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Building Endurance

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sunshineone:
So my pup will be 7 months old next week. I am working on the basics at a pretty slow speed. Because she is a high energy dog, I do take her to the tennis court to run off steam by chasing tennis balls (leaves). We play on the playground equipment even sliding down the slide (her idea).
Eventually she will be my mobility dog and the plan is to not start mobility training until the vet says that her bones are finished growing. I had stopped bouncing the balls high and throwing the frisbee because she does the twist and catch thing. I don't want anything to happen to mess up the growth of her bones and muscles.
I also don't want to not be doing something I should be that could help build her endurance. I remember Kirsten you were speaking about building endurance for using packs and hiking. We do use a pack while training but it only has a few items right now. Probably less than a half a pound and she weighs about 50#.
Am I thinking right by just walking and doing the park thing, making sure she gets the right diet? Or should there be an exercise program for her, maybe an agility class?
Training plan:
1st Year
Obedience Training
Housebreaking/ Crate Training
Light Task Training games
Parks and Pet Stores
2nd Year
More complicated tasks
Public Access
3rd Year
Mobility training

Also when typically does she graduate from puppy candidate to SDIT? I would think after she can pass the CGC reliably.

I never went from puppy to adult before so this is new ground for me.

Roxie:
A SDIT is when you firmly and truely believe you think she will succeed.... usually around 1 yr old +/-. Or maybe not until closer to 2!

Kirsten:
With a young dog, before the growth plates close and the bone ends in the joints harden, should not be formally conditioned.  A light load, like half a pound on a 50 pound dog is fine.  I let my adolescents pack their own training gear (extra collars and leashes, bandanna, training treats, water bowl--I carry the water).  I have my adolescents pull a 3 pound red brick with a harness.  Just enough they can feel the bump and jerk against the harness, but not enough to stress them physically. 

You also need to be careful about the surface she is working on.  You can also damage joints and bones working a young dog on hard surfaces, such as paved surfaces.  It would be best to minimize that and try to do the bulk of exercise on turf.  I realize that may not be possible for everyone, but it is the ideal and you need to understand the risks associated with working on pavement.  My pups do ordinary walks on sidewalks, but get most of their exercise on turf or jogging trails.  If it won't give a jogger shin splints, then it's good for a puppy too.  Also don't over do any physical activity.  Young dogs tend not to have the good sense to realize they are tired or sore and stop or rest.  Snort, it took Cole 9 years to start voluntarily resting during play without being told to do so.  You have to decide for them.  As with training, short, frequent sessions are better than less frequent, longer sessions.  As with nutrition, a wide variety of safe physical activities is best.  As many terrains as possible, as many different (comfortable) motions, including stepping sideways, backing up, turning, and generally learning where one's backside is at all times.  If you're going to do agility with a pup, make sure you spot him well (stay next to him on raised equipment and steady him if he mis-steps before he can fall).  But with spotting, agility obstacles can be great confidence boosters and practice in dealing with different situations.

Magesteff:
Re: dog (puppy) knowing where his backside is - If I remember correctly - laying the ladder on the ground and letting the dog walk over it to learn where all his feet are? Sort of like Football players running through tires?

sunshineone:
Got more questions...

So she is regressing! Jumping up and nipping. For months she had a dry crate, today I go in to check her toys for wear and her blanket is soaked with pee. (I have removed all padding she is back to hard plastic for another month). Kirsten, you are right, this is not defiance but all her puppy brain cells got lost in the much bigger trying to be grown up ones.

I got this coupon for dog training class. Would it be a waste of money to get set up with a six week lesson? I was thinking Adult 1 because she has forgotten all that I have taught her.

Good thing is, she seems to want to learn new stuff still.

Any pointers on teaching her she is a big strong girl now? For some reason she still thinks she is little.

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