Tag Archive for: physical fitness dog

Stronger Dog Stronger Bond!

Canine Fitness Workout to Reduce Injury

Does your dog really need a workout routine?

  I thought this was a crazy idea a few years ago, I mean they are dogs and they know how to take care of themselves.  Right?

Dogs use to live in packs where they would play bow, weave, wrestle, and chase each other.  This was more apparent to me as I watched a friend’s pack of dogs playing in the yard.  Today dogs live in a household of one or maybe two dogs so they do not get the same play that their predecessors did.  As a result they are becoming injured at an increasing rate when jumping off the couch, bed, or out of the car.

What can you do?  If you are a pet parent or owner that truly wants to create a healthier dog then it is very simple steps you can take.  Canine physical fitness is a new field in the animal world.  It consist of people that have anything from a little training to lots of training and it is your job to research those people so your dog does not get injured in the process of helping them become stronger. You can find ‘My Story’ on another page.

You researched and found an canine fitness trainer your dog trust and relates to your needs.  Give them a call to have a quick consult to see if it is a good fit to work together and then get started.

Here are 2 exercises that will help to start improving your dog’s health today. 

  1. The Number 1 Exercise!! Front feet up or elevated stand- ask your dog to step up on a low solid step to shift their weight to the hind legs which will help strengthen their glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, and calf muscles.
  2. Step over sticks- ask your dog to step over sticks on the ground as you are on walks.  This will increase the proprioception in their feet to help them be more agile.   Read more on proprioception on my previous article ‘Proprioception, What is it’
Front feet up or elevated stand

If you want video instruction jump over to our Facebook page for a video pinned at the top of the page on how to do the above exercises and more. These are easy to add to your routine on a daily walk by stepping up on a curb and holding it.  These are simple ways to create a stronger canine and improve your animal human bond.

Leave us a comment on how your exercises are going.

Update: If your dog does sustain an injury they are recovering from, here is a good article on how to make both your lives easier during the healing time.

K9 Fitness Works is creating stronger dog human bonds through canine physical fitness. We are proud to help owners feel more confident in the quality of life for their pawer pup!

Expert Canine Fitness Trainer

K9 Fitness Works is focused on educating the community on healthy dogs through our blog and soon to be membership site with videos on how to create a stronger core and more in your dog.  We enjoy speaking at club events to share personal dog knowledge to decrease knee and spine injuries in dogs.

K9 Fitness tutorial and knowledgebase articles

Fitness is easy to do daily and is natural to humans and dogs.  Over the centuries we have gotten lazy! Humans and dogs have sat on the couch more then hiking the mountains, unless you live in Colorado.  Even those in Colorado sit at a desk most of the day and the dog sit on the couch most of the day leaving them both susceptible to injury when on a hike up the mountain.  There are simple daily exercises you can both do to decrease injury and create a stronger bond together.

What are your most pressing questions?

Let K9 Fitness Works know what you are looking for in the health of your pet.  What are your concern’s when it comes to the quality of life for your dog?  What do you want to achieve in competition?  Comment below so we can share our knowledge to help you and your dog grow stronger for a better community!