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.
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: