DOG WALKING

• Human keep fit rating – 4/6
• Human calorie counter - x calories on a one hour walk
• Dog keep fit rating – 6/6
• Bank breaker – 0/5

Why dog walking? Every dog owner has a duty of care to make sure that their dog gets at least one walk every day and for many dogs, who require mental as well as physical stimulation, two a day would be the ideal. Most of us could spend a lot more time enjoying the great outdoors with our four legged friends, who make the perfect walking companions. Unlike most activities dog walking is something that the whole family can enjoy and better still, it doesn’t cost anything at all!

Who is it suitable for? All dogs and dog owners can and should get walking. The government recommends that we get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day and this is something that everybody can achieve, and go beyond, on a daily dog walk.

How good is it for me and my dog? Although dog walking is not a high intensity work out it is great for cardiovascular development, strengthening muscles and bones and lowering blood pressure. It is also the kind of activity that can be built upon, with the walks becoming longer and more vigorous the fitter you get. And there are many social benefits as well because people who go walking with their dogs are often believed to be more friendly and approachable by others. Walking is great for your dog as they will use the time not only to walk but to run, sniff and socialise with other dogs.

What do I need to remember? If you’re planning on making a day of it then remember to check out the Kennel Club’s Open for Dogs website first, which will show you the kind of pubs, hotels and other pit stops that are dog friendly. www.openfordogs.org.uk. You can even download an iphone app that will alert you to all of the Open for Dogs places, wherever you are in the country!

Rosemary Conley gives the following tips to help you get the most out of your dog walk:

1. Walk correctly.  It is very important to walk with an upright posture.  Check this out by walking the length of a room with a book on your head!  Look directly ahead, with shoulders back and tummy held in gently to support your back.  Find the position where the book stays put and you will be walking correctly.
2. Adopt the correct foot strike.  A firm heel strike is important to ensure you use the leg muscles correctly.  Check for any excessive turn out in the foot as you walk.  You then need a strong push off the ball of the foot so you transfer weight evenly through the foot.  These tips all help prevent injury in the long term.
3. Before starting your training session, do some simple warm-up mobility moves to loosen the joints.
4. Start with a warm up walk, which is a very moderate pace of walking, but steady and purposeful.  The arms are long by your side and swing naturally as you walk.  If you are new to exercise then the early training sessions should be entirely spent on this technique. The speed at this pace is approx. 3 mph, 1 mile = 20 mins.
5. Aim to progress to a power walk, which is a much more purposeful technique.  The arms tend to bend up from the elbow, allowing a stronger movement from the legs and hips.  Keep the stride length similar to the warm-up walk but just go faster.  The speed at this pace is approx. 4 mph, 1 mile = 15 mins.
6. Follow your walk with some cool-down stretches, to stretch your front, back, and inner thigh, calf and shin.

Getting involved: The great thing about dog walking is that, whether a country mouse or a city dweller there is no shortage of great walks that you can get out and enjoy. There are numerous websites such as www.21topdogwalks.co.uk that will give you guidance about the best walks near you.

AGILITY

• Human keep fit rating: 6/6
• Dog keep fit rating: 6/6
• Bank breaker: 1/6. Typical classes will cost £2 - £6 for a group lesson and £10 - £30 for private tuition.

What is agility? Agility – a sport that requires you to get your dog around a course containing tunnels, jumps and other obstacles – in the fastest possible time with the minimum number of faults, is a fun and thorough work out for you and your dog.

How good is it for me and my dog? Agility is a great cardiovascular work out for both of you and as a fun sport it is also more likely that you will feel motivated to sustain it over a longer period of time. The psychological benefits of being outdoors, exercising and having fun are profound, reducing stress and anxiety, and your dog will love the daily injection of fun into his routine.

