Sellon Debra C, Shoben Abigail, Pechette Markley Arielle, McFarlane Dianne, Marcellin-Little Denis J
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.
Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
Front Vet Sci. 2024 Dec 6;11:1473977. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1473977. eCollection 2024.
To develop a web-based tool for daily use by agility handlers to log rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for dogs as an aid in quantifying daily exercise and training load and to improve training and conditioning strategies.
Focus group meetings with small groups of handlers were conducted via internet-based video conferencing using a semi-structured interview format. Meeting notes were coded for reflexive thematic analysis. The RPE logging tool was revised based on handler feedback. Each handler was asked to log their dog's daily RPE data for 1 week. Data were analyzed to assess compliance and timeliness of entries. Participants completed a post-logging questionnaire to provide feedback about their experiences.
Eighteen agility dog handlers participated in all phases of the project. Handler and dog demographics were similar to previously reported demographics of agility participants in the United States. Reflexive thematic analysis of their comments related to the initial draft RPE logging tool yielded 3 initial themes, all of which supported a fourth and major theme: the need for specific and detailed training resources before agility handlers utilized the RPE tool. Of 18 handlers, 14 (78%) submitted logging records for the full week. Median time for data entry was 87 s (IQR = 56-117 s), and 92% of logging records were entered within 1 day of the events which were being recorded. In the follow-up questionnaire the handlers did not identify any major concerns. Based on all available data from the handlers, a final version of the RPE logging tool was produced.
Agility dog handlers are very interested in developing and validating tools to quantify training load for their dogs. The final RPE logging tool was quick and easy to use. Further validation of this logging tool is required with a larger number of handlers and comparison to physiologic data from exercising dogs.
开发一种基于网络的工具，供敏捷犬训练师日常使用，用于记录犬的主观用力程度（RPE），以帮助量化日常锻炼和训练负荷，并改进训练和调节策略。
通过基于互联网的视频会议，采用半结构化访谈形式，与一小群训练师进行焦点小组会议。对会议记录进行编码，以进行反思性主题分析。根据训练师的反馈对RPE记录工具进行修订。要求每位训练师记录其犬1周的每日RPE数据。对数据进行分析，以评估录入的依从性和及时性。参与者完成一份记录后调查问卷，以提供有关其体验的反馈。
18名敏捷犬训练师参与了该项目的所有阶段。训练师和犬的人口统计学特征与之前报道的美国敏捷犬参与者的人口统计学特征相似。对他们与初始版RPE记录工具相关评论的反思性主题分析产生了3个初始主题，所有这些主题都支持第四个也是主要的主题：在敏捷犬训练师使用RPE工具之前，需要特定且详细的训练资源。18名训练师中，有14名（78%）提交了整周的记录。数据录入的中位时间为87秒（四分位间距=56 - 117秒），92%的记录在被记录事件发生的1天内录入。在后续调查问卷中，训练师未指出任何重大问题。根据训练师提供的所有可用数据，生成了RPE记录工具的最终版本。
敏捷犬训练师对开发和验证用于量化其犬训练负荷的工具非常感兴趣。最终的RPE记录工具使用快速且简便。需要更多训练师对该记录工具进行进一步验证，并与运动犬的生理数据进行比较。
