Personally I am not sure that I would feel comfortable treadmilling a 14mos dog. I don't see how that is any different than jogging/roadworking a dog and I know you need to wait until the dog's done growing at 18-24 mos and maybe even get hips done before this too to make sure.I was curious how you condition your show goldens . Do you start your puppies very young?
I am competing in obedience and our instructor wants us to condition our dogs.
My guy is only 14 months, we walk daily. She mentioned we should use a treadmill.
I was not sure what is safe if we cannot run a dog till his growth plates are closed.
I hear treadmill work, so isn't that sort of running them as well it is slower but still isn't that hard on young joints? So confused.. LOL..
Thank you.
I will not treadmill a dog until they are at least 18 mos old - and preferably 24, just as with roadworking. Roadwork consists of biking, hill work, and free running in sand. Swimming is done as often as possible, starting as young as they want.Personally I am not sure that I would feel comfortable treadmilling a 14mos dog. I don't see how that is any different than jogging/roadworking a dog and I know you need to wait until the dog's done growing at 18-24 mos and maybe even get hips done before this too to make sure.
Swimming for a younger dog is really good exercise though. I take mine several times throughout the week (almost daily) and she is 6 months old. She is very lean and muscular (have gotten some comments on her) although that wasn't my intention with the puppy I am certain it is from swimming.
I also am not one to not allow stairs, but I do keep them lean (NOT underwieght) and I don't keep them on soft surfaces, etc, I don't do roadwork or other "hard labor" until 18-24 months NOT because of clearances, but because I don't want to injure them.Prior to clearances they get plenty of free exercise, including swimming. The reason I DO roadwork is not only about conditioning, but biking really enhances how they move on lead in the ring.I rarely "road work" my dogs before shows, yes. I find chasing the ball does most the work and I keep all my dogs fit puppies or adults but would not road work a dog until his/her final clearances. The standard says Goldens should be shown "in hard working condition" so I def try to carry that out with my specials...they are more forgiving with puppies for obvious reasons. Although, I will not allow my dogs to live on only soft surfaces, not do stairs, be kept very underweight, and not allow them to play and fetch JUST to get my clearances. I know many breeders that practice this.... when they do get their "good" hip rating, how good are they? If they can't do what they are bred to do physically (within reason of course) then really your clearance if that’s how you get it mean nothing. But I am way off subject here so I will end my late night rambling in this post anyway.
I do keep mine lean and at a healthy weight but I have seen some that keep them in a rack of bones state which I don't agree with.I also am not one to not allow stairs, but I do keep them lean (NOT underwieght) and I don't keep them on soft surfaces, etc, I don't do roadwork or other "hard labor" until 18-24 months NOT because of clearances, but because I don't want to injure them.Prior to clearances they get plenty of free exercise, including swimming. The reason I DO roadwork is not only about conditioning, but biking really enhances how they move on lead in the ring.
