The benefits of a proper warm-up are numerous and indisputable. As a canine sports competitor, we understand that we need to warm up our dogs before we ask them to run, jump, twist, turn, pivot, pull, catch, swim, or leap. While there are many approaches to a warm-up, we wanted to comment on the components that are vital to include in a warm up every single time.

• What’s the most important part of our dog’s body to warm up?
• What are the best things to do to prevent injury and give our dogs the best chance for a peak performance?
• What exactly are the components of a proper warm-up?

When we look at what the warm-up is designed to do we can then determine how to do this. The warm-up should prepare the dog’s body for the work about to be done. The warm up involves both a general warm-up and a specific warm-up. So the exact routine will vary somewhat with agility, flyball, dock diving, protection work, conformation, or whatever the dog sport is. The general warm up is done to increase blood flow and raise the temperature of the muscles, skin, and other support structures to prepare for movement in general. A general warm up usually involves brisk walking and/or trotting for 5-10 minutes or until the dog develops a light pant.

After the general warm up, a specific warm up is done to prepare the body for specific movements that will be used in the activity. If the work or activity includes any twisting or turning at all then this is crucial to include in the warm-up. (This is the part of the warm up that is fun!) This part includes your dog moving in different planes as well as moving the major joints through the different ways they move: flexing, extending, rotating, sidebending, abducting and adducting. If your dog has had a previous injury in a particular muscle or joint then it is even more important to specifically warm up that area.

For the specific warm up, the body can be divided into a few different areas to focus on. There is the core, which includes the muscles of the back and the spinal stabilizers, and the abdominal muscles. Do not forget that the neck is part of the core too. Then we have the major joints: the hips and shoulders, and the elbows and stifles. Each hip joint moves in 6 different ways: flexing and extending, internally and externally rotating, adducting and abducting, as does each shoulder joint. As we travel down the legs, there are the hocks, carpal joints, and the toes of front and back feet. Each joint on the legs is important in movement and should not be overlooked in the warm-up.

And the final part of the body to warm up is the brain. This component of the warm-up is to mentally prepare our dogs for the activity to come. This is the part that is similar to the visualization technique used in people and our topic for our last blog (If you missed it, click here to read it). This is where our dogs connect their mind and body together. This is also where we connect to our canine teammate.
So, while it may seem like a lot to do, much of this can be accomplished in a series of simple  exercises, that can be done without equipment anywhere and anytime.

Sooner or later, it happens to everyone’s performance dog - Retirement. While it is the end of your canine athlete's competitive career, it  doesn't have to be the end of your dog’s life as a partner in training. And it certainly shouldn't mean that your former athlete should be relegated to the couch to sleep away her remaining days while you and the younger dogs enjoy the sports she once enjoyed. In fact, it's just the opposite! Your retired athlete should hit the “gym” regularly to stay fit and enjoy her retirement. Read on to understand how exercise helps slow the overall aging process and keep your dog young.
Brain powerWorking out, balance exercises in particular, help your dog’s brain continue to function at peak levels and slows the onset of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or signs of senility. Balance work is like a crossword puzzle for the brain and body to figure out.
Stay happyIs your K9 retiree bored or depressed because you and the young “pups” are out there and she’s just watching or stuck at home? Exercise for your dog is a proven mood booster! Staying active causes the release of “feel good” hormones to help keep your K9 athlete happy and feel confident in life.  
Slow/stop muscle wastingJust as in people, as part of the aging process, your retiree will gradually lose muscle mass and strength. This sarcopenia is a generalized muscle wasting that occurs in nearly every dog but will be more evident in a former athlete. Unless you actively fight against it.
Improve mobilityConsistent exercise, that is low impact, can help reduce mild achiness and discomfort. Flexibility exercises can help reduce stiffness and maintain full movement in joints and muscles.
Stay ConnectedThe single best reason to exercise with your former athlete, though, is to maintain the level of interaction with your dog. When the time comes for your younger dog to be the primary working partner, your retired athlete will miss the frequent training and close interaction that the two of you enjoyed together. The partnership and level of communication you shared doesn't have to end. You can enjoy each other and still train together in canine fitness!

