Circuit training in the park is so much fun!

Last week we met two doggies from class; brown labrador girl Lola & black flatcoat retriever-mix boy Balco, for a superdog circuit training challenge in the park!

Happy meeting ready to get going:

I’m very lucky since there are many local beautiful  forest parks.  These parks provide various activities to enjoy such as nature trails, gentle walking trails, areas for children, mountain bike trails (VTT) , running trails and fitness circuit trails

We met at the start of the fitness circuit trail in Valmasque park where there are lots of circuit training stops with exercise challenges.  For humans, these circuit stops could be hurdles, press ups, triceps bars and jumps, but we have our own version to complete!

Signs & circuit stops:

Our version:

Our circuit stops include; back ups (reverse) between the parallel bars, controlled hurdle jumps, heeling close without touching the tree stumps, slaloming in between the wooden poles, balance, under and over jumps, targets & distance work, teeth & ear checks standing on the big tree stump and many more!  So for every human circuit stop, we have a specially designed doggie version!  Our humans have to complete all the circuit stops with us…heeheehee 🙂

In between circuit stops it’s cardio-time, sniff-time and  free-time (with a few recall practises for extra points!):

Vikki puts a big bell on my collar when we are in the forest park..humpf! She says it’s just in case there are other humans around, so they can at least hear me coming! But since we are there so early, we never see anyone so…humpf! 😦  The other doggies don’t have to wear a bell and I can’t even sneak up on them without them hearing me!  Even the birds can hear me coming…grrrr…humpf!

My collar bell is so uncool! (click on picture for a close up of my stupid bell!)

What a fab morning! 

Vikki’s notes:  On and off-lead practise with other dog friends in a park full of distractions really helps reinforce good behaviour and obedience whilst practising impulse control.  When on-lead, the dogs must concentrate on the task (circuit stop) and are then rewarded with treats, praise and off lead play.  I have found after a few circuit stops and then off-lead fun in between, concentration, cooperation and enthusiasm rise.  Its a great interactive teamwork challenge,  where dogs experience fun with their humans.  As we go along, the transition from off-lead frolics to on-lead calm and concentration also improves dramatically as the dogs start to understand the sequence.

Already calm, keen & ready for the next circuit stop: