Articles

Conditioning of the Competitive Dog

Part I: Physical Training

Laurie S. Coger, DVM,VCP

Obedience Editor, Australian Shepherd Journal

Today, we are fortunate to have many venues in which we can compete with our Aussies. From the conformation ring to the herding arena, agility course to obedience ring, tracking field to flyball course, our breed has demonstrated the natural athleticism and drive required to compete successfully in these events.

While natural ability, both physical and mental, is the foundation for success, proper physical preparation of the dog for competition is what makes a top-flight competitive dog. It is also vital in preventing injuries that can interrupt or end a dog’s competitive career.

Preparation of a dog for serious competition is a complex endeavor. It encompasses strength training, skill training, and mental conditioning. The unique physical and mental demands of the particular type of event must be considered, and any pre-existing medical conditions must be taken into account. Dogs that compete in multiple events, are being bred, or are growing or aging require even more preparation.

Skill training is simply training in the specific tasks required in competition, such as heeling, free-stacking, driving, or hitting contacts. Skill training is what most trainers focus on, as skills are what the dog must do to get the title or win the class. Strength and endurance training are often ignored, especially in events where the dog performs in competition for a short time, or where the work seems to not require physical fitness.

Competitive obedience trainers are probably the masters of skill training, having taught their dogs to perform exercises with accuracy in a variety of environments with an assortment of distractions.  They well understand the mental requirements of the sport. However, many fail to consider that the obedience dog is also an athlete, who is especially prone to the injuries caused by repeated stress to the same body structures, in contrast to the herding dog that may be injured by stock, or the agility dog who may suffer injury as a result of poor traction or a misstep.

Strength training is critical for any type of athletic activity. This type of training increases the coordination, muscular capacity, and cardiovascular capacity of the dog. It tones muscles and controls weight. Strength training exercises are ones in which the dog moves over a short distance, or uses bursts of energy. Retrieving, jumping, and much dog-to-dog play are all strength enhancing exercises. In contrast, endurance training develops and enhances the ability to perform long-term physical activity. Dogs who compete in multiple classes, obedience tournaments, or multiple day events need good physical endurance. Good physical endurance also enhances mental endurance, which often makes the difference at the end of the day. The handler who complains that they did not have enough dog for the run-off at the end of the day would benefit from more endurance training.

Endurance exercises involve repetitive motion over time, usually at a slow, continuous speed. Long distance trotting, such as biking with your dog or working him on a treadmill are endurance exercises. One of the most effective endurance exercises is swimming. Because there is no concussive force, no strain is placed on the bones or joints, while the cardiovascular system gets a great workout. This makes it ideal for older dogs or dogs with arthritis or other joint injuries. Many dogs enjoy swimming so much that it is difficult to get them to quit – be alert to signs of fatigue, and be sure to stop your dog before he reaches the point of exhaustion. As well as being dangerous to the dog, muscle exhaustion is destructive to muscle tissue. 

In developing a conditioning schedule, the intensity, duration, and frequency of training must be taken into account. Intensity is a measure of the amount of physical and mental energy the dog must put into the activity. The balance between physical and mental varies from exercises to exercise. For example, the utility signal exercise is a very mentally intense. The dog must heel first, then maintain attention through performing the sequence of stand, drop, sit, front, and finish. And this must be done without verbal cues, in an often visually distracting environment. In contrast, the retrieving exercises are more physically intense, as the dog goes from a sit to run for the dumbbell, on the flat or over a jump, makes a quick snatch, turns tightly, and runs back to a front. Dogs will vary in their aptitude for mental intensity. Most dogs can handle more physically intense work. All dogs require play breaks in between bouts of intense effort. Dogs in the learning phase of an exercise expend more mental energy and so need more frequent breaks. By breaking up the mental effort with play or exercises involving physical effort, you can increase your dog’s training stamina, and maintain a positive attitude toward training.

The duration of a training session must always take into a account the mental output of the dog, as well as the physical. The more thinking the dog has to do, the shorter the training session. You must be alert for any signs of mental fatigue or stress, such as yawning, panting, sweaty paw prints, glassy-eyed expression, or general dullness. Use frequent play breaks as a way to keep your dog enthusiastic, and help him get rid of mental stress. Always end a training session while your dog still wants more. If you can gradually increase duration over time, but always quit while your dog still wants more, you will have all the dog you need when you step into the ring.

How frequently you train your dog depends largely on your competition schedule and goals. If you are not preparing for a trial, less frequent skill training session are required, while strength and endurance training must be continued to maintain physical condition. Dogs that are actively competing require more of all types of training. Skill training is aimed at maintain the precision and attitude of the performance. Endurance and strength training is aimed at making sure the dog is fit for the stress of travel, being at the show, motel, etc., as well as actually performing the exercises.

As we ask more of our dogs physically, it is likely they will stress their bodies or suffer injuries. Some of these injuries can have a major impact on the dog’s life, as well as competitive career. These will be discussed in part two of this article, in an upcoming Journal. Less serious injuries, such as muscle strains, sprains, and worsening of pre-existing medical conditions such as osteoarthritis are the most common problems.

