29/10/2026
One of the best and worst things about agility is how it's continuously evolving, and every single year we learn something new to train. This means a lot of focus on our end - but the two things we ALWAYS need to keep consistent are... warm ups and cool downs!
I know I know, we bang on about it all the time. But with the weather getting colder it's an even better time to reassess if your routine is still the best for your dog.
My warm ups take about 20ish minutes depending on time/accessibility, but at the very least 10 minutes. Cool downs are the same. But another thing to consider - what's happening in between?
If you're at training - are they being kept out between go's or are they in a crate? If they're kept outside, what position are they in? Are they constantly in a sit? There's nothing wrong with this if it's their choice, but it might stiffen their rear - so you might need to wake their body up again just before your next go. If they're in a crate, what kind of bedding do they have? Does it support their body well? What about the size of their crate, is this restrictive (which can be good for travel safety? If so, again they may need more effort "waking up" their body before their next go.
With the weather getting colder in the UK, could a coat help their body?
All things to consider 💜 I have an article and a full module with videos on warming up & cooling down all on Q-Me - and I'm always here to support on the Q-Me Crew page for members.
