Ringside Chat with Amber McCune

Staying fit for agility

This article was originally published in the February 2025 OVERview digital magazine.

Physical fitness plays a key role for both dogs and handlers in agility, and trainer Amber McCune finds it is often overlooked in training. Here’s how she and her Border Collies stay in shape so they’re ready to go when they step to the line.

Q: How do you stay fit as a handler?

A: As a handler, my fitness often takes a backseat to my dogs’, but I owe it to them to be the best I can be on that course. I mix up my workouts with hot yoga, spin class, underwater treadmill sprints (for a great, low-impact cardio workout) and the elliptical machine.

My number one rule is to stay bendy! Agility is a sport that requires handlers to cut, dart, stop, spin, twirl and accelerate at top speed. Strength and speed are vital, but without flexibility, handlers could face injuries by those quick maneuvers. We need to be sure our bodies can handle them just as much as our dogs.

Amber McCune and Typo (GreatDanePhotos)

Q: What about your dogs’ fitness?

A: Working out on the underwater treadmill is a huge asset to my dogs’ fitness. Keeping their muscles toned in a way that has a low impact on their joints but also builds cardio and muscle mass is a major key to their success. If you don’t have access to an underwater treadmill, swimming is another great way to build fitness, along with balance work on a K9 exercise ball or peanut.

Low-impact exercises are fantastic, but to excel in our sport, we also need to cross-train our dogs. I make sure my dogs have a mix of high- and low-impact days — hiking four to six miles two or three times each week, low-impact swimming for two days, and two rest days. The rest days are just as important as the workout days to allow their muscles to recuperate.

Another key ingredient is the fuel you feed your dog! The quality fuel you put into them leads to your quality results in the ring. For example, my dogs eat Purina^® Pro Plan^® Sport 30/20, which is backed by loads of scientific research to increase endurance, decrease muscle recovery times and aid in joint mobility.

Amber McCune, of Bedford, New Hampshire, has competed successfully at the top levels of the sport with her Border Collies.