Interval Training & Proprioception Work

I'm trying to get into the habit of doing what I intended to do with this blog - keep track of my training and conditioning activities with the dogs! So this is going to be a hybrid entry - partly logging activities and partly talking about some new training goals.

Interval Training with the Twin Tervs this morning (I call them the Twin Tervs because I am sure that my neighbors can't tell which dog is which when I have them out individually :-)  In fact, I'm pretty sure that some of them don't even know I have 2!)

Goal: 3@4
Achieved: 2x4+3; Both dogs clearly tired at that point.
Temp: 33F, Warmer than it has been lately
Ground: Still frozen with a soft, wet layer on top

I started both dogs on 10-Squared Racing supplements about 3 weeks ago. Genesis on a daily basis, Revive after a more intense cardio workout, and Kelp on a daily basis. Love their products. I've used them previously with Gata and noticed a significant improvement in her overall endurance and it was definitely easier to keep weight on her while using them. Unfortunately, I did not increase their exercise enough or reduce their food rations enough at that time. I now have 2 relatively fat dogs - Tor less so than Gata. So, our conditioning routines are going to have to progress slowly to make sure that they both hold up to them. And Gata is also going on a diet :-)   Ahh, my poor baby :-)

Another training activity that I am starting on with them over the winter months. I would like to work on their proprioception and potentially be able to cue them to do specific things with a specific foot/leg. I think it would be great in general, but also am thinking about other exercises to help Gata with that old injury.

To start with I needed to work with Tor on clicker training! I had done some work with him awhile ago but haven't used a clicker with him in long enough that he forgot it. So, we worked on charging the clicker. The first step is to teach them a "Perch" - where they back up onto an elevated obstacle with their back feet. So we started on that last night. I've done a little bit of this with both of them in the past but not enough for it to be fluid.

I used a large platform that I had built a few years ago to practice positions on. It's about 4-inches tall so an obvious step up for them. Plus, with the larger platform I didn't have to worry about them backing up crooked and missing it or only getting 1 foot up, etc. I'll work on smaller and taller obstacles later.

Gata got it quickly. Tor would much rather turn around and step up onto it. But once he did it a couple of times he seemed OK. Since Gata picked it up so quickly, I transitioned to the next step with her - putting just 1 back foot on it. She got this pretty well, too. Interestingly enough, she would only do with her left hind last night. Don't know if that is just coincidence or if putting weight on her right hind in an elevated position is sore. Won't draw any conclusions about that yet but will keep an eye on it.

Both dogs are happy and content with a bit of work this morning and a nice breakfast and a recreational bone to chew on in my absence :-)  Anyway, that's it for now.