I’ve been getting up each morning because of the heat and working the dogs out instead of watching tv or eating my breakfast [but I still got the cup o' java - can I get an AMEN!?!?].
But, I digress.
So, I’m working them out, doing some hard repetitive stuff, long sprints and some nice tight longing at speed when a thought struck me!
When I am done, I’m going to cool each of them down, give them water, spray water over their coats and keep them in the yard with the others so they will continue to move and cool down even further. But during specific portions of a Schutzhund practice [bite work], we’ll allow the dog to get the last good fight/bite and then run them back to the van and put the in the crate. The ‘lesson’ was to put them away with a GOOD feeling of accomplishment – that the last time on the field was a euphoric feeling and they’ll ‘want’ more. But what about the cool down or stretch after such exertion? I don’t think I have ever cooled them down after a good exercise or ‘fight’. Yet after agility or herding, we will walk them, rub them, until breathing is at least close to normal.
Would breaking of that ‘tradition’ or training sequence be blasphemous to the U.S.A?
“Well, although he ‘won’ the sleeve, I’m not going to run back to the vehicle. I’m going to rub him down and walk him at a good pace until his heart rate lowers……….”
*Or do some of you dog sport people run back to the car but then do a proper cool down?*
I need more coffee……….