How to Train a Greyhound for Competition

Energy Source: The chemical energy required for muscle contraction is released by high-energy phosphate bonds in the very important molecule ATP of. When a muscle exercises, the muscle's adenosine triphosphate concentration decreases, so the adenosine triphosphate concentration must be immediately increased so that the muscle can continue to move and work. There are three ways to increase ATP concentration. The role and relative importance of each depends on the energy needs of the dog.

Non-lactate anaerobic: After simple and strenuous exercise (lasting a few seconds), ATP is released from the muscle reserve energy of creatine phosphate, does not require oxygen (hence anaerobic acid), and does not produce lactic acid (hence anaerobic acid). lactic acid).

Lactate anaerobic: Energy is released from glycogen stores in the muscles and glucose in the blood after intense exercise lasting at least two minutes. This situation does not consume oxygen, but produces or accumulates metabolic waste. Generally speaking, lactic acid accumulation causes muscle fatigue and cramping.

Aerobic exercise: This metabolism produces the energy your dog needs to keep moving (not too intense, but for a few minutes to a few hours). First, red blood cells carry oxygen to the muscles, where glucose is oxidized, and then fat quickly (opposite to the human reaction) becomes the dog's ideal energy source.

Greyhound training methods

Muscle training: can improve working ability and muscles without increasing oxygen consumption or causing anaerobic catabolism (lactic acid fermentation) Strength, which can be achieved with very intense and short training followed by a short period of physical recovery. This is the basic principle of all pure strength exercises, and body upward is the best way to do it.

Training to obtain anaerobic energy: Anaerobic energy allows muscles to work hard in a state of hypoxia, such as fast running (Greyhound racing). In actual practice, in order to obtain this kind of energy, very short and intense exercise (10 seconds - 1 minute sprint) is alternated with physical recovery (2 - 4 minutes). This type of training is physically and mentally demanding on the dog and should only be used when competition is approaching.