Endurance Test (Ausauerprufung) - AD
The AD award is not a training degree but is for show and breed requirements. The endurance test (AD) provides documentation that the dog is physically able to endure a certain amount of physical stress without showing significant fatigue. Given the physical structure of the dog, this condition can best be shown through running. Running challenges the heart and lungs as well as the rest of the body. Other characteristics such as spirit and hardness must be present. Successful demonstration of the test will provide proof that the disired characteristics are present in a healthy body. Both sets of characteristics are prerequisites for a useful breeding program.
Your dog must be at least 16 months old and not more than six years old to do this test. All dogs must be registered.
Scoring
No points or awards are given. Only a pass or fail. the dogs that pass recieve an AD certificate.
Terrain
The dogs are run on mixed terrain. It is prefered that the dogs run on pavement, gravel and or grass for this test.
The test
The test itself is a running exercise. The dogs will be run a total of 20 kilometers (about 12.5 miles) at an average speed of 12 to 15 kilometers an hour (7.7 to 9.5 miles per hour).
The dog must be kept on leash on the right hand side of the handler and move in a normal trot next to the bicycle. Pulling or laging is not faulty. But, continually falling behind is faulty. There is a 15 minute break after the dogs have run 8 killometers (five miles). During the rest period the judge will examine the dogs for fatigue and check pads of the feet for injury. Tired dogs will be removed as well as dogs will soar or bleeding pads.
There is a 20 minute rest at the end of 15 kilometers (9.4 miles). The judge will again check the dogs.
The last 5 kilometers will be run and then there will be a 15 minute break. The judge will do a final check for tiredness and soar feet.
After the running and rest period......there will be an obedience routine requested by the judge. The dogs must go through the heeling exercise (on or off leash) according to the Schutzhund rules. No gun shots are fired. This is where the judge determins the Psychological condition of the dogs. The method is left up to the judge.
Training for the AD
This is the program that I have used to get my dog ready for an AD test.
Now you can very
from this some to best suit the needs of your dogs condition.
Just make sure you don't over work them. If you do you will
succeed in tearing down muscle instead of building it up. You
must give the dogs the days off or you can build up too much
lactic acid in the muscles.
Week one: Bike your dog one mile a day three days a week. Bike one day, give one day off.
Week two: Bike your dog one mile day one, bike 1.5 miles day two, give a day off, Bike 2 miles day four give two days off.
Week three: Bike 2 miles day one, bike 2 miles day two, give a day off. Bike 3.5 miles day four, give two days off.
Week four: Bike 2 to 2.5 miles day one, 2 to three miles day two, give a day off. Bike four miles day four, give two days off.
Week five: Bike three miles day one, three miles day two, give a day off. Bike 4 to five miles day four. Give two days off.
Week six: maintain the level of week five until trial date.
Now remember to feed your dog a diet with more energy to it so they don't lose weight.
It has been my experience that if you can get your dog to comfortably run the five miles........they will do fine for the AD. You need to get their stamina up, their heart and lungs working comfortably, their muscles used to trotting for long periods of time and their feet strengthened. soar feet are the biggest reason dogs fail.
I bike my dogs on the pavement allot but I also let them go into the grass. They must learn to do this as being on pavement all the time is very hard on their feet. Pavement gets VERY hot in the summer months. I use the pavement to help strengthen the feet, and the grass to cool them back down and keep them from hurting their feet. DON'T keep them on pavement all the time. It will slow down your progress as it is very abrasive and literally thins your dogs pads with excessive running. This is another reason for the days off. Don't hurt your dogs feet.
Also, make sure you do NOT bike your dog in the heat of the day. I never bike my dogs if it is any warmer than the 70's. Early morning or late evenings in the summer months is the best time.
Make sure the dogs get some water when they are done running and I always walk my dogs for not less than five minutes or MORE to walk out their muscles and help relieve lactic acid build-up.
Good luck on your AD! It is a great one on one experience to bring dog and man closer together. Have fun!