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Post by Tom Meulman on Nov 2, 2009 11:04:44 GMT 10
A lot of trainers allow their greyhounds to free gallop in a galloping or competition yard on a daily basis as part of their normal training routine, as this does improve overall lung and heart fitness and will maintain good muscle tone and strength.
Unfortunately daily free running often causes the muscle tissue to become conditioned to short rapid strides, and this can negatively affect the speed of the greyhound while chasing the lure.
Because there is no doubt in my mind that the further the dog can extend their limbs during running the faster they run.
In some instances the rapid spinning around at the end of the yard can also cause muscle spasms around the upper and lower spinal area that in time will also affect the greyhound’s ability to fully stretch.
However simple stretching physiotherapy can offer a solution.
To effectively minimise the tightening of specific muscle groups the stretching physiotherapy would require to be done ASAP after the yard exercise and prior to the dog cooling down.
Even just five backward and forward stretching movements to each limb, while slightly increasing the stretch in each movement, would be of great benefit.
In addition, this could also provide some additional insight into the soundness of each greyhound, as there is little doubt that fully stretching each limb immediately after exercise is likely to cause a painful muscle spasm if there is any damaged muscle tissue, particularly in the Long Head of the Triceps of the shoulders, and in both the Tensor Fascia and Gracilis of the hind limbs.
In regard to muscle spasms to the upper and lower spine, firm massage of a minimum of 20 strokes to each side of the spine in the saddle area and to each side of the spine at the lower 4 lumbar segments will also be of benefit, particularly if this is done just prior to the stretching movements.
Unfortunately doing all of this will undoubtedly add a further five minutes to the handling of each greyhound, but I have no doubt that doing it will improve the ability of the dog to race more comfortably and you never know it may even run faster.
Tom
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Post by Brian Young on Jan 19, 2014 19:30:45 GMT 10
Learn,t more today reading these posts than I have learn't for years. Tried to register but unable to get through
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Post by Tom Meulman on Jan 20, 2014 4:43:57 GMT 10
Hi Brian,
Sorry mate but this web site is set up in such a way that registering as a member is neither possible nor required.
The web site mainly came about because I did not want the information I had gained about racing greyhounds during my 45 years of being involved with these wonderful animals to simply disappear when I died, and this was one way I could be sure it is freely available to everyone, even after I disappear off the scene.
I’m extremely pleased that it has been of some benefit to you.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Jason on Jan 22, 2014 23:33:48 GMT 10
Tom - just wanted to say you are a credit to the industry (in light of above post from you)
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Post by Robert on Apr 6, 2015 13:06:11 GMT 10
I have two dogs male and a female, the male is very tall they are 12 months old and I let them have a free run in a small paddock every morning because his tall what would be a good weight I should have him at ?
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Post by Tom Meulman on Apr 6, 2015 20:34:49 GMT 10
Hi Robert, While I understand that the pup is tall, at the same time it is just about impossible to tell you what weight a dog should be at without being able to have a good look at the dogs general body structure and muscle bulk. This post from the top section of this site may give you some idea as to how best to judge a racing greyhound's weight. What is the Right Racing Weight?Cheers, Tom
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Post by Robert on Apr 7, 2015 16:45:00 GMT 10
Thanks Tom, Im hoping to get an owners/trainers license and train these two dogs myself and all your info on this website has been extremely helpful thanks
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Post by Robert on Apr 15, 2015 14:03:10 GMT 10
Hi Tom,
My free running paddock is approximately 50 metres square, is this big enough or is it likely to course them to shorten there stride and ability.
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Post by Tom Meulman on Apr 15, 2015 17:59:29 GMT 10
Hi Robert,
That is certainly a great galloping paddock for dogs to play chasey and to do laps in, and at the same time in a galloping paddock you do not have to worry about dogs becoming conditioned to short striding because all that they would be doing is playing. That type of problem generally only occurs when you have competition yards next to each other where dogs accelerate quickly and then suddenly have to pull up again, repeating this over and over again.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Robert on Apr 18, 2015 11:14:23 GMT 10
Hi Tom,
One more question my two dog r only 13 months old and they sprint and turn sharp and pull up very quick is this likely to cause any damage to muscle tissue or there growing bones etc
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Post by Tom Meulman on Apr 18, 2015 19:27:37 GMT 10
Hi Robert,
The pups doing this while playing and free running in a galloping paddock is highly unlikely to cause any repetitive strain injuries such as can occur in competition yards. The only time injuries may occur if a pup slips on wet grass or they collide while running.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by tas on Apr 19, 2015 23:56:14 GMT 10
hi tom can you please answer this important question.A pup from the age of 3 months to 13 months of age, is it more important to feed well or have the pup in a long run where it can stretch out when galloping . if you were to pick one over the other for your pup which one would it be and why .THAN YOU IN ADVANCE.
