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To obtain efficiency, speed and teamwork, you must run a lot of km’s—quality km’s. This means that you
must control your team. If you cannot control your dogs, you will not be training them. You will condition
them physically, but they will not learn anything. Teach your dogs the basic commands, train them not to dip
into water, train them not to play or stop for a leak. Train them to pass other teams, to ignore distractions
and to keep going under rough conditions. Maintain your discipline, but do not drive the spirit out of your
dogs.

For quality miles, avoid training in extreme heat or cold, on extreme terrain, or when the dogs are too
tired, sick, or hurt to concentrate on the lessons.

Be consistent with your methods. Do not try to solve a problem by making radical changes in training
schedules or diet. This just disrupts the team further.

The dogs must take their work seriously, although there is not reason why they should not enjoy it. When
your schedule is tough, make it more appealing by running on different trails or with other dog teams.

Vary the terrain and the lengths of the runs. Hills are invaluable for teaching endurance, but too much
climbing can slow the dogs and make them over-muscled. When the dogs are working or racing hard, spend
extra time with them in the yard so that they keep the “fun” bond with you.

Conditioning for Events
The dogs must be conditioned for your main goal—the “big event”. Muscles harden in a matter of weeks, but
bones and tendons require months—even years—to strengthen fully. Do not start training for a February
event as late as December. The dogs might appear fit, but they will be prone to injury because the strength
of their bones and tendons will not have caught up with the power in their muscles.