[Gaz007]

Hi as I mentioned in my intro finding info on conditioning dogs here in the uk is pretty hard so forgive me if this is a newbe question,I have seen quite a few dogs over here that are 'conditioned' but they don't show much if any muscle over there ribs,is this down to not giving there dog the correct exercises to work these muscles or have they just been fed less to give the impression of being conditioned thus there muscles havnt grown anough to be pronounced ?

 

[Celestial88]

For my own dog, I've gotten some muscle coverage over the ribs from tug/spring pole, but only if they really get into it and thrash their body. Hopefully someone else will have a better answer for you =]

 

[Gaz007]

Thanks for the reply celestia,this is something I'm interested in at the moment because it looks like this muscle group is getting over looked with quite a few dogs over here which carnt be good for the overall performance of the dogs,I would like to find out if there is any specific exercises to work these muscles ? I use a spring pole but at low level do my dog has all feet on ground so he can pull and twist,this has worked to a degree but only slight muscle is showing and he uses the spring pole quite often.

 

[Rudy4747]

Swiming is greatfor conditioning.

 

[Gaz007]

Cheers Rudy,I'd love to take Dave swimming but unfortunately there's no where local to me to do so.

 

[Mach0]

If you've got a set of stairs- fetch up and down the steps is nice. There's more than one way to get the dog fit. It's more about how much time you want to put in and what resources you have available.

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

 

[txjeep]

some dogs develop it easy when working them and I have seen some worked to the T and not really show it at all. I would say swimming like rudy said and spring pole and the correct diet as well.

 

[pookie!]

Genetics play a huge role in whether or not the dog will have a pronounced lat muscle. Some dogs no matter how much conditioning you do will never have one show as much as some dogs that it takes very little to show the muscle.

Some people do "condition at the food bowl" and that can lead to a dog appearing somewhat "fit". Thats not a way to achieve a nice lat muscle though, and its not a good idea because you arent actually conditioning you are essentially underfeeding the dog to achieve a thin look.

I have a mutt here who no matter what I do will NOT show a lat muscle at all. Or if I do manage to get it to show its very faint and hardly able to be seen.
I did tons of drag work, running, flirt, spring, etc and it just isnt in his genetics to have that show, he gets killer legs and shoulder muscles, but just no lat.
We also had another dog here who had one popping out with no work at all, all the time! Just depends on genes sometimes.

Just remember that point, but like I was told when I was hell bent on getting a lat muscle on my dog, drag work is great, running up and down hills, and just running in general, and spring pole. I think if you give your dog a balanced workout and stick to a schedule and exercise and feed properly your dog will give you all its genetics allow for. :thumbsup: