On a past thread about conditioning a dog for conformation showing it was mentioned that carring weight while walking is a good way to increase muscle mass.
I've also read, here and there, that wearing packs and carrying things is a good general exercise for a dog and also makes them feel like they have a "job" to do, and tires them out more (a tired dog is a good dog )
I'm trying to get Mitzi into top condition for showing, so I've recently added a vest and 1 lb. of weight to her 30 min. morning walk. (this is approx. 12% of her body weight.
And then I was amazed at the flack I got from members of my kennel club!
None of them seem to think it is a good idea. I got "poor dog", "it seems a bit cruel" and even "why don't you just go ahead and put her on steroids?".
Am I wrong here? Does anyone else have their dogs pack things to get a better excersise workout? Any advice on the regime I have my dog on?
I add a weighted back pack to my dog's walks for her mental health!
Nothing bad about it, although I would check out info about specific to doing this with a small dog. It might be good for her in terms of bone density and muscle mass, but 12% might be a lot to start out with.
Can you elaborate on the mental health thing?
Does it calm the dog while walking?
I've noticed that when I started putting clothes on Mitzi for warmth, she walked less nervously. I think it is like the "anxiety wrap" idea that having something wrapped around their bodies calms them.
Maybe a weighted pack or vest does the same...
She needs massive amounts of exercise, and because we have dog/dog problems I can't always run her for an hour twice a day. My back yard is too small to really give her a good run, so we use the parks. We stick to the quiet times of day.
A normal one hour leash walk just doesn't cut it for her.
It does calm her on walks. This makes desensitizing work a lot easier. She hates the back pack when I first put it on, but once we get going shes just fine wearing it.
I agree with Lauren- I know 1lb does not sound like a lot- but 12% of your weight is a BUNCH! I think the max weight I heard somewhere for a dog is 10%, and to start lower, conditioning up to that magic 10% number. I have NO clue where I heard read that, but it seems reasonable. Koenig is in pretty good shape, and the max I've had him carry is for any length of time is 8lbs. (little less then 10% of his weight) That was also only on grass or gravel/dirt, not concrete.
Brad Higgs Webboard User Reg: 06-13-2010
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Here's a link to a thread on competitive hiking, they use 20-30% as long as you build the dogs up to it and they're structurally sound shouldn't be a problem
Mitzi is exactly 12 mo. now - but don't forget - small dogs gain their full growth quickly (around 8,9, 10 mo.)I would check on how it would affect her growth and bone development if I only knew where to look or who to ask!
I could start her on a lower weight or I could stick with the 1 lb and go short distances and slowly build up. Any thoughts?
Interesting link on competitive hiking! Didn't know that existed, I'll have to check around here for a group.
So is the concensus that packing weight isn't "cruel" or akin to "cheating" in general, as my so called friends would have me think? (as long as I build up slowly)
Personally, I'd start out closer to 1/2lb, especially considering her age. JMO though.
Heck no, I don't think it's cruel, or cheating! I don't know how I'd get along with Koenig if I didn't make him pack some weight on our walks. Heck, when I know he's on the low end of the exercise range, I make him wear his pack while we play fetch.
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