Preperation For Racing

[Tancho]

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Ok, so I've got my whippet pup 'Luna' and she is now 16 weeks old. I intend to have a go at racing with her at my local club (Oxford) and hopefully a bit of lure coursing as well. What age will she have her first trials? What should I be doing now to prepare her? Or should I do anything, maybe just turn up when the time comes, see how she goes and take advice from there? At what age do you start serious fitness training for a racing whippet and what would that involve?

Yes, I know she is only a baby yet but I am interested in what is coming my way in the next year!

 

[Mark Roberts]

Hi Tancho.

Congratulations on getting your pup.

it's nice to hear your going to be having a go at racing/lure coursing with her, the main advice would be to take your time with her allow her time for the bones to grow ands mature without the strain of to much running.

at the moment my advice would be to play with her in the garden, tie a bag (carrier or oinion) to the end of a piece of rope and pull it along for her this will encourage her to chase things but only do it for a few minutes a day and always allow her to catch it very often and always at the end of the game.

make a fuss of her everytime you let her catch it, give her little treats while you praise her.

take her to Oxford and let her watch whats going on, ask if you can stand near the traps/lure with her so she gets used to the noises they make.

then at 6 months old you can then start letting her have 30-50yd hand slips behind the lure, run her without a muzzle and give her loads of praise at the end when she's caught it.

serious excersise is best left till she reaches around 10-11 months old at that age you want to be giving her 2-4 miles Rd walking a day with plenty of free running/galloping every other day the walking to tone muscules/tendons the free running to increase her cardiovascular ability.

Hope this helps.

 

[Tancho]

Thanks Mark, no doubt I will have plenty more questions ion due course!

 

[Vicky]

I would definitely go along to Oxford, sure people there will give you all the training advice you need, i would tend to speak to those who have some success and who's dog's look in good condition :thumbsup:

Have fun