A Word from Kert – Bad Dog Agility Academy

A Word from Kert

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  • gkingme@gmail.com says:
    May 22, 2025 at 4:03 pm

    I took up agility a little over 4 years ago. I’m now 71. Up until recently, I’ve been very fit with regular running, biking, and swimming; pulse rate 40s, good BP, stamina, strength, etc. Over the last 1.5 years my knees rotted. I still run agility but I’m not as effective. I gave up road running and now use an elliptical but it’s not nearly as good as a real run. I haven’t gone through this course yet but what I need (other than bionic knees) are approaches that help me move more fluidly with a bit more speed. I have a range of PT exercises and I do some warm ups before each run, but unfortunately, rot is rot. I’ll go through this series but should I be looking elsewhere too and if so, where?

    • Esteban Fernandezlopez says:
      May 25, 2025 at 10:31 am

      You have a high level athletic background–losing your knee function is a tough thing to deal with. I think it’s important to maintain the muscles around your knees as much as possible, because if you eventually get knee replacements, you will have better outcomes. If you have access to a good physical therapist, I’d start there for a good eval, baseline measurements, and a plan to max out your strength.

      I’d combine many different modalities including isometrics (wall sits), closed chain functional stuff like sit-to-stands and step ups, resistance bands (side steps), machines for safety (leg press, hamstring curl), and definitely water aerobics/swim because it offloads weight off the knee while maintaing your cardio.

      On the agility side, the front ross is the most difficult movement for bad knees, so I would try to replace as many as I can with blind crosses and rear crosses.

      • gkingme@gmail.com says:
        May 25, 2025 at 7:11 pm

        All this is great and many thanks. I’m working on it. Part of it is mental, that is, turning the work into a game with rewards. The big reward I want is more agility, less hurt. I use a lot of rears and blinds with my guys as it is. If I jump in front for front cross they seem to look at me like, what are you doing here???

  • Jennifer Chiodo says:
    July 12, 2024 at 6:35 am

    Can you please post the weekly sc. do we do just three workouts per week? Or do we repeat? If I’m starting with a relatively high baseline can I do 2 of each per week? I feel like if I don’t work out 5-6 days per week I’m losing fitness, not gaining.

    • Esteban Fernandezlopez says:
      July 15, 2024 at 11:32 am

      Yes, you can compress the schedule and then repeat the cycle. It sounds like you have a lot of experience, so you’ll know when to listen to your body and take a rest day, but otherwise plan it out to your level of fitness.

  • Mel36541 says:
    June 7, 2021 at 3:33 pm

    Stop if having pain… if I did that, I would never get out of the recliner! I certainly wouldn’t be working my dogs or exercising. LOL!

    Looking forward to the program!.

  • jillcohn@hotmail.com says:
    June 6, 2021 at 4:31 pm

    I am ready to get started and do this! Hoping that some of my current Barre and Biking will fit in somehow.

  • Christinede1 says:
    June 6, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    Great intro! I am sooo motivated now (really!!)! Looking forward to it!

  • SNovotny says:
    June 3, 2021 at 9:55 am

    Hi Kert!!! So great to see you here! I enjoyed my few months on your program, but then the world just started spinning too fast and I fell out of the routine. Hope to stick with this program! Love working with you and can’t wait!!!! I’m counting on you to keep me motivated and accountable!

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