Inkilä, Leena, Hyytiäinen, Heli K, Hielm-Björkman, Anna, Junnila, Jouni, Bergh, Anna and Boström, Anna
(2022)
Part I of Finnish Agility Dog Survey: Training and Management of Competition-Level Agility Dogs.
Animals, 12 (2).
p. 212.
Abstract
<jats:p>Knowledge regarding training, competition, and management routines of agility dogs is lacking. Through a retrospective online questionnaire, Finnish owners and handlers of 745 competition-level agility dogs provided information on training routines and management of these dogs during one year free of agility-related injuries. Competition routines were collected from the national competition results database. Most dogs trained agility 1–2 times a week, with a median active training time of 18 min a week. Dogs competed in a median of 2.1 runs per month at a speed of 4.3 m/s. Common field surfaces were different types of artificial turfs and dirt surface. Warm-up and cool-down were established routines, and 62% of dogs received regular musculoskeletal care. Moreover, 77% of dogs underwent conditioning exercises, but their frequency was often low. Additionally, dogs were walked for a median of 1.5 h daily. Pearson’s chi-squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to evaluate the association between a dog’s competition level and training and competition variables. A dog’s competition level was associated with competition (p < 0.001) and training frequency (p < 0.001); dogs at higher levels compete more but train less than dogs at lower levels. This study provides information on training, competition, and management routines of competing agility dogs.</jats:p>
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | agility training, canine sports medicine, competition routines, dog agility, dog sports, dog training, management of sporting dogs, training practices, training routines |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences > School of Veterinary Science |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 11 May 2022 09:38 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Mar 2024 03:21 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/ani12020212 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020212 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3154605 |
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