K-9 Training 101, Part 3

K-9 Training 101, Part 3


By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP
May 1, 2024, Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved


Physical Fitness


In the last chapter, I delineated the necessary equipment to train your K-9. In this chapter, I’ll discuss preparing your K-9 and yourself for the rigors required in the training of your K-9. Training your K-9 requires physical exertion and it also requires the K-9 and yourself to be in as good as physical condition as possible. Therefore, pre-training requires pre-preparation.


To prepare, for training your K-9, its imperative for your K-9 and yourself to have a medical physical to detect any abnormalities, either of you have, which could be detrimental to, not only, your health but the health and well being of the K-9, as well.


As previously mentioned, training your K-9 requires physical exertion and mile after mile of walking. If either, you or your K-9, are suffering from a physical disability such as: Heart, Lung, or physical abnormality, i.e., handicap, it will impede your training progress. During training, the required physical exertion will amplify a debilitating physical abnormality. However, depending on the exact type of debilitating illness or physicals issues, some can be worked around and some can’t.


Example: If your K-9 has never had an X-ray performed on it’s hips and the result is, your K-9 is suffering from hip dysplasia, meaning there’s a separation between the ball socket and the joint in the hip, this could disqualify your K-9 from any training whatsoever. Hip dysplasia is normal rated, from 1 through 5, by a licensed veterinarian. Some cases of hip dysplasia can be treated and depending on the degree of dysplasia, some can’t.


In K-9 anatomy, a more accurate explanation of K-9 hip dysplasia is: Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip that occurs during growth. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. During growth, both the ball (the head of the femur, or thighbone) and the socket in the pelvis (acetabulum) must grow at equal rates. In hip dysplasia, this uniform growth during puppyhood does not occur.


Therefore, before starting, it’s imperative for both, the trainer and the K-9 to have a physical exam to determine, whether or not, their healthy enough to withstand the rigors of physical fitness training.


Preparation for Training


If, after the physical examinations it’s determined, both the trainer and K-9 can begin training, I suggest the following daily training regimen: Each day, the trainer and K-9 should begin walking to tone their muscles and build-up their stamina, by walking, daily during the coolest part of the day.


At first, walk short distances and increase the distance, when and only when, both the trainer and K-9 are capable completing the preceding distance with ease. Slowly build up your distance and stamina until the trainer and K-9 can walk one mile at a moderate pace. This preparation time period should be performed at least six (6) weeks prior to engaging in the rigors of actual training exercises.


In the end, both the trainer and K-9, should be in sufficient physical condition to begin the rigors without fear of injury to the trainer or the K-9.


“Until Next Time, Keep Em Between The Bridle”