1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: Hey, everyone, Welcome to the Foundation's podcast. I'm your host 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. Today's episode is all about how fit our 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: dogs really are, how we can know how fit they are, 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: and what we should be aware of when it comes 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: to thinking of our dogs as athletes. Their early seasons 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: are here. Some of us are hunting teal or other 7 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: puddle ducks. Some of us are chasing doves. Maybe you're 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: out west somewhere chasing Sharpie's. You know, pretty soon rough 9 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: grouse and woodcock and pheasants and quail and a whole 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: host of waterfowl are going to be on the menu. 11 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: And it's pretty awesome. Because of this, we will ask 12 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: a lot of our dogs, though, and they might deliver, 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: or they might stall out, and we might wonder why 14 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: this is natural, because we often think of our dogs 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: as super athletes. But it's not so simple. And the 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: more that you understand about this, the better you can 17 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: treat your pup, which is what this episode is all about. 18 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: The thing that's pretty crazy about the proliferation of smartphones 19 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: is that humanity is documenting itself in a way that's 20 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,639 Speaker 1: just bonkers. There are more pictures taken by the minute 21 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: and video footage shot by the hour than previously in 22 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 1: all of our history. This means there's a hell of 23 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: a lot of stills and videos of people's pets and 24 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: meals in the sunsets, and you know, the fish they 25 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: caught and selfies they took wherever, on and on. This 26 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: also means there's a hell of a lot of videos 27 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: of people, and by that I mean men doing really 28 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: dumb stuff, including getting into fistfights. Alcohol and egos are 29 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: the best boxing coaches out there, or I probably guess 30 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: I should say they're the best hype men. And boy 31 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: are there a lot of videos of dudes figuring out 32 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: that they aren't qualified to step into the octagon and 33 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: go five rounds with the middleweight champion if you know 34 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: what I mean. The amount of dudes you can watch 35 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: go from conscious to unconscious and often probably brain damaged 36 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: is unreal. I am convinced that most men have a 37 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: delusional sense of self when it comes to how tough 38 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: we are, how attractive we are, and how smart and 39 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: capable we are. Now, I can't speak for women here, 40 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: so it might be a human thing, but I get 41 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: the impression us why chromosome owners might not have a 42 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: monopoly on delusional self imagery. We definitely have sort of 43 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: cornered the market, and this extends beyond us as well. 44 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: When was the last time you met a dude who 45 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: has a working or a sporting dog who hasn't mostly 46 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: had NonStop praise for that dog. Not to be fair, 47 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: women do this too, but in a different way. A 48 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: lot of times where this can be a real problem 49 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: is when it comes to canine athleticism and what we 50 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 1: believe our dogs are kind of capable of right now 51 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: versus what they really are actually capable of. Now, Before 52 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: I get into what your dog is actually capable of, 53 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: I think it is a good idea to explore what 54 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: some dogs have been proven to be capable of because 55 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: they have the potential to be super athletes. All of 56 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: them do well, maybe not Chihuahwas or dash ounds mind you. Oh, 57 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: I guess I can't say that with certainty, and that 58 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: might come from personal bias any huski. The researchers out 59 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: there who have studied this stuff have found quite a 60 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: bit of interesting things about certain breeds in certain situations 61 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: that's just kind of fascinating about how good of athletes 62 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: dogs can be. Take Vo two Max as an example. 63 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: Simply put, this is a measure of maximal oxygen consumption, 64 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 1: which reflects respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular efficiency during serious physical activity. 65 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: It's measured in millimeters of oxygen per kilogram of body 66 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: weight per minute. The higher the VO two max, the 67 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: better a creature can deliver oxygen to its muscles, which 68 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: directly translates to better endurance and performance. The average thirty 69 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: five year old man, for example, has a VO two 70 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: max around forty five millimeters per minute, while world class 71 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: endurance athletes like the folks who dominate sports like cycling 72 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: or cross country skiing can get up to around ninety. 73 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: The top score so far is held by a cyclist 74 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: named Oscar Spensen, who, as you probably guessed, is from Norway. 