Dogs and humans have been working side by side for centuries. How about a gym workout to build stronger bodies and dog human bond together?

Human performing squat with dog giving high five.

Let’s back up.

In 2007 I was infected with West Nile Virus neuroinvasive and it has been a long road to healing. In 2016 I found a fitness trainer to help strengthen my core and nervous system that ultimately helped me get my body back. In early 2018 I found my mind and spirit again. What a feeling to be whole in body, mind and spirit!!! It is a journey learning how to listen and work with each part. Last week I was getting ready for the MS 150 bike ride and nursing an injury 2 weeks prior. As I was on the spin bike my body said ‘it did not want to give up the life it got back’. My spirit said ‘you will not lose that life but you need to rest’. My whole body shifted, I wanted to cry as I had listened to my inner child and held her.

This is what I have been doing for dogs since 2012. I listen to their inner spirit and help them work with their body challenges to live a great life, as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. They did daily exercises to heal their injuries from back, knee, and neck pain. K9 Fitness Works grew out of a passion to help dogs be stronger before injury.

One more piece of this creation.

Tina was my girl 2002-2013. She was by my side during WNV and she knew a relapse was coming before I did. We learned to work together so we both could enjoy life. She taught me how to communicate with dogs on a spiritual and body level. Dogs are drawn to my energy of healing and compassion for them by trying to cross the road to get to me.

Now I am combining all of these into a class to create stronger dogs and stronger humans through physical fitness creating a stronger bond. It is so beautiful!

We start with a warm up routine that can be done any time before your favorite activity. Then circuit 1 of exercises to strengthen up the core, legs, and bond. A 5 minute rest to pee and sniff. Then circuit 2 to continue flexibility and proprioception. Finish with a cool down to rest the body, mind, and spirit connection.

That sounds like good fun! I also teach Basic Dog Fitness class so you can feel confident what to do with your dog when you are in Fuzzy Gym Buddy Class.

Check out our class times at our service page or register here.

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.

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.
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’

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.

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