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Post by Tom Meulman on Apr 20, 2015 9:41:06 GMT 10
Hi TAS,
That is a no win question to ask me simply because feeding a pup poorly and allowing it a heap of exercise is of no use as the pup most likely won't feel like running, and if it did there would be little benefit because of not having the nutrients available for the exercise to increase body strength and appropriate development.
On the other hand having a pup get brilliant food with everything it needs for perfect body development is only going to be of limited benefit if all it can do is poke around a small backyard. It takes exercise and being able to run fast for long enough to utilise those nutrients for strong muscle and connective tissue, including fast twitch muscle fibre, well developed lungs and a strong heart.
It's not pick one out of those two and we'll be all right, it's both or nothing.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Rookie on Aug 28, 2015 17:13:11 GMT 10
New to greyhound training after having trained middle distance human runners for many years. I have a nagging question regarding jogging a greyhound against Walking a greyhound. Is jogging just not cool or is it just different and thats why its not done? Recommended paces and times for road walking or jogging, dogs run 400 to 450m
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Post by Rookie on Aug 28, 2015 17:16:20 GMT 10
New to greyhound training after having trained middle distance human runners for many years. I have a nagging question regarding jogging a greyhound against Walking a greyhound. Is jogging just not cool or is it just different and thats why its not done? Recommended paces and times for road walking or jogging, dogs run 400 to 450m
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Post by Tom Meulman on Aug 29, 2015 6:34:42 GMT 10
Hi Rookie,
There is nothing wrong with jogging your greyhounds, and because I consider walking simply something done with greyhounds so that they empty out thoroughly and to stop them from becoming depressed due to being neccesarely locked up in a smal racing kennel while doing very little to improve fitness. So yes jogging would be better than walking in that regard.
The reason it is not done by most greyhound trainers as a regular exercise has something to do with both convenience and the fact that many trainers, while they are doing their best to keep their dogs fit, would have serious problems jogging around the block without falling in a heap.
Because I do not believe that walking contributes much in the way of fitness to run any distance I cannot provide any guide as to how far or how long to walk. All I do know is that if a walking machine is used for exercise in this regard I have actually found it detrimental to the greyhounds running performances for them to be exercised on such a machine in excess of 30 minutes. Mainly because it is inclined to bulk up and stiffen muscle tissue that needs to be fully stretched during running for a greyhound to reach its maximum speed.
Road walking where the pace can be varied, there are things to see and to interest them one hour of solid walking certainly keeps the dogs happier and would benefit the trainers health immeasurable.
In regard to jogging, a reasonable steady jog for 20 minutes should be sufficient exercise, and unlike walking should contribute to some improvement in heart and lung function.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Stefan on Sept 6, 2015 15:16:53 GMT 10
Hi tom
New to greyhound traning - what is the best setup to keep dogs fit in between races: 75m or 100m run with levelled sand or free galloping in a 2 acres paddock with hard soil (especially in summer), possible small rocks...etc
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Post by Rookie on Sept 7, 2015 6:30:52 GMT 10
Thanks Tom
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Post by Tom Meulman on Sept 7, 2015 17:48:26 GMT 10
Hi tom New to greyhound traning - what is the best setup to keep dogs fit in between races: 75m or 100m run with levelled sand or free galloping in a 2 acres paddock with hard soil (especially in summer), possible small rocks...etc Hi Stefan, Mate I'm sorry to say that neither are worth doing . In one scenario you are risking severe foot and toe damage, and in the other exactly the type of damage I have mentioned in regard to repetitive injuries. I understand you a new to training greyhounds but you are going to have to study a bit more in regard to what it takes to get an athlete, any athlete, supremely fit to successfully compete in their chosen sport. Greyhounds are just that, supreme athletes that require specific exercise to suit the type of racing their body structure and mental makeup suits best just giving them a bit of free running just does not do it. Cheers, Tom
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Post by Tom Meulman on Sept 18, 2015 3:48:14 GMT 10
Note: A new thread created to answer a question asked by John about a multi dose vial that was placed in this thread. Cheers, Tom
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