Excessive fatigue or exhaustion is the leading cause of such injuries. Dogs that are overweight, poorly built for the work they are doing, or who are “weekend warriors” are the usual candidates for exhaustion, and are more susceptible to environmental stresses such as heat stroke. It is vital that you have objectively assessed your dog’s conformation, level of fitness, body condition, and any medical problems so that you do not allow him to exceed his limits. At the same time, you can improve upon his weaknesses in a logical manner that will enable him to do more, both physically and mentally.

Training a dog to and keeping him at his optimal physical and mental condition to perform is no small task. It takes knowledge, time, commitment, and effort. A training and fitness program must be designed for the individual, integrating skill, strength, and endurance training, often for more than one event. Physical conditioning is vital in preventing or minimizing both minor and severe injuries, as well as helping the dog’s mental abilities and confidence.  In the concluding part of this article, the injuries our athletic dogs can suffer, and what can be done to prevent or treat them will be discussed.

Suggested reading: Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete. M . Christine Zink, DVM, PhD. Second edition, 1997. Canine Sports Productions, Inc.

Conditioning of the Competitive Dog

Part II: Performance Related Injuries

Laurie S. Coger, DVM,VCP

Obedience Editor, Australian Shepherd Journal

A competitive dog is an athlete, and is at risk for performance related injuries in a similar way to any human athlete. Sprains, strains, muscle pulls, and even more serious injuries such as ligament tears or fractures may occur in competition or training. Pre-existing conditions, such as hip dysplasia or prior injuries may put the dog at higher risk for future problems. The sequela of many of these injuries is degenerative joint disease, which plagues both canine and human athletes.

             One of the most important factors in preventing injuries to both dogs and people is proper conditioning and training. This was discussed in part one of this article. While the dog’s natural ability, both physical and mental, is the foundation for success, proper physical preparation of the dog for competition is what makes a top-flight competitive dog. Proper physical preparation includes developing the strength, stamina, mental ability, and skills of the dog to perform the exercise. For example, an agility dog must be strong enough to scale the A frame quickly, have the endurance to run multiple courses, have the skills and the mental ability to do the obstacle properly and be directed by his handler. Dogs that are not adequately prepared to do what we ask of them are more likely to suffer injuries. The injuries may heal with simple rest, or may require major surgical repair. They may be the result of strenuous activity, or may be related to structural abnormalities.

The most common injuries are sprains and strains. A strain is injury involving the muscle and its associated tendon. It is usually the result of an unaccustomed activity. It may occur as a result of repeated “stretching” of the muscle and tendon (a chronic strain), or by a single sudden over-flexion or over-extension action. The end result may be that the tendon ruptures, the muscle tears or is severely stretched, or the attachment site of the tendon and muscle may avulse.

Following a strain, there is a great deal of pain and inflammation. Often it takes two to three days for peak. The most important treatment of a strain is rest. For mild strains, this may be all that is required. Mild strains usually resolve with a one to two week’s rest. Severe strains may require four or more weeks to heal, in addition to analgesic/anti-inflammatory medications. Hydrotherapy often helps muscles heal more quickly, as well as providing some pain relief. Improper or incomplete healing may result in scar tissue formation, which will impair the function of the muscle in the future.

A sprain is an injury to a ligament resulting from overstress that causes damage to the ligament fibers or their attachments to the bones. Some ligaments very tightly bind bone to bone, while others allow rotation in a one direction but not another. The human knee, or dog’s stifle, bend as they do because of the way the ligaments attach the femur to the tibia.

If a joint is forced into an abnormal motion beyond the limits of the ligament to hold the joint in a normal position, a sprain will occur. As force is applied, the ligament becomes tense, and then gives way at one of its attachments. If the attachment pulls loose with a fragment of bone, it is called a sprain-avulsion fracture. In extreme cases, the joint may become dislocated when the multiple ligaments are damaged, causing what is termed a sprain-avulsion-luxation.

The severity of a sprain may be mild, with just a few ligament fibers being damaged. There is usually little functional loss in a mild sprain. A severe sprain, much or the entire ligament is damaged. There is considerable loss of function in the joint, along with a great deal of pain. Extensive hematoma formation, with swelling, fluid accumulation occurs. This degree of injury may heal incorrectly, with scar formation, loss of joint tightness and flexibility, and subsequent degenerative joint disease.

Treatment of mild sprains also involves rest. As there is often pain associated with even mild sprains, analgesics and muscle relaxants often are prescribed. Icing and hot-packing may also provide relief. Sprains usually take at least twice as long to heal as strains, and a very gradual return to activity is advised, even if the dog appears sound when beginning to train. Rushing the recovery period usually results in another injury, to the same joint or another one that is overstressed by the weakness in the previously injured joint.

More severe sprains, especially those that involve avulsion fractures and luxation may require surgical repair. Surgery is usually best performed promptly after the injury. In certain cases, a splint or support bandage may be used instead of or in addition to surgery. In these cases, healing may require six or more weeks, and the joint may not be fully anatomically stable for six months. Again, trying to go back to training too soon usually causes recurrence of the injury, and could end the dog’s competitive career.