75 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: His VO two max was measured at ninety seven point five. 76 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: Now compare that with Alaskan huskies or sled dogs, which 77 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: have been shown to reach as high as two forty 78 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: in some extreme cases. How do they do this well? 79 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: As you can imagine, generations of breeding the best of 80 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: the best have certainly helped steer huskies in the endurance 81 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: athlete direction. Compared to other breeds. They have oversized hearts 82 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: and lungs, at least relative to their overall size. They 83 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: have high mitochondrial density in their muscles, which directly translates 84 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: to the production of ATP in their cells. ATP is 85 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 1: the molecule that power cells, particularly during times of exercise. Now, 86 00:04:55,440 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: high mitochondrial synthesis helps prevent fatigue, improves recos and supports 87 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: endurance and stamina. Huskies are literally built to run long 88 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: distances at relatively high speeds. Labrador retrievers in German short 89 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: hairs not so much. There's not to say that labs 90 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: and gsps aren't better athletes than your average weekend warrior 91 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: pheasant hunter, because they certainly are. They just aren't quite 92 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: the super athletes we want to think they are, although 93 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: they are capable of a hell of a lot, which 94 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: is where things get a little bit tricky. This hit 95 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: home with me a couple of years ago when I 96 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: had to watch my brother in law's yellow lab LENNI 97 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: is by all accounts, a dog who looks like she's 98 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: built to run. This didn't mean much to me until 99 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,239 Speaker 1: I was working with her in my young lab Sadie, 100 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,239 Speaker 1: and I saw Lenny take off like a cheetah on fire. 101 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: It was bonkers, and she might literally be the fastest 102 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: hunting dog I've ever seen in my life. I was 103 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: blown away until about five retrieves into it, when Sadie 104 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: started to outrun her to the bumper every single toss. 105 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: While Lenny is naturally fast as hell, she was so 106 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: deconditioned then that it didn't take more than a few 107 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: minutes of messing around at a local park before she 108 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: needed to lay down and take a rest. Now here's 109 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: what I know about a dog like her. She looks 110 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: the part, she acts the part. She will make you 111 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,559 Speaker 1: believe that she con pheasant hunt all day without missing 112 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: a beat, But she can't. And I've seen that last 113 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 1: part in action with her too. Just like the dudes 114 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: who have never thrown a real punch suddenly squaring up 115 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: outside the bar with someone who has and who enjoys it, 116 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: the sporting dog that has only taken on walks and 117 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: then asked a pheasant hunt all day is just going 118 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 1: to suffer. Now, I've talked about the dangers of this enough, 119 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: especially in consideration with the early season and the conditions 120 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: that are so common then, so I'm not going to 121 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: get into that. But instead I want to address how 122 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 1: we can recognize that our dogs aren't up to snuff 123 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: and what we should do about it. This is easiest 124 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: to understand by comparing hunting a do into shape by 125 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: thinking about going elk hunting in the mountains as a 126 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: way for us to get in shape. Given a long 127 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: enough timeline, either could absolutely work, but the opportunity for 128 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: injury is way higher than sticking to some level of 129 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: exercise all year long. Our dogs need that too, and 130 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: we often convince ourselves that we are giving them enough 131 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: when we are barely scratching the surface. Think about this 132 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: in terms of step count or distance travel during the 133 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: day in the crp fields and pheasants slews, you know, 134 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: out of curiosity, my hunting buddies and I usually check 135 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: the stats at the end of the day just to 136 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: see how far we've gone. I've had a couple of 137 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: days for pheasants and a couple more for western species 138 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: like sharpies and prairie chickens that topped out at just 139 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: over thirty thousand steps in a day. The distance there 140 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: generally correlates too close to half marathon distance, So you know, 141 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: a shade over thirteen miles somewhere around there. Now, how 142 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: accurate smartphones and smart watches are on measuring this as 143 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: anyone's guests. But I know on the back end of 144 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: any one of those days, I had no trouble falling asleep, 145 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: and neither did my dogs, who without question ran farther 146 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: than I walked. Quite a few hunters have strapped a 147 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: GPS enabled collar to their dogs and have gone a 148 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: step further with this data, and it seems like a 149 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: general rule of thumb is that, depending on breed and conditions, 150 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: our hunting dogs will easily two or three x our 151 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: daily mileage, and they do this while being a hell 152 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: of a lot shorter, moving a hell of a lot 153 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: faster mostly, and often doing it in a hell of 154 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: a lot worse cover than we walk. That's all great 155 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: for framing up generalities, but what about specifics. I did 156 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: a whole episode on this two weeks ago about general 157 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 1: breed traits and beliefs versus what our own individuals are 158 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: and what they are capable. But it also matters in 159 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: this context as well. Our neighbors have two huskies and 160 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 1: they never get to go outside of their yard. I've 161 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: maybe seen those dogs get taken out on a walk 162 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: two or maybe three times in the last two years. Now, 163 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: if you hooked either one of those dogs up to 164 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: a sled and had them start pulling, their hearts would 165 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: explode from exertion before the scenery ever changed for the musher. 