High drive canine athletes are at risk for suffering the effects of heat stress during training and competition. Studies show that some working dogs and k9 athletes can have body temperatures that are extremely high during strenuous activity (reported temperature values include Greyhounds 104 F - 106 F, Labradors 102 F - 107 F, Pointers 103 F - 106 F, and Sled Dogs 104 F - 108 F.) Interestingly, these dogs do not necessarily show any clinical signs of heatstroke or heat exhaustion. But other k9 athletes remain susceptible. Although the incidence of heat stress and heat stroke in K9 athletes has not been determined, we do know that several factors can increase your dog's risk. And we know that intervening during the early signs of heat stress can prevent heat stroke completely.

How hot is too hot?It is not just extremely high temperatures that puts your dog at risk but also combinations of high temperatures and high humidity. A handy reference is to add the ambient temperature with the humidity percentage to get an idea of whether or not it is safe for your dog. For example, if the afternoon temperature is 95 F and the humidity is at 70%, you get a combined number of 165. Any number over 150 indicates you should pay close attention to your dog as there is a danger of heat stress. Any number over 180 and your dog is at high risk for heat stroke. Monitor your dog closely when conditions are prime for heat stress.

What are my dog’s Risk factors?- Prior incidence of heat stress or heat stroke
- Stress
- Dehydration
- Improper athletic conditioning

What should I watch for? The earliest signs of heat stress are:
- Excessive Panting
- Thick Saliva with a dry tacky mouth
- Dark pink/red tongue lolling out of mouth
- Decreased performance
And if I miss the early signs?  As heat stress progresses to heat exhaustion, you will see:
- Increased heart rate
- Excessive panting continues
- Body temperature continued rising above 102 F.
- Disorientation (no longer responding to cues, appearing anxious, or staring)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea

What can I do to prepare my k9 athlete to compete in excessive heat?While we are still determining what normal is for many k9 athletes during activity, we do know that a properly conditioned and fit k9 athlete has physiologic and metabolic differences from the companion dog. Conditioning should occur months prior to competition in strenuous sports to ensure that your dog’s body is at its peak ability to accommodate the environment during the exercise.

Key points to remember:
- Stay hydrated (but avoid drinking too much) - rule of thumb 1.5 oz per 10 pounds of body weight before and after strenuous exercise.
- Reduce stress.
- Begin Fitness and conditioning months prior to competition.
- Monitor your dog closely when conditions are prime for heat stress.
- Seek veterinary care for heat exhaustion immediately.

References:
Conditioning and Training in the Canine Athlete
Robert L. Gillette, DVM, MSE, DACVSMR
Animal Health & Performance Program, Auburn University, AL
Heat stroke: diagnosis and treatment
Quick response, proper cool-down techniques essential to favorable outcome
Melissa Marshall, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC   Aug 01, 2008
Heat Stress in Hunting Dogs
by Delores E. Gockowski, DVM

Wheelchairs, or carts, are becoming more and more common for dogs. Many dogs are living happy, active lives with the aid of these wheelchairs. The internet is full of pictures and videos of dogs playing, going for walks, and frolicking at the beach in their wheelchairs. I receive frequent phone calls and emails about wheelchairs for dogs. While I'm glad that society now accepts and understands that many dogs can be very happy and enjoy a good quality of life with a wheelchair, I want to remind people that these dogs need to be in a physical rehabilitation program too. The reasons are numerous as to why, but here are the top 5 reasons your dog in a wheelchair needs physical therapy.

1. Your dog might walk again. If there is any chance your dog could regain use of his legs and become mobile without a wheelchair, you owe it to your dog to try. A solid rehab program will provide the kind of therapy that just might get your dog out of that chair!

2. Your dog has other orthopedic or neurologic problems . If your dog is paralyzed in the back end and has bad joints or weakness in the front end or some such other issue, you are in for some trouble ahead. Rehab can help manage the other problems so your dog can stay mobile, with what he has, for as long as possible.

3. Your dog is overweight. An overweight dog in a cart is like a time bomb waiting to go off. It's not a matter of if there is going to be a problem, but when there is a problem. A rehab vet will help your dog lose the body fat without sacrificing much needed muscle.

