Here we can see how pulling helps develop muscle and stamina, as well as how the dog enjoys exercising.

A dog with a solid genetic background, proper training and optimum nutrition possesses the proverbial "three-legged stool" that leads to achieving potential. Along with proper nutrition, proper conditioning enables sporting dogs to perform amazing feats. Proper nutrition and conditioning also can help minimize injuries. Our goal is not to push our dogs beyond their limit, but to condition them to perform at their peak potential.

You should set up a progressive training and conditioning plan to help build a dog's cardiovascular base. You also should prepare your dog for a variety of environmental situations, including weather and humidity.

Your plan should include a warm-up followed by resistance training and building up to long slow distance (LSD) training. Resis-tance training is an activity that helps to build muscle mass, but it is important not to build too heavy muscles that could change a dog's gait or affect its reach and drive.

LSD training helps to build a dog's cardiovascular pace by increasing endurance. Dogs train at a slower than normal pace, but they travel a longer distance than they are accustomed. Cross training, such as swimming, should be part of a training program as it helps to balance a dog's strength by conditioning muscles not used as much during their regular sport.

A trainer should ease into advanced training. During advanced training, resistance training should increase, and LSD training should decrease. Other methods used in advanced training include pace runs (exercise at or near performance intensity) and variable-speed intervals that alternate between slower and faster speeds. High-speed intervals, which can be used when a dog is fit and prepared, are fast runs that help to finish a dog's training before competition.

Recovery also is important. You want to let your dog recover by letting it relax, both mentally and physically. Throw a ball and do enjoyable things right away. Proper rest between workouts is the single most important part of recovery and is paramount to success.

For proper nutrition, adequate protein is crucial in a high-quality performance diet. Dietary protein should comprise about 24 to 40 percent of the total kilocalories (energy) and should be highly digestible. If a diet does not contain enough protein, muscle mass may be depleted, increasing the risk of soft tissue injuries, and immune function may be impaired.

Fat is the most important energy nutrient for work. Dogs fed a high fat diet can run further faster than those fed a low-fat diet. Carbohydrates are important for maximum energy output, especially when a dog is performing events over several days.

Ultimately, taking time to properly feed and condition your sporting dog is critical. Your dog is more likely to perform to its potential, and you are more likely to have an enjoyable event and very positive results…like a safe productive day while hunting or enduring to win an event.

The problem with finding ways to exercise your dog is that his needs quickly go beyond any program you can do together, such as going for walks. Allowing your dog to run free and exercise is a good idea but unless you're spending hours and hours at it, your dog really isn't benefiting to the extent you need to prepare him for hunting or competition. So we have to be creative in finding ways our dogs can safely work, exercise and gain endurance.