Will post later when I have more time but I'll reiterate that there is so much more to conditioning than running dogs alongside a bike. I actually wouldn't run overweight dogs like that because they're at an increased risk of injury due to the extra weight. I would get the weight off first (reduce calories, more walking/low impact exercises) and then slowly introduce more strenuous exercise.

 Quote: Peter Cavallaro

ladies can you please stay on topic.

hi sarah nice to meet you. good to see you posting again. I have been here since 2010 and can't recall seeing any of your posts.

do you always contribute in such a manner?

you might want to read the title of the clip STARTING CONDITIONING, doesn't conjure up any ideas about a dog's condition at such a point in the cycle, pretty basic stuff really.

maggie you are on point, this thread is supposed to be about conditioning dogs, hopefully others can stick to the topic.

can you ride a bicycle, makes life easier?

Peter:

I post only when I have a genuine question or something to contribute. My recent posts are apparently not on threads that you have read. I guess you are busy elsewhere on the board posting about "stone cold killer" dogs and breeding "maniac wild animals" while being ignorantly rude to a new board member who asked an entirely reasonable question.

Re your conditioning question: we ARE on topic. People are commenting on the video you posted - the one with the dogs running around and disappearing into the woods, while pretentious captions ("Getting Scent" when a dog briefly sniffs at leaves beside the road, "GSD Leads me To the Hounds" when you start cussing and thrashing through the brush looking for your pack etc.) try to convey the impression that this represents a serious training exercise. Just post a simple question if you don't want comments from those of us who are unimpressed by your GoPro clips, or who think they show poor handling that others should not copy.

I condition my dogs (and myself) by running with them on local trails during the week and hiking with them in the mountains at weekends. Training sessions provide additional workouts, as I track with one dog and do agility and rally with the other. If I have a dog that likes to swim (not all GSDs do, but I currently have one that is really into it) then I add that into the exercise mix - swimming uses different muscle sets and provides a workout without stressing joints. It's also a good alternative to trail running in hot weather. Extended cold snowy periods here can be challenging, but the dogs have booties and I have snowshoes.

I second what others have posted about the risk of injury when allowing out-of-shape overweight dogs to suddenly start running for extended periods off leash. You need to rebuild condition more slowly. If you are serious about working dogs, it's better never to let them get that much out of shape in the first place. Back in the days of my foxhunting and beagling youth in the UK, I used to go out with packs that were regularly road-exercised all through the off season to keep them fit - they were not kenneled all summer and then expected to abruptly get back up to speed when hunting season started in the fall. Just another approach to consider.

Here are some conditioning ideas that most people can do with their dogs with minimal space and equipment

http://pennvetwdc.org/2012/annoucements/fit-to-work-videos/

Here are a few things I've done -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj56PYhqQa0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dcDXdCvL8s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4juO8POvjpw

I also do off leash runs with my dogs as I have access to a couple large pieces of property - hills to run up and down, and space for them to free run while I walk. Of course, the free running has been greatly limited for the past month and a half due to 2+ feet of snow on the ground. So they've had short romps in the snow up until this past week when it melted

The result? Here's a recent picture of my youngster (whose conditioning has consisted of most of the above) No high stress exercises, no huge distances covered, everything has been appropriate for a growing dog.

https://flic.kr/p/rn5HNd

I'll add short (less than a mile) biking to the routine by the end of summer when he'll be about 16 m/o and gradually increase the distance through the fall. I'll probably aim on biking 2-3 days a week when the weather is conducive.

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Peter .....you have single handedly made most of the regular active posting folks here not want to post here anymore. People that have been here many years before you with TONS more experience than you will ever hope to have (& based on your videos that leaves a lot to be learned by you) Most of us are so tired of your inflated ego & BS posts & videos.

Haven't you noticed the great lack of new threads here with the exception mostly of yours. No one wants to post & have to listen to your disrespectful, out right rude, off- topic comments on their threads.

Your posts over the last few days (& weeks)have even more so show exactly what you are made of. You have no respect for anyone. You need to get your ego & mouth in check or just go find some other board to haunt. Based on your last post you seem to enjoy the other 'lively' boards more anyway...so why stay around here.