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Post by dee on May 14, 2013 21:41:46 GMT 10
Can someone please clarify what is the most ideal/perfect excercise for a greyhound. I think I recall the vet allesandro piras saying that trotting is the best, even better than galloping. I would have thought that the muscle group used for trotting would be different to trotting-im not a vet so maybe im wrong. If Tom or someone could advise it would be great.
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Post by Tom Meulman on May 14, 2013 22:08:30 GMT 10
The only exercise that counts for a racing greyhound is running.
Walking or trotting is simply something for the dog to do in between running to stop them from becoming kennel bound as it has little or no fitness value, and only very minimal value in muscle recovery as massage and stretching is far better.
Just about all of the greyhound trainers walking dogs could not run a 100 metres without collapsing, so how much is walking or trotting adding to the greyhounds fitness to be able to run 500 metres at their peak speed?
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Post by dee on May 14, 2013 22:24:41 GMT 10
Thanks Tom,
Walking takes very little out of them but trotting opens up the lungs and gets the cardio going-would this be of benefit to fitness,cheers
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Post by Tom Meulman on May 15, 2013 6:37:29 GMT 10
Hi Dee,
Most people tend to compare the training of a human athlete to how a greyhound should be trained, or look at how horses are trained, and try and apply some of those principles to the training of a racing greyhound.
None of those training techniques have any real benefit for greyhounds, and do more for the trainer thinking that they are doing something worthwhile.
There is no such thing as opening up the lungs, they are either functional or not, and as far as firing up the heart rate of a greyhound ......... just watching something run away from them that they can’t chase will do that.
Initially for a greyhound to reach peak racing fitness they require a run behind the lure every third day, with these runs being graduated over specific distances and specific formats depending on the physical state of the greyhound.
Then as a more sustained effort is required for racing some of those runs are reduced in distance and intensity to maintain peak fitness without over training.
Other than being let out into a small yard to relieve themselves four times a day, or for a stretch out in the sun, the rest of the time the greyhound athlete needs massage, physiotherapy, and sleep.
Ideally a greyhound races over it’s best suited distance about three times every 2 weeks.
Cheers,
Tom
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Post by jamie on Jul 8, 2013 22:51:37 GMT 10
Hello Tom, what do you think of swimming-the ground in ireland is rock hard with the dry spell were getting so galloping is a problem at present-can we swim our dogs fit for racing-if we gave 2 or 3 mins swim every day would they be fit in 15 days or so. to be honest even if there was an available sand gallop-i would not gallop them as morning and evening are still warm and our dogs are not used to this weather, where as the swim cools them aswell, would love your advice J
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Post by Tom Meulman on Jul 13, 2013 18:14:07 GMT 10
Hi Jamie,
I’m sorry mate but the reality of obtaining fitness with any type of exercise is that the fitness obtained will only apply to the type of exercise done.
In other words; the fitness obtained from walking can only contribute further to improving the fitness for walking, and therefore the exercise of swimming will only exercise and improve the fitness of those muscles used in swimming.
Yes it will improve the fitness of the heart and lungs, but it can only contribute to a very limited extent to the fitness of the muscle structure that is used in running.
While swimming most greyhounds will move their front legs strongly but use their back legs in a limited manner. In fact many greyhounds will simply let them float along with very little use of the legs, and therefore will gain very little fitness to the legs from swimming and may gain more from walking.
Cheers,
Tom
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