Warm up your dog!
I received an e-mail from Jörn Oleby, author of the book, ”Canine Massage and Stretching – A Dog Owners Manual". Jörn had wrote an informative article called "Warm up your dog!" and wanted to know if I would like to share it with the readers of All About Labradors.
What do you think my reply was? Well... those of you that know me by now, understand that anything that can be helpful to our lovable Labrador Retrievers will be posted on this blog.
Warm up your dog!
Working dogs, Hunting dogs, Bird dogs and regular family dogs are often exposed to sudden, extensive pressure, in their work or during lively play in the exercise yard. Another example is putting the dog into a cold car in the winter and then letting it out to run around and play.
We can take a racing Greyhound as an example. When the race starts and the dog is released from the starting box in reaches a speed of 60 kilometres an hour in a few seconds. If the dog has not warmed up and the tissues are not prepared for exertion there is considerable risk of strain and other injuries.
By warming up we mean getting warm through activity and increasing the temperature in the musculature. The increase in blood flow allows the muscles to absorb nutrients more easily. The speed of nerve impulses causing muscles to contract increases and the dog is able to run faster. A sound warm up does not tire the dog but rather increases blood circulation and warms up the muscles ensuring that the joints are lubricated and more supple. The dog is then ready to perform more demanding physical exertion without running the risk of injury.
How to do it!
Warming up (regular family dogs) can involve walking with the dog on the lead for 15 - 20 minutes before allowing it to run freely. In this way the muscles soften up and and are ready for physical activity. Competitive and working dogs could warm up in a more goal-oriented way.
Here is a check list that could be used before the exercise:
· Let the dog walk slowly for a while and then increase the tempo for 2-3 minutes.
· Let the dog trot for 2-3 minutes.
· Let the dog gallop for one minute.
· Then let the dog make some short explosive moves.
· Let the dog wind down a little by going back to trotting and then walking.
(I also strongly recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after the exercise before any stretching activities.)
As a dog owner there is nothing we can do to prevent all accidents. However we can prevent muscle related problems and strain injuries by warming up our dogs regularly.
Under these conditions the dog can access optimal gait and stretch to its full length. This keeps the dog well- balanced physically and psychologically, allowing it to retain the agility of the young dog to an advanced age.Warming up should be an automatic element in the health care, a complement to your dogs daily exercise, obedience training an diet and are suitable for all dogs regardless of breed, age or size.
Jörn Oleby, author of the book ”Canine Massage and Stretching – A Dog Owners Manual" (www.amazon.com)
Technorati Tags: all about labradors, labrador retriever, labrador health, labrador, labs, retriever, dogs, pets, Warm up your dog, Canine Massage and Stretching
What do you think my reply was? Well... those of you that know me by now, understand that anything that can be helpful to our lovable Labrador Retrievers will be posted on this blog.
Working dogs, Hunting dogs, Bird dogs and regular family dogs are often exposed to sudden, extensive pressure, in their work or during lively play in the exercise yard. Another example is putting the dog into a cold car in the winter and then letting it out to run around and play.
We can take a racing Greyhound as an example. When the race starts and the dog is released from the starting box in reaches a speed of 60 kilometres an hour in a few seconds. If the dog has not warmed up and the tissues are not prepared for exertion there is considerable risk of strain and other injuries.
By warming up we mean getting warm through activity and increasing the temperature in the musculature. The increase in blood flow allows the muscles to absorb nutrients more easily. The speed of nerve impulses causing muscles to contract increases and the dog is able to run faster. A sound warm up does not tire the dog but rather increases blood circulation and warms up the muscles ensuring that the joints are lubricated and more supple. The dog is then ready to perform more demanding physical exertion without running the risk of injury.
How to do it!
Warming up (regular family dogs) can involve walking with the dog on the lead for 15 - 20 minutes before allowing it to run freely. In this way the muscles soften up and and are ready for physical activity. Competitive and working dogs could warm up in a more goal-oriented way.
Here is a check list that could be used before the exercise:
· Let the dog walk slowly for a while and then increase the tempo for 2-3 minutes.
· Let the dog trot for 2-3 minutes.
· Let the dog gallop for one minute.
· Then let the dog make some short explosive moves.
· Let the dog wind down a little by going back to trotting and then walking.
(I also strongly recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after the exercise before any stretching activities.)
As a dog owner there is nothing we can do to prevent all accidents. However we can prevent muscle related problems and strain injuries by warming up our dogs regularly.
Under these conditions the dog can access optimal gait and stretch to its full length. This keeps the dog well- balanced physically and psychologically, allowing it to retain the agility of the young dog to an advanced age.Warming up should be an automatic element in the health care, a complement to your dogs daily exercise, obedience training an diet and are suitable for all dogs regardless of breed, age or size.
Jörn Oleby, author of the book ”Canine Massage and Stretching – A Dog Owners Manual" (www.amazon.com)
Technorati Tags: all about labradors, labrador retriever, labrador health, labrador, labs, retriever, dogs, pets, Warm up your dog, Canine Massage and Stretching
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