Clean Run - October 2010 - 15

times. If your dog is excitable, select warm-up activities that require concentration rather than activities that can overstimulate the dog. A “hot” dog is not a warmed-up dog! Use a 5-7 minute loosen-up phase. Do your active stretches in the shade and keep your sprints and/or retrieves short. Allow time between the anaerobic work and your performance to let the dog cool down a bit. Panting is fine. Heaving means you’ve done too much. You can wet the dog after your active stretches. Use a hose since running water removes heat faster than a dip in stationary water. Don’t soak the dog to the skin; rather, concentrate on wetting a few target areas: armpits, belly, groin, and paws. Water evaporation will keep the dog cool during the anaerobic work and the bridging the gap exercises. A cool coat can be used during the bridging the gap exercises to keep the dog cool before he goes in the ring. Do not, however, put a cool coat on a soaking wet dog. Most cooling coats don’t allow enough air flow for the water to evaporate so you create a sauna-like environment under the coat instead of cooling the dog. Note: Wetting your dog does not take the place of a warm-up or cool down. High Humidity With humidity you have to be vigilant to prevent your dog from overheating. Dogs cool through evaporation, which is difficult to do when it is humid. It is okay to wet your dog before you start your anaerobic work but do not use ice-cold water and don’t soak the dog to the skin; rather, concentrate on wetting a few target areas: armpits, belly, groin, and paws. A cool coat can be used during the bridging the gap exercises to keep him cool. As explained above, however, do not put a cool coat on a wet dog. Make sure the dog is not panting heavily when you put him in an enclosed crate, which can also raise humidity around the dog. D

A proper warm-up does not tire the dog but rather ensures that the dog can give an optimal performance.
Diane Goodspeed is an agility instructor at Top Dog in Flanders, New Jersey, and competes in AKC and USDAA with her Sheltie Demon and her Border Collie Kenzie. Diane and Demon are two-time AKC Nationals Finalists, placing 3rd and 5th, and are members of the 2010 AKC World Team. Diane has been competing in agility, obedience, rally, and herding with her BCs, Shelties, and Lhasa Apsos since 1992. With 12 years experience as a human physical therapist, Petra Ford is now certified and practicing as a canine physical therapist. Together with Dr. Kristine Conway, she owns and operates Aqua Dog Rehabilitation, LLC. Petra and her Labrador Retriever Tyler are the 2008 and 2009 AKC National Obedience Champions and placed 2nd in the 2010 World Obedience Championships at Crufts.

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Clean Run - October 2010

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