07clinicnotes

Courtesy of Carmen Rasmussen of Alpine Outfitters - thank you, Carmen!

Hydration

It is critical to ensure your dogs are well-hydrated one hour before they run. The performance level of your dogs will greatly improve if they are properly hydrated. One way to hydrate is to bait their water at home one hour prior to the run. You can bait the water with a few sprinkles of Impact or other clear substances such as the liquid from tuna fish or tiny pieces of tuna fish mixed into the water, etc. They should drink about half a regular bowl full of water. Once your dogs reach their running location, let them pee and they shouldn't then pee while on the trail.

You do not want to feed your dogs prior to the run as this may cause bloat which can be deadly. Bloat combined with exercise can also cause dogs stomachs to flip over which requires immediate surgery to correct.

When your dogs return from the run, it is important to give them clear water, not baited water.

Emergencies

Know where the closest emergency vet is to the trail you are running. Keep phone numbers readily available as you never know when an emergency situation may arise.

Training Log

Everyone should keep a training log - it increases accountability and enables you to have clearly defined long and short term goals. Also daily goals for each time you go out. Daily goals may be very, very small, such as 'keep my dogs from peeing on the trail.'

The first page of the training log should include:
1. Names of each dog
2. Base temperatures of each dog
3. Base heart rate of each dog
This is important so you can monitor signs of overheating and very good information for your vet in case one of your dogs does over heat. Dogs have varied base temperatures - from 101 to 102 degrees - so it is important to have a base for each individual dog.

You should own:
1. Stop watch - so you are able to time your runs
2. Thermometer - so you know the outside temp
3. Dog thermometer - so you know how hot your dogs are running

Training Log should include the following information for each run:
1. Date, location, time of day, how far you ran, who ran with you
2. Goals
3. Outside temperature
4. Humidity - if important to you and your dog's performance
5. Picture of the location of each dog on your team (who ran next to who, etc.)
6. Any other variables, anything that happened, accomplishments, things you want to work on and change.

Things to consider before running dogs

Humidity Level - the higher the humidity, the harder it is for dogs to get rid of heat
Outside temperature
Dog's coat
Dog's fitness level
Dog's weight - what is the optimal weight for a working dog? You should be able to see three ribs if a dog does not have a coat. If they do have a coat, you need to visualize the dog's body - can you see three ribs? If you can clearly see the pin bones, the dog may be underweight. If you can feel the pin bones, the dog should be at a good weight. Weight is an individual thing and is also determined by the dog's build, etc.

Mushing Tips

MAKE RUNNING FUN FOR YOUR DOGS! Fun = Different...mix it up - take different trails when possible, run the trails backwards, make it interesting for your dogs
Be a quiet musher - your dogs will appreciate it!
Have a training plan each time you go out
Know the difference between running dogs vs. training dogs
Interval training
How to train your dogs to give you 120% when you need it - the last 1/2 mile of your run - sprint back to the truck - always finish strong...that's how you win races... teach your dogs to understand the last 1/2 mile command, 'to the truck' and then 'lets go.' Soon, they will associated 'to the truck' or 'lets go' as 'give it your all!'
It is important to set the pace for your dogs so they know if they are going to run a sprint of 2 miles or need to conserve energy and run 10 miles
Line out training is essential...you can train your dogs to line out using the pole training method.
Dogs can learn 'straight ahead' when there are several trails to take and you want them to stay on the main trail.
Maximum training: 4 days out of 7
Be careful to not always run at top speed - you can risk injury...also, do not run fast down hills as your dogs can easily injure a leg.
First six weeks of the season - is used for muscle building
To encourage dogs to pull up hill - do not have them pull you up hills, run with them up the hills.

Signs of Overheating

Each dog will react differently to over heating but some signs are:
- Mouth open wider than normal
- Throat is red
- Sticky saliva
- Vacant look
- Stressed
- Gums are red or grey/blue
- Wobbly legs - very bad sign
- Vomiting - very bad sign
Base temperature of dogs: 101 to 102
106 = very serious distress - get your dog to the vet immediately
To cool your dog that is overheating - pour cool water between back legs
Once a dog over heats, it takes a very long time for the dog's system to recuperate.

After a run, cool your dog down prior to feeding them

Kindergarten

Whenever a dog is in harness, they need to know they are 'working'
Begin by training on leash, with harness on: hike, woah, hike, woah, gee, haw
Train for only short periods, keep it fun, six days a week
A good method to train a dog to not pee while running - when they pee, don't say a word, lightly run into them...the apologize profusely for what you 'did' by accident!
Pole line-out training is excellent

Make it FUN!

Fun=different! Mix it up, run trails backwards, run different trails

Training Schedules

First six weeks of the season - work on muscle building with short, fast runs - ex. a 1.8 mile sprint loop
Then focus on fast light and long training to build up endurance
Don't run at top speed as you will risk injury
Train a maximum of four days out of every seven

Urine Odor Formula

1/3 Lemon dishwashing soap
1/3 Lemon ammonia
1/3 Listerine

Mix and apply using a hose attachment