Canine Cardio Bootcamp is a training program that will give the dog and the owner a mental and physical work out! It is based on basic obedience commands mixed with fast heeling, jogging and play. I am finding that people, with their busy lives, dont have time to train their dogs, as well as exercise them and go to the gym themselves. The program would be designed in a way that is fun for the dogs and the owners. It would begin with practicing basic commands on six foot leashes and teaching the clients to use treats and toys to develop a dynamic training style. It also would train the dogs to be engaged with the owner, even when other dogs are present.
The idea would be to start slow, reviewing basic commands and then pick up the pace, continuing with "on and off games" , emergency downs, as well as honouring while the owners do jumping jacks and run circles around the dogs. The sections would be broken up with games of tug, as well as short breaks for the dogs to get water and the owners to catch their breath. The class would start with a fifteen minute warm up, working on focus games and simple commands, followed with two fifteen minute cardio sessions then ending with a cool down, possibly even a doggy massage on nice days. It would run between an hour and a half and two hours, with breaks and instruction periods. The pre-requisite would be a few basic obedience commands, but we would also cover them in class, as well as add a few bonus ones that would help burn off excess energy and make the workout more dynamic.
For "On and Off Games" and "Emergency Downs", see Dont Give Up on Defaults, cut and paste: http://dgudogtraining.blogspot.com/2010/10/dont-give-up-on-defaults.html
I have been training my dogs Holly and Miko using obedience, play and engagement. It is a great work out! The bonus is that when the dogs get working, they do faster, crisper sits and downs! Also, they pay more attention to me because I am so fun! My goal is to get out there and develop this program, as well as get fit. Ill be teaching people to exercise their dogs in a way that is dynamic and fun for humans and canines, meanwhile, getting experience as a pet dog trainer. Stay tuned, as the program is in the developement stages. The pilot class was July 24th, 2011 and it went really well. Depending on how many folks are interested, I would like to do regularly at the same local park near my home. (Confederation Park in Burnaby)
