Keep them ran , and keep them light. Not poor looking , but lean. Medicinal Turpintine on the feet after you run them takes soreness out and keeps the pad plyabile. Not paint thinner Turpentine but the medicinal type you get at the drug store. And if you have a cement kennel , get them off the cement. Some dogs feet do not do well on cement , it drys the pads out on some dogs and they crack open. Just my thoughts , maybe it will help