weight training

[fpoof230]

i read an article in the USRC newsletter about "bulking" for shows. I reccomended that people use either a weight vest and run hills or to place sandbags around the dogs neck and let him or her work with that. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I would go about finding a weight training vest for Tyson?

Thanks,
Fred

[Rottlva]

We discussed this awhile ago. My concern would be the musculature created by the sandbags, whatever would create an improper, shorter reach, thus changing the natural musculature.... or visa versa.

By working him, what type of work would you be doing?

[Muckdogs]

I have my doubts about this kind of stuff. Honestly, I think that you would be dong more harm than good. First off, there are some primary considerations that must be looked at before embarking on any type of physical fitness regimen. Aspects of nutrition and prophylactic supplementation cannot be ignored or you will end up debilitating your dog, imho. Yoou have to have the essential physiological building blocks in place so that your efforts will not be for naught and you won't inqdvertantly be damaging youg dogs musculoskeletal system.

If you are intent in working your dogs out, first thing I would suggest is a super high quality food with an adequate protein content, after all, an engine works betteer with high octane premium gas, doesn't it. Most of the premium kibbles offer a proteni content of around 24%, give or take. If you are really working your dog (and I don't mean just a couple of times a week, I mean daily to almost exhaustion) you need to add more protein to see results. Ther are a couple of ways to do this. I have used the whey protein supplements that I take myself. Problem is, only about 60-70 % of this type of rotein is metabolized and the rest gets crapped out. Recently, I have studied and ran across a far better source, pure menhaden fish meal. It is almost the perfect protein source and has a metabolic uptake rate of 90-93%, depending on the dog. Waaaaaay more bang for the buck. I am having GREAT results with it.

In addition to this, you MUST consider the skeletal and joint stress from working your dog. We have gone back and forth ad nauseum about prophylactic use of supplements on this. My unwavering position is that you must supplement prophylactically, period. I use a glucosamine, chondroitin and msm combo, DAILY, pluc microionized vitamin c powder (which I believe promotes collogen synthesis inthe joints to keep them lubed up). Again, the inherent problem with this is metabolic uptake and waste. Liberal studies tell us taht the true usage ratee of this is about 65% max. Therefore, 35% is wasted. I have found a new supplement that is a supercharged version of this with supposed uptake of about 89%. This is in the form of elk/reindeer antler velvet. I have not been using it as of yet, so I can't in good fatih recc. it to anyone but will report with results. (just a note, if anyone is having HD or other joint problems, you may want to look into this as a therapeutic regime PM me for details of availability, supposedly it does wonders)

With these two building blocks inplace, now you are ready to get the benefit of all of your dogs hard work. I personally haven't used any of the things you have mentioned, but can speak to other forms of exercise. Running windsprints to exhaustion about 5 times per week does wonders for building rear leg mass. Running uphill is great for the chest mass and shoulders. But, imho, swimming is the best. I noticed you are from NJ so this may be out for now, but it really is the best. I would jsut try the sprints and hils for now to see what you get. With these two things plus the nutritional considerations I mentioned,I guarantee you will see the desired results. Hopefuly your dog likes to fetch or retreive, it makes it a lot easier. Another thought I had was since you are in the north, devising a way to make him run in the snow would be a great resistance training exercise. If you can think of a way to get him to retreive something, I would live to try that. That would be a great chest spreader.

Finally, if you really want to see bulk added as well as strength, you can cycle with creatine. This can be dangerous if not done properly, but it works (I do it myself). If you are ncomfortable with the use of a creatine supplement but want the benefits, feed venison several times per week. It has the highest creatine ratio available in feed meats.

A couple of other things you can do to add GOOD bulk (read, NOT FAT) is give canned sardines three times per week and add a couple of teaspoons of high grade olive oil to the feed daily.

If you do all of these things, and they are not hard to do even though it seems like a lot, you will have sculpted, lean, healthy dog with noticable mass and cuts. I guarantee it.