ACAP Pet Support

Having a structured workout approach is critical. If an entire workout is listed, one may be tempted to jump ahead or skip certain exercises due to time factors. The ACAP PET is designed to be followed in a structured manner for optimal use and improvement as you progress.

You will be able to see notes if you choose to capture them on a specific exercise during that workout, but you will not be able to revisit an entire past workout.

Everyone misses a workout once in a while. Sometimes even two. A useful rule of thumb is to resume your workout if you’ve only missed a few days. If your workouts are interrupted for longer than that, it is prudent to start over since there is substantial loss of cardiovascular fitness.

Losing interest is a sign that the exercise is no longer fun for the dog. While it is possible that he/she is getting bored, it can also stop being fun if the dog is excessively tired, injured, or otherwise uncomfortable. Carefully assess your dog to determine whether the lack of enjoyment is due to a physical problem (lame, excessive fatigue, overheating, dehydrated, over trained) or mental issue (boredom, frustration).

A dog is going to burn more calories with this workout program, both due to the increased calories burned during the exercise as well as the increased metabolism that is used to adapt the dog and increase its fitness. There is no single answer for how much more to feed the dog due to the variable intensities of exercise throughout the workout. Weighing your dog regularly to make sure he/she is not losing weight is a simple, albeit crude, way of determining whether you need to feed the dog more or less. Learning how to evaluate the dog's body condition score is a more accurate way of assessing whether the dog's diet is adequate for the conditioning activities and goals.

A dog doesn't like working out on a full stomach any more than you do, so you should give the dog an hour or two after a meal (longer if it is a large meal) to avoid getting the meal back. Often, the best approach for managing meals around the workouts is to feed immediately after the dog has cooled down from a workout.

Working out will increase the rate of water loss from the dog, potentially leading to dehydration and loss of the ability to effectively cool itself. Whenever possible, a dog should start the workout fully hydrated and be allowed to drink a moderate amount of water (up to 500 ml for a 25 kg dog) every 30 minutes or so during the workout. Within the ACAP PET App, there are extensive tutorials describing how to estimate how much water your dog is actually losing (and therefore needs to replace) during various forms of exercise.

Lameness is always a sign of a problem. If a dog appears lame during exercise, the exercise should be stopped and the dog examined to determine the cause of the lameness. If the lameness is not something that can be readily resolved (like rocks in their booties or an ill-fitting harness), then the dog should be rested and re-evaluated after they are cooled down. Not every lame dog needs to be rushed to a veterinarian, but severe or persistent lameness should be evaluated.

Look in the homework section of the App. Thermoregulation is a very important topic for any dog, which is why we have included several tutorials within the App.

Swimming is used to stimulate the cardiovascular system as well as provide joint movement without loading. While no other exercise can exactly replace swimming, prolonged low intensity walking or jogging provides the best approximation. As a general rule, you should walk or jog approximately 5 times as long as you would swim for the same amount of cardiovascular and joint benefit.

The pull harness (for large dogs), reactive stretch cord (for Bungee work), water bowls, muzzles, and various leashes and collars are available on the website Guardian-Point.com. The weight sled, and weights are available at sporting goods stores or online. Small pull harnesses can also be found online.

Start with small elevations and use a toy or treat rewards to get the dog up. Progress in height and always keep the game positive with toys or treats.

This varies depending on dog breed and size, but generally speaking, when growth plate closure is complete. If need be consult your local Veterinarian.

It is recommended that you speak with your Veterinarian and get confirmation that your dog is ready to advance. After your Vet’s approval go to the contacts page of the app. You will find info for e-mail contact, as well as a 1-800 phone number. Guardian Point staff can then assist you in switching to the next block in the ACAP PET.