A very serious tearing of a ligament that many people are aware of, in humans as well as dogs, is the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. This ligament of the dog’s stifle joint (analogous to the human knee) binds the tibia and femur, and along with the caudal cruciate ligament, stabilizes the knee in its range of motion. Overextension of the knee and twisting motion can put enough stress on the ligament to rupture it, making the knee joint loose and unstable. Stepping in a hole or other irregular footing while running can provide the force to rupture the ligament. Often the cushioning structure, the meniscus, which lies between the femur and tibia, is also damaged. This leads to trauma to all parts of the joint, and degenerative joint disease. There is a great deal of pain associated with this injury, and affected dogs often bear no weight on the affected leg. Rest may make the dog seem better, as the muscles of the dog’s hind leg can compensate to some degree for stifle instability, but the joint will not heal without surgery. For a competitive dog, prompt surgical repair, followed by proper rest and physical therapy, is the only way to heal this sort of injury.

Virtually all of the injuries discussed above will heal with proper veterinary attention and good home care. The ability of the dog to return to pre-injury levels of performance will depend on the severity of the injury, the individual’s ability to heal, and the quality of the aftercare. The most serious post-injury complication is degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis. Degenerative joint disease may also occur as a result of structural abnormalities, such as hip dysplasia, or disorders of growth, such as osteochondrosis. Regardless of the cause, degenerative joint disease has limited or ended many a performance dog’s career.

Degenerative joint disease can be divided into primary and secondary categories. Primary degenerative joint disease occurs in joints that have normal structure but which have had excessive use, such as older or overweight dogs. Secondary degenerative joint disease occurs when there is an abnormality of structure which predisposes the joints to excessive stress, such as hip dysplasia, straight stifles or hocks, severe toeing in or out, etc. The instability or unequal force distribution over the joints results in unequal wear and stress, which the body must compensate for.

Degenerative joint disease is characterized by damage to the articular cartilage, which is the special, smooth and slippery cartilage that covers the weight bearing joint surfaces of bones. Once damaged, this cartilage cannot be replaced by the body. Fibrocartilage, a less smooth, non-slippery cartilage fills in any damaged areas. This results in a less than perfectly smooth joint. The body also may try to stabilize the joint by adding more bone cells to the edges of bones at the joint surface, or “beef up” the end of the bone. These sorts of changes are often seen in dysplastic dogs, where the end of the femur is thickened in an attempt by the body to make it better fit into an abnormally shaped hip socket. These changes make the joint more stabile but often decrease the range of motion, flexibility, and freedom of movement so vital to a successful performance dog. Owners of affected dogs usually observe lameness, stiffness, a decreased ability to flex or extend the joint. The end result is a decrease in the dog’s overall athletic ability.

 Degenerative joint disease is a progressive problem over the life of the dog. In the early stages, signs of lameness or soreness may be mild, and improve with exercise. Morning stiffness is a common sign, as well as a worsening of signs the day after extreme exercise. As the condition progresses, signs worsen, and do not improve with exercise. Pain is constant, and dogs may be sensitive to touch of the affected joints.

Degenerative joint disease is most accurately diagnosed by x-ray examination of the joints. Changes in bone and joint shape, extra bone formation, irregularity of the weight bearing surface, and changes in the joint capsule or ligaments may be observed. Once diagnosed, the cause or predisposing factors are identified and addressed. This could range from decreasing the dog’s weight to surgical remodeling of the joint. Rest, physical therapy, pain relief, and joint support products are the usual treatment. Unfortunately, there is no cure for degenerative joint disease. The best result in these cases is a slowing of the progression of damage.

Managing and minimizing degenerative joint disease is crucial to the maintenance of an athletic dog. In times of acute pain, analgesics such as aspirin, phenylbutazone, Rimadyl®, or Etogesic® are commonly employed. All of these products can be very effective, but the choice of which to use on an individual dog should be made with your veterinarian. All of these products can have side effects, and their use should be closely monitored.

Maintenance therapy of dogs with degenerative joint disease usually includes use of a chondroprotective agent. Many owners also use these as a preventative measure in their active dogs. Cosequin®, GlycoFlex®, and Adequan®  are common products. Many generic products are also available. The active ingredients are glucosamine, glycosaminoglycans, and chondroitin sulfate. These products can reduce pain and inflammation, as well as support the structures by providing the raw materials for renewing cartilage and joint fluid. These products have few if any side effects, and are usually well tolerated. Many veterinarians are recommending supplementation for any dog over seven years of age, and many senior foods are now formulated with supplements included.

Preventing and managing the injuries of a performance dog is critical to having a long and successful career, as well as a healthy dog by your side when it is time to retire him. Prompt care by a veterinarian familiar with competitive dogs and good aftercare following an injury can make the difference between a successful return to competition or an early retirement. Most important of all, a well thought out training and conditioning methods can minimize the risks of injury.

 Dr. Coger is a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and has been in private practice for over 13 years. She is a Certified Veterinary Chiropractitioner, and is one of the first veterinarians in the nation to offer Low Level Laser Therapy in her practice.