The Western Bulldogs are training harder and continue to demand more from each other than ever before, Assistant Coach Shannon Grant says, as the 2014 NAB Challenge series looms.

With five weeks until the Bulldogs will again experience competitive football, the intensity and commitment in sessions has been evident at Victoria University Whitten Oval, as too has the training load.

“I thought our block five weeks prior to Christmas was really, really encouraging,” Grant said.

“I thought they trained with a really good intensity and I think the standards within training have certainly lifted from 12 months ago.

“We have certainly continued to talk about that and hopefully that continues to get better.”

Grant has also witnessed the playing group increasingly take more responsibility in driving the high training standards and keeping each other accountable.

“That is something that we have been driving with the group and making sure that they continue to have high standards when they do hit the track,” he said.

“They are starting to do it a lot more consistently which is encouraging.”

The heated conditions in Melbourne have not lowered the expectation or output at training this week, with the Bulldogs completing their main outdoor sessions before the heat of the day hits.

“We get the work done in the morning before the heat comes and continue to make sure that we have good sessions,” he said.

The Western Bulldogs' first competitive hitout is against St Kilda on Wednesday 19 February 2014, held at Simonds Stadium at 7:10pm.