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Running/Exercising your Greyhound
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Many ex-racers have or had injuries consisting of anything
from a bone break to a dislocated toe. This could make long walks and
running on concrete or other hard surfaces painful. Your dog may not
tell you he hurts, but he will pay for it later.
Consider your greyhound does not have shoes! They walk and run on the
pads of their feet, which can easily be damaged, especially by hot or
rough surfaces. Before taking your dog out, consider the temperature
and condition of the pavement sidewalk. On hot days, walk only on the
grass with shade available. Avoid broken asphalt, rough stones or jagged
surfaces or you could end up by carrying your dog home.
Always
consider your dog's physical condition. Just because it was an athlete
doesn't mean it still is. Even a young dog may be out of condition,
whether it actually raced or never made it to the track. Greyhounds
on the track were bred and conditioned for sprints, not distance work.
Once retired, even a sprint may tire them out, especially if they spend
the majority of the time on the couch. If you want your greyhound to
walk with you, make sure you work up pace and distance gradually. Every
time you go out, give your dog a chance to warm up first and cool down
afterwards. Be careful what you ask your dog to do. It will try to follow
your lead to please you, even to exhaustion that may result in death.
It is essential to remember that retired racing Greyhounds may bring
some souvenirs of their past with them. These may include (but are not
limited to) old stress fractures, microfractures, partially torn or
avulsed tendons and ligaments, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint
disease. As such, these retirees are prone to further injury if allowed
or encouraged to exercise at full speed without proper training and
conditioning. To this end, I would propose that we consider these elements
before turning them loose:
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Current weight versus racing weight
If more than 5 pounds difference, the dog must have a weight
control program and conditioning before being allowed to exercise
without restraint.
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Pre-existing conditions
If dog was retired due to injury, guardians should have current
x-rays and a vet slip before undertaking any strenuous exercise
program.
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State of physical fitness
All Greyhounds should have a conditioning period of a minimum of
6 to 8 weeks of both speed and distance work (combined training)
before any attempt should be made to allow these dogs to run unrestrained.
History has proven that exercise without preparation can result
in severe, crippling injuries or death.
In conclusion, I suggest that we get our couch potatoes off the couch
long before we allow them to run without restraint. To do otherwise
is to invite disaster.
-Thank you,
J.E. Radcliffe
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