weight and condition
I have started running with her and she is doing pretty well not having been on a leash before and living as a couch potato. Will she always have baggy skin or should she start to muscle and tone up after a few weeks? She weighs 60 lbs and I can feel her ribs if I push in a little bit. My other dog is a begle/spanial and he is all muscle from all the running we do. I have been taking her on 2 mile runs and she seems to be holding up well and is only tired near the end. |
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| How old is she? |
| I would have a thorough exam by a vet before starting her on any kind of distance running. Just like a human, before starting an exercise program, you should be checked. As a rescue who knows what she's gone through. I think its best to be sure her little ehart and body can handle strenous exercise.
If you are pushing in and can feel her ribs, I think that is exactly the ideal weight. You shouldn't see the ribs sticking out but should be able to feel them as you indicated. Of course with my big boy its been a long time since I actually felt his ribs and he really needs to lose a few pounds  |
| I am told that she is about 2 years old. This is what Madeline who runs the rescue told me. The women who owned her before is not supply any vet records to Madeline so I am kind of guessing her age. |
| she was checked by to vet and we did all of her shots since it seemed better to start from scratch and not miss anything. My vet said that her seight was fine so I just wasn't sure if their skin tends to be a little more loose then my begle/spanial mix.
As far as pushing more than the distance we are at ..... I myself don't really want to run any farther than 2 miles. Is is okay to take her more that once a day for that kind of run?? sometimes my husband goes in the morning so she could get in 2 runs on some days. |
| I have to agree with Ashley. I would bring your baby to the vet and have them in tell you if she is at a good body weight and about proper conditioning.
One thing I have noticed after going to sheepie fest, is that there are different body types to sheepdogs depending on the bloodline. I saw dogs that were much smaller than my dogs and some much bigger. My girl is a leggy girl who is about 26 inches at the shoulders and 64lbs. She's at a good weight and has a lot of muscle at her legs. My boy is only 24inches at the shoulders, but is very wide of body, pretty blocky and he's 75lbs. |
| That sounds about the right condition.
Yes, she will firm up with time, as you continue to exercise. As others have mentioned - proceed with the exercise after a vet approval. We are very active and a 2 mile jog is nothing to Chewie. His current exercise is agility practice (lots of jumping, moving) and cart training for mushing this winter. He is up to 2+ miles, pulling a person an a cart. It was a gradual process, and his endurance has greatly improved in the past month. Before that he was being shown - in show coat he was too hot to really work much, and needed to save the coat. Now he is in a shorter coat, belly area shaved and loving the cooler weather. I have new pictures awaiting approval of us out carting yesterday. 
His sister Martha joined the carting for the 1st time yesterday, just went about a mile. She had been out biking previously, so she was getting built up as well.  |
sheepiegail wrote: she was checked by to vet and we did all of her shots since it seemed better to start from scratch and not miss anything. My vet said that her seight was fine so I just wasn't sure if their skin tends to be a little more loose then my begle/spanial mix.
As far as pushing more than the distance we are at ..... I myself don't really want to run any farther than 2 miles. Is is okay to take her more that once a day for that kind of run?? sometimes my husband goes in the morning so she could get in 2 runs on some days. At two, she probably has some energy to burn. So long as you pay attention to if she's getting pushed to far, I think you'll be fine. I know my 17 month old can go all day long. |
| I haven't seen any locally to compare her to. Maybe I will email Madeline and she if she knows of any sheepies locally. It would be nice to get together and get a little inside info other than what I have picked up reading. |
| Just make sure you warm her up (maybe walk her aaobout 50 yeards and then in in some tight circles etc) before you start to run with her - regarless of how mush she wants to get going.
I have done 5 miles on the bike keeping Marley at a trot or a walk and she is still raring to go when we get back. If you are trying to tire her out, try mental exercise - that works quicker  |
sheepiegail wrote: I haven't seen any locally to compare her to. Maybe I will email Madeline and she if she knows of any sheepies locally. It would be nice to get together and get a little inside info other than what I have picked up reading.
Gail, Madeline's also (when she's not doing rescue, or working on the health and research committee or...  ) a long time well respected breeder. By all means e-mail her - she's a wealth of information. But hopefully you can also meet up with her at some point. You can learn tons about the breed from her.
Best, Kristine |
| how did you start training with a cart. It sounds interesting. I have started basic obediance skills with her and she is picking it up fast. she has already mastered the stay with me 5 feet away and sitting for a minute with me walking around her. Hard to believe that she will keep he butt on the ground but after 8 or 9 tries she figured it out.
The runs are to burn energy and keep both of us in shape then we finish with training for 10-15 minutes when she is more relaxed and can concentrate on a task which requires patience and waiting. Any ideas on how to stop the bouncing?? I am trying to break her or the habit of putting paws on people and jumping up and down. She does this when I get home from work before our run. I would like her to learn she needs to be calm to sit for her collar and then then we will run. It still takes her 5 minutes to sit politely. I have tried Ceaser Milan's method of turning away from her when she is pawing or jumping but have had only little success after 2 weeks. She is smart and got the sit, down and stay in 2 days. |
sheepiegail wrote: Any ideas on how to stop the bouncing?? I am trying to break her or the habit of putting paws on people and jumping up and down. She does this when I get home from work before our run. I would like her to learn she needs to be calm to sit for her collar and then then we will run. It still takes her 5 minutes to sit politely.
I have tried Ceaser Milan's method of turning away from her when she is pawing or jumping but have had only little success after 2 weeks. She is smart and got the sit, down and stay in 2 days. I have a similar greeting. Only my Wendel doesn't bounce. He very slowly gets onto his back legs and 'hugs' me by putting his front legs either around my waist or my shoulders. Sometimes, he pulls me in real tight. Meantime, my Asterisk will go between my legs with her butt wiggling. She just goes round and round. You could just try and reinforce the sit/stay and don't give her attention till she does this. As smart as she seems to be, I'm sure she'll catch on quickly that to get attention her paws have to stay on the ground. |
| Be sure to keep an eye on your dog's paw pads, especially if you're running on pavement. They can get abrasions on them fairly easily if not conditioned. |
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