4. Your dog doesn't have a "back-up". A dog with four legs can handle having an issue with one leg and still be mobile. A dog in a cart doesn't have as many options. If your dog in a cart experiences a problem with one of its "good" legs it can completely immobilize your dog. Prevention and early detection are crucial in these dogs.

5. Your dog is compensating. This is the biggest and best reason of all. All dogs in carts are using their bodies in ways other than what they are designed for. For instance, the front legs, neck, and shoulders are all compensating in a dog that is in a rear wheel cart. The upper back is under strain. There is less flexibility. Different muscles are activated during movement and while standing. Rehab will address these compensations and help prevent them from becoming disabling problems.

Previously we discussed how excess body fat shortens lives. We also talked about risk factors for your dog becoming overweight and why your vet may not discuss this issue with you. Today we talk about one part of the solution to this deadly disease: exercise.

The study I am referring to was presented recently at the Rehabilitation Medicine conference that I attended a few weeks ago. There are several important points to consider with this study. Two groups of dogs were placed on diets using the same food. Each dog had a body fat analysis done using a DEXA scan which details the exact amount of fat versus lean body mass in the body. One group of dogs were additionally started on an exercise regime. This was a prescribed amount of exercise, not just playing ball or walking around the block. Think hitting the gym with a specific workout including the treadmill. Here's what the study showed.

1. Both groups of dogs lost weight according to the scale. Both groups dropped pounds. Success! But wait, there's more to the story. Reducing calories alone did lead to successful weight loss, but about 10% of the weight lost came from muscle in the group that didn't exercise. They lost both fat and lean body mass. Hmmm. That wasn't the goal. We want your dog to lose fat and retain muscle and strength. Ten percent muscle mass lost may not seem like much to you but that can mean the difference in your dog being able to get up on his own. Ten percent matters. So success, sorta.

2. The dogs that exercised lost more body fat.  Both groups lost about the same amount of weight overall. The dogs that exercised lost more body fat according to the DEX scan though. Increasing the need to burn those calories as fuel for exercise helps the body utilize fat, which is stored calories. Burn more, lose more. Brilliant!

3. The dogs that exercised gained muscle. This is my favorite part of the study. These dogs actually gained muscle! Functional, wonderfully helpful, stabilizing, working muscle! Wow!  How great is it that these guys lost unhealthy fat and acquired muscle?This is the goal of every diet on the planet! Gain muscle, lose fat!

The take home point here should be this: cutting calories alone will lower the number on the scales, but reducing calories and exercising is a smarter, better, more efficient way to achieve fat loss.

Will your dog get fat? Is your dog at risk? In my last few blogs, I discussed this deadly disease that could be affecting your dog or your neighbor's dog. We talked about how your dog may be fat but that your vet may not tell you. Knowing that more than 50% of dogs are overweight, Let's look at 7  risk factors that increase the chances that your dog might get fat and not your neighbor's dog.

1. Your dog is spayed or neutered. Your dog's risk doubles with the removal of the sex hormones.

2. Your dog is getting older. Yes, you read that right. As your dog gets older, the risk goes up. But you don't have a lot of options here.

3. Your dog was a chubby puppy. Although pudgy pups are cute, they become overweight adults. Not so cute.

4. Your dog has access to food 24/7. Most dogs don't stop eating when they are full. They stop when the food is gone.

5. Your dog eats lots of processed treats. Just as in people, its easy to take in lots of empty calories quickly when eating tasty processed snacks like dog biscuits, imitation pepperoni or bacon treats, or worse yet, chips and crackers! Okay, I don't know many people who eat dog biscuits, but you get what I'm trying to say here.

6. Your dog is a couch potato. Lack of exercise means the metabolism is going to be slow and not many calories will be burned. Its easy to eat more than you burn if you don't move much. Plus lots of other good stuff that promotes fat loss happens when your dog exercises.

7. Your dog eats a diet high in carbohydrates. Excess carbohydrates gets stored as fat. Combine a diet high in carbohydrates with little to no exercise and you've got a recipe for obesity.

If you want to keep your dog from getting fat, then lower your dog's risk factors. You have control over several of them. Do right by your dog. As they say, be the person your dog thinks you are.