8 minute read
Basic exercises for your dog
from DQ Magazine Issue 3a
by hqmagazine
BASIC EXERCISES FOR YOUR DOG - Part Two
Text | Bianca Rootman
By now I’m sure many of you have tried some of the exercises, or noticed a few things about your companion that we discussed in the previous article. It’s quite amazing to realise how we miss all these subtle things until someone points them out, isn’t it? How you suddenly notice that your dog can’t stand still, or how you now notice that your dog sitting with his/her leg splayed out to the side is actually not correct and may be an indication of something going on, or how your companion struggles to rise from a sit to a stand.
In Part Two I’ll be discussing a few progressive exercises done in the stand, focusing on the art of standing still, the advancements that can be made whilst maintaining posture, and the way in which we can challenge the ‘simple’ stand.
Before we get into it, please just remember that not every exercise will be appropriate for your companion, and asking your companion to perform an exercise when they are weak or compromised could lead to injury, so please consult with your vet or physiotherapist should you have any concerns, or notice that your companion is having any diffi culty in performing the exercises.
The fi rst exercise we are going to discuss is an Individual Leg Lift. This is another exercise that looks easy, but is actually very challenging for most of our companions. The exercise requires the dog to shift weight from limb to limb. This means that the strength in each limb has to support the weight shifting, and it requires a good deal of core strength to avoid falling over.
In order to perform this exercise, ask your companion to stand squarely on an even, stable surface. Place your hand on either the wrist or elbow of one of your companion’s legs, and gently lift the limb. The other hand can be placed under your dog’s chest or belly for support should they need it. Make sure not to move the leg out to the side or pull it backwards or forwards; you simply need to lift the paw a few centimetres off the ground, thereby taking weight off that limb. As you lift the leg, you will notice your companion shifting his/her weight onto limbs; they may even step one leg out to the side for further balance. You may notice your dog sways from side to side as they struggle to balance themselves, or you may notice one limb slowly starts sinking down (this mainly occurs with a hind limb). These are all signs of weakness, whether it be core or limb in origin. The exercise is to be repeated on each limb, doing one or two rounds.
A great benefi t to this exercise is that you will notice that one or two limbs may be harder to lift up than the others. For example, dogs with hind end problems tend to shift more weight onto the front limbs, so it may be harder for them to lift the front legs up and vice versa for front end problems. Another example could be that you may fi nd the left hind limb really hard to pick up, yet the right hind lifts easily, almost as if there was barely any weight on the leg to start off with. This exercise is a great tool to have for this very reason. You will start to feel what is normal for your companion, and can pick up problems in their infancy, by noticing that your dog’s weight distribution suddenly changes. Incorrect Individual Leg Lift
Correct Individual Leg Lift
Incorrect Elevated Stand
Correct Elevated Stand The second exercise is an Elevated Stand. This is a great weight shifting exercise that can be used to again encourage weight shifting, and to strengthen the hind limbs. For this exercise, you simply need a stable, elevated surface. Something as simple as a step works for most dogs. For the little ones, a brick, or even a thick book will do the trick. Simply ask your companion to step up and place both front paws on the elevated surface. Once here, ask your companion to hold this position for ten to twenty seconds and then allow them to step off and have a break. Using a treat or toy is a great way to lure your companion onto the step, and then to ask them to hold the position for a few seconds. When using a treat or toy, be sure to hold it in front of your companion just above their eye level to ensure they are looking slightly up, thereby shifting even more weight onto their hind limbs. This will also encourage your companion to really stretch through their limbs and back. Your dog may need an easy introduction to this exercise, or you may find they do it without a problem. Whilst your companion is performing the exercise, look out for signs of weakness such as an inability to hold the position for more than a few seconds, weight shifting off one hind leg, or even placing the hind leg in a strange position. Your companion may slowly start to sink down on their hind limbs, or even go straight down into a sit after one or two reps. There may also be an unwillingness, or inability to extend through the joints of the hind legs.
These are all signs that your companion is struggling to perform the exercise due to weakness or an underlying condition.
The third exercise is the Decline Stand. This is the opposite to the above-mentioned exercise where you’ll be asking your companion to place their hind paws on an elevated surface, thereby shifting weight onto their front limbs. This exercise can be challenging for most due to dogs having poor hind limb awareness, so be patient when performing this exercise as most companions will need some time to figure out what is being asked of them.
Start with as low a surface as possible for this exercise. The best way to get your companion into position is to simply walk them down, if it’s a step, or over, if it’s a brick or book, and pause them once their front paws are back down and their hind paws are on the surface being used. This can take quite a few tries. Once your companion has realised what is being asked and is standing still with their hind legs elevated, ask them to hold this position by holding a treat or toy in front of them, below the level of their eyes. Please make sure your companion does not need to look up at you whilst in a decline stand as their necks will be in a very compromised position, especially the little dogs. Like the elevated stands, simply ask your companion to hold this position for ten to twenty seconds and then allow them to step down and have a break.
set of Don’t forget to look out for the next exercises we’ll discuss
in the next edition. Incorrect Decline Stand
Correct Decline Stand
The fourth exercise is a Stationary Weight Shift. This is a very simple version of what some of you may call a neck or cookie stretch, but due to that being a bit more of a challenging exercise, we’ll start with the basic version to assess your companion’s ability. For this exercise, one simply stands in front of your companion with a treat, toy, or an item of interest. Make sure your companion is standing squarely on all four paws on a stable surface. Take the item/treat/toy and slowly move it to the left, and then slowly to the right. Your companion should follow the item by moving their heads, but not by moving their legs. As your companion turns his or her head, there is a slight weight shift, which is all we are looking for. In order to achieve backwards and forwards weight shifting, one can move the item slightly towards your companion, which should encourage a slight backwards weight shift, and the opposite can be done to encourage a slight forwards weight shift. Just remember that the point of this exercise is for your companion’s paws to stay planted on the ground and the movement to come from his or her body.
The abovementioned exercises may seem relatively simple and straightforward, but as discussed in Part One of this series, simply standing still is a challenge in itself, so if your companion needs time to fi gure out what you are asking of them, or they are really not strong enough to perform the exercise correctly just yet, give them time and be patient!
Keep an eye out for Part Three of this series where we’ll be diving into the walk.
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