If you were going out to sprint intervals, would you walk straight from a cold car and start sprinting from the very first step you take? Probably not. You would most likely have much poorer performance in your intensity and strides than if you had warmed up first. Not to mention, there is a very high chance of pulling a muscle. It is exactly the same for our dogs. If you are going for a bike ride with your dog or letting it run loose in the woods, the pace is often high – making warming up beforehand all the more important. The main goal of warming up is to prepare the body both physically and mentally for activity.
Injury prevention and performance enhancement
It is not just for injury prevention; it will also increase your dog's performance in competitions, while hunting, or in a pulling harness. A good warm-up at the obedience ring is also important to get the dog ready and sharp. Before heading into the show ring, a well-warmed-up dog will be able to stretch out better and show even better movement. Not least on the agility course or before a wild trip in the mountains, it is important that both the nervous system and muscles are well-prepared for activity.
The more intense your dog is in its behavior, and the more intensive or heavy the work it is to perform, the more important a good warm-up is.
This happens when you warm up:
- Warming up increases the temperature in the tissue so the body gains increased elasticity
- Improves blood circulation to the muscles that are going to work
- Messages are sent to the nervous system about activity, which causes body control, coordination, and balance to "wake up" and become more sharpened.
How to warm up:
- General warm-up: General warm-up means warming up the large muscle groups and getting the whole body started. Start by walking the dog calmly on a leash, loose, or on a long line. It should maintain a calm pace. 5-10 minutes. Let the dog sniff, walk, and trot calmly around. Preferably in rough terrain if you have the opportunity.
- Increase intensity gradually: Eventually, you can jog a little with the dog and increase the tempo of the dog's movements by increasing your own pace. 5-7 minutes. NOTE: You should not perform a full session of, for example, cycling/cardio training before strength training so that the dog is tired before you start. However, you can use this for 5-10 minutes of the warm-up.
- Specific warm-up: Specific warm-up means warming up for the exact activity you are about to engage in. For example, for agility dogs, they can go over some cavalettis, let the dog weave between your legs, or spin around. In obedience, you do contact exercises that get the dog "on" and focused.
How long should you warm up?
Here, it depends on the dog's intensity and physical shape. Anything between 15-30 minutes is very good! Listen to your own body when warming up the dog to see how long YOUR body needs before you could perform the activity your dog is going to perform. Feel when your heart starts pumping, you have gained good warmth in your body, and feel your body is "ready" for more. This can be educational regarding how much time your dog also needs.
Remember that a little is better than nothing!
