Pickwick Pugs
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Conditioning Exercises

16 Exercises to strengthen your dog’s core
We love our fit paws equipment and here are some videos (below) for using this equipment. But, first, for those who do not have this equipment, here are ways you can give your dog a core of steel without the fitpaws. 5-10 repetitions daily is a good start. Gradually increase repetitions. Remember to work on a non-slip surface.

Most important of all, make it fun!
1. Walking on uneven surfaces causes your dog to shift its body weight, engaging his core muscles. Build your own obstacle course using cushions and bedding.
2. Walking up and down hills.
3. Walking backwards. This exercise, while fairly simple, helps with balance and hindlimb strength.
4. Stand-stay. Hold position for up to ten seconds or longer.
5. While standing, using a lure, encourage the dog to turn its head in different directions to follow the food. Hold the treat at his shoulder and then his hip. Work both sides.
6. Leg lifts. Lift one leg for 5-10 seconds and then place it back on the ground. Rotate with each of your dog’s legs. As you dog becomes stronger, Increase the time for each leg lift. This is a good one for puppies – they learn spatial awareness and how their body fits into the world around them, as well as better balance.
7. Doggie Squats. Stand-Sit-Stand. The idea is that just when your dog is starting to sit, tell them to stand so they use those core muscles.
8. Sit-stand.-down. Changing positions is great for strengthening your dog’s core.
9. Cavalettis.  Walk your dog over a series of raised surfaces. You can use a ladder or a series of boards and PVC pipes. This exercise requires your dog to lifts its hind legs over each surface improving strength, range of motion, balance and flexibility. These aren’t meant to be high obstacles. They are just high enough to get the dog to lift all four legs; it’s the stepping over action that’s important. Spacing for hurdles = height from your dog's withers to the ground
10. Figure 8s. Make smaller and smaller figure eights to increase the effort. This can also be performed between and around your legs.
11. Figure 8s on a hill. The slope and turning of the body in both directions works the core, balance and weight shifting. Do large figure 8s while trotting your dog on a hill.
12. Swimming
13. Crawling. 
14. Cushion exercises (similar to using a balance disc). Have your dog place his front feet on a firm and puffy cushion. Raise the treat above his head and then side to side.  Then do the same with his back legs.
15. Spins
16. Rollover. Do this in both directions.

Using Fit Paws Equipment:

Warm-Up:
Foundation Exercises:
Balance Disc:
Cavalletis:
Paw Pods:
Wobble Board:
  • Home
    • About Us >
      • Testimonials & Updates >
        • Health Screening >
          • Health Guarantee
  • Pugiano
  • Available
    • Current & Planned Litters >
      • Winter/Spring 2022-23 >
        • Southern Belle Litter
      • Future Possible Litters 2023-2027 >
        • Jane Austen Litter
        • Mamma Leone's Litter
        • Bridgerton Litter
        • Maestro Litter
        • Tomte Litter
        • 5th Element Litter
    • Application Form >
      • Purchase & Contract Page >
        • Contract
    • Puppy Culture Protocol - What Has Your Puppy Been Up To These Past 12 Weeks?
    • Puppy Blog >
      • Puppy Parties
      • Scenes from Puppy Nursery
      • Temperament Evaluation Form
      • Conformation Evaluation Form
      • Guardian Home Information
    • Past Pickwick Pugs Litters >
      • Begin the Beguine Litter
      • Thrill Litter
      • Lemaître Litter >
        • Stewart All Eyes Look at Me
        • Coco (Pickwick's Cold Champagne in the Afternoon)
        • Winston (Pickwick's Cosmic Constellation in the Stars)
        • Rocket Girl (Pickwick's You Can Call Me Rocket Girl) >
          • Rocket Girl (Pickwick's You Can Call Me Rocket Girl)
        • Marie Claire (Pickwick's Cotton Candy in the Sky)
        • Stella Artois (Pickwick's Watching the Stars Align)
      • Stars Fell on Alabama >
        • It's a Barnum and Bailey World
        • Pickwick's Show the World How to Smile
        • Casanova in Disguise
        • Even the Moon is in on My Scheme
        • Unforgettable in Every Way
      • Diamond Litter >
        • Pickwick's Doris Diamond Breakfasts at Tiffany's
      • Emerald Litter
      • Christmas Star Litter
      • New Year's Eve Litter
      • Adirondack Litter
      • Flying Kilts Litter
      • Coffee House Litter
      • Poldark Litter
    • Retired Show Pugs & Adults
    • Fosters Needing Adoption
  • Our Grumble
    • Pickwick Champions >
      • CH Pickwick's Peachtree Hill Country Mighty Macintosh, TKN
      • CH Peachtree's Kirkcudbright Kayleigh, CGC, RIN, RI, TKN
      • CH Pickwick's Child, That Hemline's Out of Sight TKN
      • CH Pickwick's Show the World How to Smile
      • CH Wright's Triumphant Tiger Eye at Pickwick
      • GCH Hill Country's I'll Bee Your Shining Star
    • In the Rings Now (Conformation, Rally, Freestyle, Tricks) >
      • Diabolbric’s Start Me Up (Jagger)
      • Pickwick's Worship The Ground I Walk On
      • Pickwick's Where Heaven Kisses Earth
      • Pickwick's Follow the Star
      • Pickwick's While the Leaves Play the Music
      • Pickwick's Thrill on Blueberry Hill
      • Zobear's American Idol
      • Pickwick's Watching the Stars Align
      • Princess Buttercup's Forever is Now
    • Fosters, Rescues, Companion Pugs (altered, not part of breeding program) >
      • Sebastian, BGR, CGC, RN, RA, TKN
      • Charlie Chaplin >
        • Randolph (Charmin's and Toyland's Lord Randolph of Pickwick)
      • All-American Rescue Jerry (lab/chow/GS mix)
      • All-American Rescue Lexi
    • Gone but not forgotten . . . >
      • Pickwick's Cotton Candy in the Sky RN
    • Pedigrees
  • Shop
    • Hand-crafted soaps
    • Hand-crafted Soy Candles
    • Unique Gifts (Tote Bags, Tissue Boxes, Notepads, Ornaments)
    • Paintings by Pugs
    • Proverbial Pugcasso quotes (magnets, ornaments, soaps)
    • Pet Safe Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • New Owner Checklists A >
      • Puppy Sample Daily Schedule
    • New Owner Checklists B >
      • Puppy Training & Socialization Checklist Chart >
        • Socialization Checklist
      • Training & Socialization >
        • Canine Good Citizenship Test
        • Conditioning Exercises
        • Rally Training Boot Camp
        • Canine Freestyle
        • Conformation Puppy Boot Camp
    • Articles >
      • Helpful Info for Pug Owners
      • Driving Home With Your Puppy
      • Flying Home with Your Puppy
      • Prayers >
        • Breeding/Whelping Notes >
          • Puppy's Life Day-by-Day
          • Puppy Daily Records
      • Why buy from a responsible preservation Breeder?
      • Breed Standard
      • Pug Dog Club of America
  • Photo Album
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
  • Elly May's Dress