With fall gearing up and winter right on its heels, it’s time for the dreaded “how do I keep my dog from getting fat if the weather gets bad and we can’t go out?” ponderings. For some, they also have to worry about pent-up energy that may be released in other ways, say chewing the couch for example or becoming one of those obsessive dogs that chases his tail constantly.
Never fear! There are some amazing ways you can help your dog stay in shape as well as expend all that energy from the comfort of your warm dry home.
REMEMBER! Consult with your veterinarian prior to starting any workout regime with your dog, to make sure they are physical fit and able to perform the tasks. Do not do too many repetitions of any one thing (especially in the beginning) and only do it a couple times a week.
Canine Conditioning
Canine conditioning has exploded in popularity recently, as owners of sports and performance dogs strive to make their dogs better athletes and prevent injuries. It’s also great for dogs with injuries (think physical therapy for humans), and as a way to keep your dog fit when he is stuck indoors – all while expending lots of energy!
Bobbie Lyons, Certified Canine Fitness, FitPAWS Master Trainer Course Instructor, is an expert at canine conditioning for sports and therapy. She has shared with us a few simple, yet effective exercises you can do in your home this winter. Want more? Check out her online classes and take a canine conditioning class right from home!
Need equipment? I recommend FitPAWS. They have everything you need from cones to treadmills!
Mat to Mat Sprints
Does your dog have a bed or mat cue? If so, this is a fun way to exercise your dog without you having to do too much work. If not, it’s pretty easy to teach mat or target, and then you can do this exercise, which Lyons says builds cardio.
Simply clear out a space, put mats or targets at both ends and have your dog run to and from the targets! Think of it as line sprints from sports practice.
Treat Toss
Dog not mat trained? You can doing something similar with treats! Just toss treat across the room for your dog to chase – even dogs that don’t play with toys will usually chase after food.
Lyons says it not only builds cardio, but it’s a mental activity since your dog has to follow the treat and then find it.
Weaves
A few small cones work great for this exercise (you can buy small ones from fitPAWS). Using a treat, lure your dog through the cones. As he gets better, start to remove your lure from the picture, so that your dog will soon be running through the cones on his own. At that point, Lyons says this can be a great cardio exercise. It also helps keep your dog limber with the bending.
Treadmill
Have a dog that’s used to a few mile run every day? While most us will try to continue this regime in the fall and winter, sometimes the weather just doesn’t make it safe to do so. For those day, a DogTREAD treadmill is an awesome replacement!
Lyons says the treadmill not only increases endurance and strength, but it’s also a mental stimulation for most dogs.
Cavalettis
Super simple to make using pvc or wood poles (a few brooms and some books work!) or you can buy the Canine Gym agility set from fitPAWS (I own it and use the parts all the time and it’s not that expensive).
Cavaletti work is great for any dog – whether it’s a puppy learning to pick up those feet (body awareness) or an older dog getting into shape – they can all benefit from these exercises.
Like the weaves, you can start by luring your dog through them, keeping the treat so their head is in a natural straight forward position, don’t hold the treat so they are looking up, until your dog is moving through them on his own.
Lyons explains that cavalettie work lengthens through the spine and improves gait, while providing a cardio workout.
Balance Exercises
Nothing tires you more than working on balance – just try balancing on either foot for a few seconds and doing some squats – you will feel more tired than if you just walked several blocks. So, if your dog needs to keep his muscles limber and expend energy, they are great exercises to do! Plus, most dogs find them fun!
Lyons says you can use the inflatable fitPAWS equipment, an air mattress (perfect for a giant breed!), or even a bed.
These exercises “engage core and smaller muscles to improve stability,” she adds.
A note about proper use of inflatable devices from Lyons:
“Posture is super important when using inflatable balance product to engaging the proper muscles and not over using other muscles groups. The big thing here is watching the reward position so that it encourages proper weight distribution. If the rewards are too far away or given lower than spine height, all the dog’s weight is shifted forward.”
Crawl Forward
A fun trick that also strengthens many parts of your dog’s body, the crawl is a great behavior to work on during bad weather.
It “engages the core, lengthens through the spine and rotates both shoulders and hips,” Lyons explains.
