You could compare your dog’s performance to an athlete in a 100 or 800 metres race. For instance we know that a professional athlete is training hard to perform competitively. As an owner of a performing dog we also train our dog hard to perform well.

When the competition starts and the dog is away, it reaches a high speed in a few seconds. We want our dog to be first crossing the finishing line. To achieve that, our dog needs to get into shape for a competition or active season. The physical training is a specific, goal oriented approach used to achieve our goal. Some performing dogs are trained in various ways using cycling, swimming or by running on sandy surfaces and in hilly terrain.

For our dogs to perform the best they also need to stay healthy and to avoid injuries such as ruptures, chronic inflammations and stress fractures.

Too much training when the dog has insufficient time to rest and recover can cause injuries. A performing dog, just as an athlete, is pressed hard and the muscles, tendons, joints or ligaments are liable to injuries. This all makes the preventive care so much more important. To perform well we need our dogs to stay healthy and their mobility to be good.

When it comes to the professional athlete he or she has a team of physiotherapists, masseurs and doctors helping him or her to make the outmost performance. The same approach is also very common in horse racing probably because of the big earnings in keeping the horse healthy.

You now have the opportunity to learn more about massage and stretching and to prepare your dogs better for racing.

The Basics of M & S

The fundamental rule for massage and stretching is that they are suitable for healthy dogs. Should any physical problems arise you should not apply massage and stretching since this could make the problem worse. Always consult your vet if you are unsure.

The main purpose of massage and stretching is to maintain and improve mobility, increase the blood circulation and have a relaxed and happy dog. If a dog has shortened musculature or muscle tensions, pressure accumulates across the joints and this impairs mobility. Regular massage and stretching help prevent strain injuries. Impaired mobility is a contributing factor in muscle related problems and can, in the long term, lead to a number of different types of injury.

We should aim to achieve a balance in the musculature. Injury can be caused by training your dog too much with too little rest between training sessions. The muscles become tired and tense. Another dog might have poor stamina due to lack of exercise. The muscles atrophy, becoming smaller and weaker. A weak muscle is more easily tired and more easily injured.

Warning
If your dog is already suffering from an injury you should be extremely careful. Since the muscles have limited elasticity and blood flow, there is a great danger that the injury will be aggravated. Secondary problems may also arise if you continue to train the dog. When a muscle ceases to function as it should, other muscles take over and try to compensate. This can result in excessive strain or imbalance and new injuries.

Figure 1
The greater part of the pressure you exert should be applied by the flat hand although your thumb and fingers are also engaged in manipulation.

Figure 2
Hold the dog’s elbow with one hand, grasping the wrist with the other. Move the leg forward and upwards, stretching the elbow joint and the flexor muscles of the foreleg (shoulder joint).

How to use this knowledge in competitions?
First remember that the dog should have warmed up and exercised before starting the competition. I also strongly recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after the competition before any stretching activities.

Here is a check list that could be used before the competition.

• 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.

Warming up does not tire the dog but rather increases blood circulation and warm up the muscles ensuring that the joints are lubricated and more supple. The dog is now ready to perform.

After the warm up you could also easily test your dog’s mobility using the eight most common stretching grips. You should be sensitive to your dog’s signals. The dog should not experience any discomfort. If it does, don’t hesitate to contact the vet. (See Figure 3)

After completing the competition let the dog wind down and then carefully do some stretching exercises. And when you come home reward the dog with massage and you will get a happy performing dog ready for new challenges.

Massage and stretching is an essential and low cost investment in your dog’s health and future competitions.

Canine Massage & Stretching is available from
www.agilitywarehouse.com