Who is it suitable for? Agility is suitable whatever your age, gender, or level of fitness. You can build up the amount of time that you spend on it and the speed that you go, over time, so it is a very progressive sport. Likewise, it is suitable for all dogs, whether pedigree or cross breed, providing that it is over the age of 12 months (or 18 months for competing). If your dog is overweight then you should focus on a new walking regime and diet in order to shift these excess pounds, before you begin agility. Your dog should not take part in agility if it has a medical condition that could affect its mobility, and if it is an older dog you should consult with your vet before you start.

What do I need to remember? Make sure your dog has mastered all of the basic obedience commands so that you can be sure that you will have control. You can find your local Good Citizen Dog Training class, the largest group of dog training classes in the UK run by the Kennel Club by clicking here.

Getting involved: There are more than 300 Kennel Club registered agility clubs across the country. To experience the fun of taking part in Kennel Club licensed agility competitions make sure that your dog is registered with the Kennel Club.

More information about Agility

Click here to find your local Agility club

Download the free Agility Beginner’s Guide

DOG SHOWING

• Human keep fit score: 1/6
• Dog keep fit score: 3/6
• Bank breaker: 4/6. It will typically cost between £10 and £25 to enter an open show or championship show respectively.

What is dog showing? Dog showing, or exhibiting as it is known, is the most popular canine activity in this country. Dog showing gives you an opportunity to spend time with and to show how proud you are of your dog in the show ring.  At dog shows, the judge is responsible for comparing each dog to find a healthy dog, which is nearest the breed standard. The health of the dog is of paramount importance when making this decision – a dog must always be Fit for Function: Fit for Life! Your dog will be judged on its temperament, it must be sociable and relaxed and it should be well presented and groomed.

How good is it for me and my dog? Although it does not involve a huge amount of physical exertion dog showing does get you and your dog out and about – and a dog is more likely to win if it is fit so there is a strong incentive for owners to give their dogs plenty of exercise before showing. If you get into the competitive side of showing then you may find yourself taking part in very large scale shows, almost every weekend! This can involve a huge amount of walking and so keeps you and your dog limber and fit. dfs Crufts is the largest of all the shows and dogs and owners can burn hundreds of calories every day just walking from one end of the National Exhibition Centre, where it is held, to the other!

Who is it suitable for? Any pedigree dog can take part in dog shows, once they are over 6 months old. For competitions, your dog must be registered with the Kennel Club on the Breed Register or if your dog is from abroad it must have an Authority to Compete number. In order to do well in the show ring your dog must be healthy, well trained, socialised and have a good temperament. As for the owners, any dog lover can take part in and should love dog showing.

Although traditional dog shows (normally companion and open shows for beginners and championship shows for the more experienced) are only open to pedigrees, you can also show your crossbreed. The Kennel Club runs the Scruffts family crossbreed of the year competition, with heats held throughout the country all year round and the final taking place at Discover Dogs in Earls Court each November.

Getting involved:

More information about Dog Showing

Click here to find a ringcraft class near you

Download the free Dog Showing Beginner’s Guide

FLYBALL

• Human keep fit score: 2/6
• Dog keep fit score: 5/6
• Bank breaker: 1/6. Typical classes will cost £2 - £6 for a group lesson.

What is Flyball? Flyball involves two teams of dogs racing against each other and jumping hurdles as well as triggering a pedal on a Flyball box and retrieving a tennis ball. The owner (or handler) keeps the box continually uploaded with balls for the dogs.

How good is it for me and my dog? This is a great workout for your dogs. Most dogs, even small ones, love all the running up and down and low-level jumping and it is great mental stimulation for them as well. Although the owner may have to exert themselves to some extent in training, actual competition workout is minimal. Nonetheless, people enjoy the social aspect of the sport and it is a fun way to play with your dog.

Who is it suitable for? Any pedigree or crossbreed can take part in flyball. To take part in Kennel Club licensed competitions they must be registered on the breed or activity register.

