Have you ever thought about fitness and cross training your agility dog? Just as it is beneficial for us to cross-train, it’s just as important for our athletic canine companions.
By definition, cross-training refers to training in sports other than one that the athlete competes in with the goal of improving overall performance. As different sports and activities use different muscles, we become stronger overall. So wouldn’t it be beneficial for our agility dogs to learn or incorporate skills used from other sports?
Dock Diving
The great benefit about training your dog to dock dive is swimming. If you dog loves water this can be a great addition to your training routine or as a reward for a wonderful practice session. Swimming is great on the joints as it provides resistance, yet no jarring effects from running on the joints. WARNING: if you have a brachycephalic dog, do not force them to swim if they don’t want to, dogs with short snouts can intake water very quickly and drown.
Flyball
One of the greatest features about flyball are the quick short sprints. This also teaches your dog to “drive” over the jumps looking forward and not at you! This is easy to do… with a training partner (or use of a target) set the jumps as you would in a flyball course. The total distance is 102 feet, with the first jump 6 feet from the starting line, followed by the next 3 jumps set at 10 feet apart, set the target or your training partner 15 feet from the last jump. WARNING: Unless you have been trained in flyball, do not purchase or use a flyball box. Flyball dogs are taught to fit the box in a specific way as not to cause injury.
Disc Dog
What I love about disc dogs is the focus of each dog. But most importantly the fun you can have training your dog to perform tricks. Yes, not every dog has the special ability to fly through the air with a twist and somersault, but if they are able to jump up and catch the disc, what fun that can be!!! To learn how you can have more fun with this sport, check out Skyhoundz, they have great videos, and free training books available.
Strength Training
As humans when we cross-train we add strength training into your routines to help make our muscles nice and strong. And you can strength train with your dogs too! Now I don’t mean strapping on weights to your dog (there are doggy vests for that) I prefer to strength train with FitPaws Conditioning Equipment. Be sure to check out the following for more information on cross-training with FitPaws.
- Cross-training for Dogs & Puppies
- Building Your Dogs 6 Pack Part 1 of 2
- Building Your Dogs 6 Pack Part 2 of 2
We are happy to be participating in the 2015 A to Z Challenge. Today we celebrated the letter “F” with Fitness & Cross-training
Flyball Photo: Flicker – Wardie44B
DockDiving Photo: Flicker – Odonota98
Skyhoundz Flyball Photo: Wayne Ramsey
I love this series. It’s amazing how athletic agility dogs are and I wonder if Scout and Zoey would like to do this. Rodrigo can’t do agility (doctor’s orders), but he’s crazy athletic too so we limit him to fetch on our property and he loves it.
I would say go for it!! The earlier you get them started the better!
Awesome tips! We do frisbee and swimming, and then I add in some puzzle activities. I’ve been meaning to enter a few of our pups into agility courses, and our youngest one for flyball.
Victoria Carter recently posted…Not so Wordless Wednesday #25
As a novice, I find all of this extremely interesting!
Beth | Daily Dog Tag recently posted…Spotlight: Noble Friends & Exclusive Offer
So interesting! I love watching these dogs at work! Work hard, play hard, right?!?!?
Henry LOVES agility. Unfortunately, he does NOT love the water. I wish he could cross train. Great post, thank you.
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Great exposure to different activities and I really appreciate your tips on starting. I didn’t know that about short snouts and swimming, but it makes sense!
Jessica Shipman | Beagles and Bargains recently posted…Herbs – Which are Safe and Beneficial for Dogs?
We have a variety, nose work is really working the nose, tracking uses the nose, but we also have to be out walking through fields, we have our daily walks and runs, plus chase and wrestle. We thought about trying out a different sport, but we don’t have interest in balls or things like that and we simply don’t have enough time to practice agility which would be our choice if we did another sport.
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Wow! How exciting and fun for the dogs that participate in these sports! I have a puppy that is so agile I bet she would love agility! Great pictures too!!!
Great post! I just switched up my own fitness routine, so I’m currently experiencing the benefits (and soreness) of cross-training. Good thing the benefits are greater. Sharing.
Kristen–well minded recently posted…factory vs. farm with Chipotle #chipotlecultivate
Chuleta is a senior, now, so I wish I had the idea of agility/cross training her, when she was younger. And strangely enough, I have never met an English Bulldog who did not absolutely love the water! (Although, it did make me super nervous!)
WOW how fun – Dexter’s half brother does agility and I covered agility at Westminster the first year they did it – love watching. Fab photos here, too.
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It’s great to see that so many dog owners are getting into agility training with their dogs. It seems like a fun way to keep your dog in shape! Cats are starting to get into agility too, but I think it will b a while before it is widespread for cats.
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Good advice. It’s very true. Earl and I do more than just agility too; we do Heelwork To Music, Obedience, general trick training, and grooming, which soothes Earl’s coat and skin.
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Earl Lover recently posted…F is for Fixing
That is awesome! It’s so good for them mentally. I’m also always grooming them… that Shih Tzu hair can easily get messy. Earl must really love the grooming 🙂
Agility is such an interesting and captivating sport for dogs. I love watching it!
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