K9 Conditioning 10 Adding exercise daily

By Dr Debbie Gross
K9 Conditioning

How do I add exercise to my daily activities? 

I know it is honestly difficult to find the time in your day and week to exercised yourself and it may also be difficult for you to get your dog to exercise as well.  If you can try to add different exercises to regular activites, that is an easy way to incorporate the activities.  We have covered this in the previous weeks, but I think it does demand repeating.  As humans, we are always looking for excuses!  Life is difficult and busy for everyone, but we do know that if you can change your schedule for a consistent ten to fourteen days, you will make it a habit.  That goes for everything in your life by the way!  So, if you can stick to an exercise program with your dog for 10 to 14 days, every day, you can make a change.  Every dog will benefit from an exercise routine, and you will see a big difference in their strength, their attitude and their health.  Here are some ideas to incorporate an exercise plan - and I know I have already mentioned some of these but repititon, repitition!  The best way to do many of the exercises is to do them throughout the day.  

1) Keep your fitness euipment in your living room, office, etc.  When taking a break from work or while watching television, do a little core work with your dog.  If you are just starting and watching a thirty minute show, do the exercises during the commercials.  I was in the habit of snacking during television in the evening, and I switched to working on the dogs' core instead.  My clumber, Bogart, works on the FitBone and the donut, and the cocker spaniel does the donut.  

2)  Wake up a little earlier to start your day, and try to take the dog out for a walk.  Even a thirty minute walk is a great start to the day, and it is a wonderful way to get the day started.  You can also use this time to do some core work, balance work, or put the dog on the treadmill.  

3)  Before you feed your dog, ask them to do a sit stand five times.  When they are through, ask them to repeat it.  Try to incorporate this into every meal, and other tasks as well.  For example, before the dog gets in the car, ask them to sit stand five times.

4)  Use your walking backwards trick throughout the day.  While the dog is standing there, ask them to walk backwards.  try to do this throughout th day.

5)  If you have stairs in your house, teach your dog to keep their back feet on the floor while their front feet are on the first or second step - depending upon the size of your dog.  Have the dog hold this for 5 to 10 seconds.  It is a great way to teach control and also to work on core strength.  Try the same thing on the way down.  Have the dog hold their back feet on the top step, and their front feet on the first or second step down, again, depending on the size and length of the dog.  This will help with control, balance, and slowing down on the dogs that speed up and down the stairs.  

6) If you live in an area with a backyard and usually let the dog out by themselves for potty breaks, go out with them three times a day and walk with them for 5 to 10 minutes.  You may want to put your figure eights outside as well.

7) When you are driving anywhere with your dog, park in the furthest parking spot from your destination to encourage some more activity.

8) No more free cookies - ask your dog to stand and look up for a cookie to give them increased weight on their back legs.  Do this with low calorie treats, ideally 5 to 10 times, a few times a day.  

9) If you live in an area where swimming is safe, and your dog does not have any soft tissue injuries, try taking them swimming a few times a week or at least once a week as a treat!  Typically ten minutes in the water is ample for most dogs, but you can certainly do more for more athletic dogs.  I usually take my guys right before bath time!

10) While working on sit stays, ask the dog to sit on a FitBone, disc or donut.  Have them hold it for longer periods of time.  This will work on your training as well as core control. This Aussie is sitting on the balance board and has her front feet on the FitBone.  And if you look closely, the balance board is on top of the donuts.  Some more fun to add to things.  The Border Collie is standing on a balance board on a disc for some more work.  Part of what I would like you to think about is how you can safely start combining pieces of equipment or other equipment throughout the house. 

11)  Weight loss is very difficult with all dogs and it needs to be consistent.  Good goals in smaller dogs include losing one pound per month.  We don't want dogs to lose weight too quickly.  This Pug weighs #28 and definitely needs to lose weight.  One of the ways is to use your core equipment to build up muscle.  Doing this 3 times a day for a few minutes will be of great benefit. 

  

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