Day 1:

Importance of Structure to Performance

• Introduction to the musculoskeletal system

• Conformation myths

• Understanding your dog’s physical advantages and disadvantages for performance

• How to evaluate your own dog’s structure

• Body size (gigantism vs. dwarfism) and shape

• How to evaluate front and rear angulation

• Dewclaws and tails – their use in performance

• How you can use your dog’s structure to maximize performance

• How to pick a performance puppy

Contact Obstacles, Tunnels, Weaves

• The role of the front and rear in climbing and descending contact obstacles

• How dogs of different shapes and sizes perform the contact obstacles

• Reasons for slow performance

• Ways to make obstacle performance safer and more accurate

• What muscles dogs use to weave fast

• How structure affects the ability to weave

• Videos of dogs of various shapes and sizes performing the agility obstacles and/or obedience exercises to see how they use their bodies

Keeping Your Athlete in Peak Condition

• The five components of a fitness program for canine athletes

• Appropriate ages to begin strength and conditioning exercises

• Strength exercises that target specific areas of the body

• How to modify intensity, frequency, duration of training during the week and season

• Conditioning for specific muscle groups

Day 2:

Jump Training (morning)

• Biomechanics of jumping – why dogs are better athletes than horses (and therefore do not jump the same)

• Training and conditioning for jumping from puppies to adults - this is really more than just jump training – it is body awareness training

• Styles of jumping and when dogs use them

• Lead legs – what they are, why they are important, and how to train your dog to use them appropriately

• Jumping problems – what causes them and how to fix them

• Early take-off – why some dogs do it and how to fix it

• Advanced jump training – the makings of a power jumper

When Things Go Wrong

• Common athletic injuries your vet might not know about

• How to recognize them and get the best treatment

• Complementary and alternative therapies for healing and improving performance

• Canine rehabilitation – what it is and how to do some of it yourself

• Conditions involving joints, bones, muscle

• How your dog’s structure may increase his risk for certain injuries

• What health checks you should get on your performance dog and why

• Supplements and the performance dog