How do you get your dogs in shape?

[Jonjhawk]

I live in a city and don't have access to fields to road him or anything like that. I run with him when I can but I'm away at school and so I can only come back once or twice a week. How do you all get your dogs in shape for the season?

[david0311]

I live in a city and don't have access to fields to road him or anything like that. I run with him when I can but I'm away at school and so I can only come back once or twice a week. How do you all get your dogs in shape for the season?

I have labs--
So--in addition to normal training--I'm a big believer in swimming them to get/keep them in shape--either by long-long retrieves or blinds--or hand thrown or machine throw bumpers--
Up to several 3-4 hundred yard marks or blinds-or a hour or more of thrown bumpers as season gets closer--jmo

[mstand]

Treadmill and off season training. Join a group like NAVHDA and train for tests. It only makes a better hunting dog.

[chrokeva]

Piles set at about 100 yards....after 20 or so she starts to get pretty tired. Also lucky launchers to spice things up.

[Gumboot]

I live in a city and don't have access to fields to road him or anything like that. I run with him when I can but I'm away at school and so I can only come back once or twice a week. How do you all get your dogs in shape for the season?

Not sure where in Kansas your from, but I live in the Kansas City area. I run my dogs on thousands of acres of public ground within an hours drive of where I live, some within 30 minutes. Think Wildlife Mgtmt areas, State Parks, Corp of Engineer lakes...check the off leash regs. Jonjhawk??? If you're in Lawrence you have a pretty good size corp lake in your backyard.

I believe its important to keep dogs wt optimal and never let them get profoundly out of shape during the off season. Wish I could regulate my intake as well as I do the dogs.

[treedaddy]

I try to get mine out on short runs late in the day, gradually building up the time they run. Mine are never really in shape when I take my yearly South Dakota hunt in early November. In the mid south where I live, it gets in the 90's through much of October. When we come home from South Dakota though, they are ready to roll .

[AtTheMurph]

I take my dog out to some deserted areas with little traffic and bring a bike. Park the car. I ride and he runs. Depending on how hot it is we might go 2 miles and we might go 6-7 miles.

[TonyS]

Bike can be used anywhere and will give you the option of distance.

[sweese]

Bike can be used anywhere and will give you the option of distance.

I did a lot with a bike this year and I agree. However, if you do not have a dog that heals well at a walk or run then don't do it. You could easily wreck. For me, I was able to put a lot of conditioning on my retriever and she ran strong upland hunting.

[A5 Sweet 16]

Buzz prefers the beer & pizza training regimen.