166 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 1: They aren't conditioned for the task, even though it's entirely 167 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: possible that they could be. Or I guess I should 168 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: say they could be better suited to endurance than they 169 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 1: currently are. No, of course, the key to canine conditioning 170 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: is the key to our conditioning consistency. Now, I probably 171 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: have to say this since I literally started this podcast 172 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: out by showing why Alaskan huskies are the undisputed kings 173 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: and queens of endurance athleticism. But here we go. They 174 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: are bred for the job, and a lot of them 175 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,239 Speaker 1: are very good at it. They have a gene deep advantage, 176 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: and that matters. It matters with us too, although we 177 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: often get this wrong in an attempt to excuse ourselves 178 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: from not being in better shape. You know, it's pretty 179 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: common to hear people cite their own metabolism as an 180 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 1: excuse for not being in good shape. But I have 181 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: yet to meet anyone who's gone to the doctor for 182 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: a true metabolism test. We just make it up as 183 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: an excuse, and it's more comfortable to believe that we 184 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 1: can put on weight by merely looking at cake than 185 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: it is to count calories and realize we drink the 186 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: equivalent of a slice of cake in calories every few 187 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: hours when we are awake. The power of the mind 188 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: to protect ourselves from our true selves is bananas. And 189 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: we do this with our dogs too. So what does 190 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: all this mean for your English Setter or your Monster 191 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,719 Speaker 1: Lander or your Golden Retriever or whatever. Well, keep them 192 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: in good shape for real. It's not enough to keep 193 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: them just at a healthy weight, although that is a 194 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 1: huge step in the right direction. In fact, it's a 195 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 1: necessary component to the whole thing. A dog that has 196 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: the body shape of a potato needs fewer calories in 197 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: conjunction with a proper exercise plan. The dog that is lean, 198 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: has a nice cutback by the hips, and is by 199 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: all accounts of very healthy weight has a huge start. 200 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: But not being overweight is also not necessarily proof that 201 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: a dog is conditioned well. Dogs need to run and swim, 202 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: and they need to do this consistently throughout the year, 203 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: otherwise they just won't be conditioned that well. The key 204 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 1: to this is to find the old balance between underdoing 205 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: it exercise wise and overdoing it during any given session 206 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: or hunt. Most dogs aren't in a lot of danger 207 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: of being exercised too hard in the offseason, which is 208 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: the big problem during the actual hunting season, because that's 209 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: the easiest scenario for us to push it too far 210 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: with them and for them to be all about overdoing 211 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: it until it has been overdone, because that's their nature. Now, 212 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: this is not something that is static over a dog's 213 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: life either. You poppy owners out there know how young 214 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: dogs go from zero to one hundred and then back 215 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 1: to zero in short fits and spurts. That is the 216 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: nature of young dogs. They play hard and then they 217 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: rest hard. Middle aged dogs are a different thing, though, 218 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: and they are much better at preserving their energy and 219 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: managing their output. The exercise needs of a twenty week 220 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 1: old puppy won't look anything like the needs of a 221 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: six year old dog. What will be somewhat the same 222 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: is that at least a few sessions of physical activity 223 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: a day over the course of many many days will 224 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: shape them into well conditioned dogs that have all kinds 225 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: of health benefits going for them. Now, if you take 226 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: your lab out twice a day every day to chase 227 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: down a bumper and work on retrieves, you'll have a 228 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: dog that is more conditioned than your average shitsu. We 229 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: also have a dog that is conditioned to a specific 230 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: type of exercise. That dog might tear up the game 231 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 1: farm pheasants in the preseason, but still crash out two 232 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 1: hours into a wild bird hunt, or it might get 233 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: into real trouble the first time you go from the 234 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: soccer fields to the duck boat. The birds are flying 235 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 1: low and slow, and your dogs really only used to 236 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: running a bunch on grass, and now it has all 237 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: the excitement of a duck hunt to deal with while 238 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: also dealing with the reality of having to periodically swim 239 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: and pursuit of wounded green heads. Just like with human athletes, 240 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,839 Speaker 1: too much of one type of exercise can lead to 241 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: a plateau adaptive complacency, which is testament to how well 242 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: our bodies can function, to the point where the same 243 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: type of exertion for too long can start to lose 244 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: some of its benefits. Because our bodies learn how to 245 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: be super efficient in that regard. That shit works for 246 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,719 Speaker 1: dogs too. This is why there has always been an 247 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: emphasis on aerobic and anaerobic workouts when it comes to 248 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: people getting into really good shape. Cardio and weightlifting compliment 249 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: each other and allow for us to keep tricking our 250 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: bodies into making progress. Crossfitters, as annoying as they can 251 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 1: be on social media, are generally overall more fit than 252 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: strict long distance runners, although in one category the long 253 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: distance runners will win every time, but overall fitness is different. 