Balance and Core exercises for Dogs

Did you know that there are balance exercises for dogs?  Do you know WHY they are important?  Dogs put 60 – 80% of their weight on their front legs which puts a lot of stress on their elbows and shoulders. By strengthening  their core and the tiny supporting leg muscles they are less likely to get injured.   It is also a great mental & physical challenge for them AND it gives them a sense of accomplishment!  

Thanks to Valerie from K9 Body Shop, we had fun playing around with some Fit Paw toys in class on Sunday.  The dogs did great and really liked practicing their balance. Valerie also shared a few tips on how you can practice balance exercises with your dog at home without any “toys”.  One exercise is to have your dog stand on 2 legs.  Start with holding up the front right paw and the back left paw. Don’t allow the dog to lean into you.  Start slowly, your dog may only be able to do it for a few seconds at first and then progress the time.  Then repeat on the other side by holding up the front left leg and the back right leg.

Stay tuned for an upcoming workshop on more balance exercises you can do with your dog! We will start incorporating some in our Leash Your Fitness Sunday class as well! And don’t forget about your own balance training! Practice standing on one foot in the grocery line, to make it more difficult, close your eyes.