Getting involved:

More information about Flyball

Click here to find your local Flyball training club 

Download the free Flyball Beginner's Guide

HEELWORK TO MUSIC

• Human keep fit score: 4/6
• Dog keep fit score: 5/6
• Bank breaker: 1/6. Typical classes will cost £2 - £6 for a group lesson and £10 - £30 for private tuition.

What is Heelwork to Music? This is an activity that involves putting a series of obedience moves together to a piece of music. Owners devise routines of up to four minutes which they perform with their dogs.  At the competitive level owners and their dogs perform enthralling routines that can be both moving and breathtaking for spectators.

How good is it for me and my dog? This can be very physically demanding and the better you get at it and the more demanding the moves become the more intense the workout. It also allows dog and owner to bond in the context of a creative play environment.

Who is it suitable for? People of all ages love this activity. Dogs require a degree of fitness to take part and in the early stages, you must be careful to choose appropriate moves. Pedigrees and cross breeds can take part, of any size, and must be on the Kennel Club activity or breed register to compete.

Getting involved:

More information about Heelwork to Music

Click here to find your nearest Heelwork to Music club

Download the free Heelwork to Music Beginner's Guide

COMPETITIVE OBEDIENCE

• Human keep fit score:  2/6
• Dog keep fit score: 3/6
• Bank breaker: 1/6. Typical classes will cost £2 - £6 for a group lesson and £10 - £30 for private tuition.

What is competitive obedience? This is another increasingly popular activity with dogs performing feats of obedience for their owners, from the simple sit to scent discrimination work and distance control exercises.

How good is it for me and my dog? It is similar to horse dressage for dogs and a dog has to be pretty fit to do it well, and it maintains that level of fitness through training and competitions. Likewise, it is good for the owner getting you on your feet, walking around and maybe, in the early stages, doing some running after your dog!

Who is it suitable for? It is suitable for any breed and even if you have a real life ‘Marley’ from the film Marley and Me, any dog can – and should – be taught how to master even basic obedience. Dog training clubs are usually very sociable, where groups of like-minded people meet on a regular basis, and get great enjoyment in training their pets. Most clubs will have a cross-section of breeds (including crossbreeds) and will welcome all standards of handlers and dogs to be trained.

Getting involved: Before you train for competitive obedience your dog must have mastered the basic obedience commands. You can find your local Good Citizen Dog Training class, the largest group of dog training classes in the UK run by the Kennel Club by clicking here.  Once you have mastered the basics you can try your hand at more advanced obedience training, and then test your progress by entering your dog in an Obedience competition at one of the hundreds of Obedience Shows held across the UK throughout the year. 

More information about Obedience

Click here to find an Obedience class near you

Download the free Obedience Beginner's Guide

WORKING TRIALS

• Human keep fit score: 6/6
• Dog keep fit:  6/6
• Bank breaker: 2/6. After a nominal membership fee a lot of the training you will do for free and on your own. Monthly club training sessions will be about £8-£10 for a day and £50-£100 for a weekend training course.

What are working trials? This is the civilian equivalent of police dog work and includes obedience and control, searching and tracking, agility and fitness. Dogs compete in ascending levels called ‘stakes’. They comprise various tests, including tracking, heelwork, searching for hidden items, long jump and scaling a wall.

How good is it for me and my dog? Trials are physically demanding for both dog and owner but very rewarding. They give you both the chance to get into the great outdoors and are mentally stimulating for your dog as well. Working Trials are a thorough test of a dog’s ability to use its nose, its fitness to jump and its obedience skills

Who is it suitable for? It is suitable for all dogs, whether pedigree or cross breed. The lower levels of competition – called ‘stakes’ – are geared to virtually any size of dog; however smaller dogs are not normally able to attain the top stakes (TD and PD) due to the height and size of the equipment used for the ‘agility’ exercises. Any Kennel Club registered dogs (pedigree or non-pedigree) can take part, but they must be 18 months old before they can compete at a Working Trial.

Getting involved:

More information about Working Trials

Download the free Working Trials Beginner's Guide

Click here to find training clubs running Working Trials near you

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