#dog conditioning

[abirddogmoment]

Square sits are so hard for her physically, I'm trying to commit to practicing them 2x a day despite how annoying I find it to set up my equipment for 90 seconds of conditioning.

This is an exercise in the conditioning program to fix sloppy sits (where their legs stick out to the sides). Sloppy sits are usually a structural problem (in Rory's case it's likely from her tight hip flexors and large thighs) so they can usually be improved with practice and muscle memory.

Right now I'm just building muscle memory. This is not a fun exercise for her so she gets constant kibbles at this stage. We're doing 5 reps of 4-5 seconds, 2x per day (breakfast and dinner), and I've built up the height of the platform over the last few months (very intermittently). I'm delivering the kibbles over her head because she wants to rock forward into a stand and I'm tricking her into keeping her butt on the ground. This exercise is sandwiched with stretches for her hip flexors and knees, and of course, with smooches. The whole routine takes about 4 mins so not too long at all.

I'm hoping we can muscle-memory it and she will keep her frog legs tucked in. I rarely take pictures of her sitting because it's just too chaotic 😭😂

[securityunit-ese]

Do you have any resources for conditioning exercises for dogs you'd like to share?

You’ve been in inbox a while now anon. Not sure if you are meaning conditioning like bulk em up gym junkies or conditioning like physio rehab.

Physio rehab is my conditioning of interest so I will share this link from Golden Gait Canine.

I like this link because:

a) my dog rehab vet sent it to me

b)  LOTS of different exercises for different conditioning

c) short summary explanations then visual guides/demos/pics on what to do

They look like this

[puppyrazzi]

@elvenferretots

The basic idea for the digging treadmill thing

Sam loves to dig but in the winter there isn't any way to dig and in the summer he likes to wreck the yard. It'd be nice to be able to let him express that behavior without wrecking stuff.

[musicaldogtrio]

Conditioning for our first real wp comp next month 💪 We do IWPA just in case anyone is wondering, not much else to do than IWPA where we are. Unless there’s been a venue I’ve missed out on

[wildkaleidoscope]

We have started our summer conditioning today 💪 Lily wore her backpack with a can of 28oz diced tomatoes on each side. We walked for a short 10mins, then I let her run about and do her thing for 20mins with the backpack on, 10mins without, and the walk home a 10mins with again. Crazy dog still did barkour on her own 😂 she really loves jumping fences when we're walking.

[abirddogmoment]

I admit I've only been able to maintain 1xday training for square sits but we're making visible progress! Today she did 20 fast reps on a decline (harder) and two 20-sec sits on an incline (easier). She doesn't need constant kibbles to hold the position anymore either!

[abirddogmoment]

A variety of conditioning exercises using the inflatable peanut.

[securityunit-ese]

Some of Thyme’s exercises from the rehab and conditioning vet

His focus is on body awareness, balance and flexibility. Also on improving the posture of his sit and drops 

1.  Flexibility - Pretzel puppy 

In a drop or sit drop treats under and around your dog and under their fur so they have to stretch and bend to find the treat while not standing up. This should involve using the front limbs to brace

2. Walking sideways - Whole body work out that improves proprioception 

Set up your dog standing in front of you, facing to the left, so that you are at their side. Take three or four steps forward so that your dog steps to the side.  Repeat with your dog facing to the right. Your dog should be stepping directly to the side, not trying to walk forward. 

3.  Stretch hips-back-neck and build core strength

Raise your dogs front legs to a surface approximately shoulder height. Lure them up and forward to make them stretch up, up and away. Reward when their back feet are still and not shuffling.

4. Pelvis rocking (weightpull prep exercise): To stretch and challenge the psoas minor muscle as it slows down the extension of the lumbar spine and pelvis tilting forward. 

Put your dog in a sphinx drop. Use a treat to push them back so their lower back is all squashed up. Lure them forward with the treat to create as much spine extension as they are capable. Ask them to perform this slowly but continuously 4 times. Hold in the extended position for 15-30 seconds to finish.

Levels 1 Perform with your dogs nose pointing slightly up an incline. 2 Perform on the flat. 3 Perform with your dogs nose pointing down an incline.

5.  Messy Cavaletti's - build body awareness, range of motion and an assessment/ early warning of minor injuries. 

Gather a variable number of poles (min 4) and throw them on the ground. Ask your dog to slowly walk through them. You can stick objects under the poles to raise them. Slower is physically harder than faster. 

Levels 1 Few poles spread far apart. 2 More poles and closer together 3  Add height to poles. 4 Perform on unstable surfaces and on hills/variable terrain

6. Rock back sit on unstable surface - to sit up straight and tall, build rear muscle strength.

Have an unstable surface. Lure your dog to rock back into a sit with limbs square. Ask them to perform this slowly but continuously 4 times. Hold in the extended position for 15-30 seconds to finish. 

7. Crouch-crawl -  Whole body work out, Strengthen muscles supporting joints,  Practice appropriate muscle patterns,  Proprioception 

Ask your dog to walk under an obstacle. Once you have taught this behaviour slowly reduce the height to ask your dog to drop their neck. Then drop it further so they have to crouch. You may ask them to do up to a meter like this.