We have launched our PlayFit Sports Mini-Course specific for sport dogs! I, Coach L, have had a love for canine sports since 2005 when I started herding with my little sheltie, Maggie Mae. While fitness is important for all dogs, it’s absolutely essential for sport dogs. Why? Well, I will tell you a story that sadly many other owners and sport dogs have experienced. Whether you are doing agility, dock diving, herding, obedience, disc, or barn hunt, sports can be demanding on the dog’s body. I didn't understand fully how demanding until 7 years ago, my border collie had an iliopsoas strain. We did agility, herding, obedience, rally together and he was about 5 when the injury occurred.
It was hard to watch your very active young dog hurting and not only did our fun sporting activities cease but normal life changed drastically as well while he was leash walked, forbidden from jumping on the couch, and swimming wasn't allowed either. I cried many days wondering...
Maggie was my first sheltie. She was one of 10 puppies, and when I met her at 8 weeks, she was full of spunk and sass which I loved about her. We played fetch in the yard which she loved, I took her for walks, but none of that seemed to satisfy or tire her out. It seemed she could play fetch for hours and never want to stop the game. When I came home from work, she would be bouncing off the walls. She literally would eat the drywall and chew the baseboards. She also had a bad habit of eating other things she shouldn’t, chewing up toys and once ate the stuffing of a toy and had to be hospitalized. Apart from immediately buying a crate, making sure toys were bulletproof and watching her like a hawk, I had to find a way to curb her destructive behavior as well as incessant barking.
At my wit’s end, I joined a puppy obedience class when she was eight months old to see if they could help me. She loved learning new behaviors. The teacher I met later became one of my good...
