Teaching your dog some tricks is fun and great way to build the bond between the two of you. Some tricks also improve your dog’s musculoskeletal wellbeing by stretching muscles and increasing flexibility.

One such trick is a bow.

This is a simple and very cute trick that provides a great stretch to:

• the large propulsion muscles at the back of the dog’s hind legs,

• the back and neck muscles and

• shoulder muscles, particularly the tricep muscles at the back of the forelimbs.

How to teach your dog to bow?

With a tasty treat in your hand, hold your hand close to the dog’s nose.

Slowly lower your hand downward and slightly backward between the dog’s front legs.

When the dog’s elbows touch the ground, give the treat and praise your dog.

As your dog becomes more proficient, you can ask them to hold the bow position a little longer before you release the treat.

Try and keep your dog’s head up, so they get a good stretch through the shoulders.

For more tips of maintaining your dog’s flexibility, please feel free to contact me. You can also stay up to date by liking Full Stride Facebook page.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.