Tracking

Field Trials

Hunt tests

Greyhound racing

Agility

Whippet racing

Conformation

Earthdog

Obedience

Flyball

Rally

Carting

Barn hunt

Nosework

Weight pulling

Endurance Strength-endurance continuum Strength

Figure 10.32 The strength‐endurance continuum. Competitions that require mainly endurance are on the left side and
those that require mainly strength are on the right.