254 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: With dogs, adaptive complacency comes with some extra danger because 255 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: we might look at our dogs and you know the 256 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: fact that they can run three miles a day behind 257 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: our side by sides as we go for an evening 258 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: drive and think, well, that is a dog that is 259 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: primed and in shape sort of. But that's also a 260 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: dog that is highly conditioned for one type of exercise, 261 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: which may or may not closely prepare them for an 262 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: actual style of hunting. You can think about this like 263 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: you can think about just about any training drill you 264 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: might set up for your dog. Maybe you just want 265 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: your dog to learn a step in a bigger process, 266 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: like steadiness at the front end of a retrieving drill. 267 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: That's great, we also want to tie that into a 268 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: real world skill that is necessary in the field. In 269 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: that instance, a dog that is steady while a bumper 270 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: spins through the air and thumps on the ground is 271 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: a dog that is being trained to be a good 272 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: dove dog or a good duck dog. In addition to 273 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: the fact that steadiness is just a solid trait for 274 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: all working dogs. Now to contrast that never making a 275 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: dog weight when you're tossing a backyard bumper means you're 276 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: preparing a dog to run at the first whim that 277 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: tickles its smooth brain, including when you flush non target 278 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: birds like hen pheasants or some ducks fly by that 279 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: aren't on the menu and the gravity is a little 280 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: bit too much for your dog and he goes for 281 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: a swim just in case you shoot one. Anyway, conditioning 282 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: our dogs in general is great, but it's also a 283 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: good idea to think about conditioning them specifically for the 284 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: physical aspects of the kinds of hunts they'll actually be 285 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: asked to participate in. Just like if you do draw 286 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: that elk take you could get into some type of 287 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: better shape on an elliptical machine, but you might also 288 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: want to think about putting a backpack on, filling it 289 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: with something heavy and then hitting up the stair climber 290 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: because when you get to the mountains, you're going to 291 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: need that training. I'll take away on this is this, 292 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: our dogs are incredible athletes that are capable of more 293 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: than most of us can imagine. They don't come out 294 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: of the box that way, though. They need to be 295 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: molded into real athletes, and the biggest part of that 296 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: that most of us make a mistake on is assuming 297 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: our dogs are in way better shape than they actually 298 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: are throughout most of the year. So maybe appropriate way 299 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: to think about this is we often view our dogs 300 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: as being in good enough shape, kind of like we 301 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: do with ourselves. It's a great mindset to have if 302 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: you never need to prove it with them or yourself, 303 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: But the illusion on both ends can crumble pretty quickly 304 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: four hours into a slog through the frozen cattails or 305 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: out in the rolling sandhills where they are about four 306 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: sharpies per square mile of grass. Pay attention to your 307 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: dogs as you hit up these early season opportunities, and 308 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: don't forget to address their exercise needs in the off 309 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: days when you aren't in the field. This is a 310 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: habit that matters to their overall health. And it will 311 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: result in more birds game bag. It's just something that 312 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: you should stick to, you know, not only throughout the season, 313 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: but after the closing bell, so your dog doesn't ever 314 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: get too out of shape because you just don't want 315 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: them deconditioned, because we can fool ourselves into thinking that 316 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 1: they're in good shape. Leads to all kinds of problems. 317 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: So just think about that as you get out there 318 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 1: for whatever you're gonna hunt right now, think about it 319 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: throughout the year, and then think about this. Think about 320 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: coming back in two weeks because I'm going to talk 321 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: about force free training styles and balance training styles and 322 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: how their adherence to both camps, but really diving into 323 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 1: only one style of training might not be the best 324 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: option for you and your dog. That's it for this week. 325 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 1: I'm Tony Peterson. This has been The Houndation's podcast, which 326 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: is such a fun project for me because you guys 327 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: have shown up and you've supported me like crazy with this, 328 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: you know, Cal and I really appreciate this. It's so 329 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: fun to see the dog lovers who are also media 330 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: your fans come out of the woodwork. It's been great, 331 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: So thank you so much for that. If you want 332 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: some more. You know, dog training content. Maybe you're gonna 333 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: hunt some deer this fall with the family, head out 334 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: on a road trip for something. Whatever, the mediater dot 335 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: com has you covered. We drop new articles, we drop 336 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: new recipes, we drop new films, We drop a ton 337 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: of podcasts. Our podcast network is huge, so many good 338 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: shows on there for entertainment, education. All of it can 339 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 1: be found at the mediater dot com. Go check it 340 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: out and thank you once again.