Fitness is not all about the length of time or distance that your dog can run. Flexibility, balance and co-ordination are also important factors to keeping dogs mobile and injury free.

Here are five fun ways you can easily work on your dog’s fitness using a broom or garden rake.

1. Stepping over

For small dogs, lay the broom on the ground or for larger breed dogs prop the broom on a chair or a couple of bricks. Ask the dog to step over the broom not to jump over. Reward the dog for lifting four legs over the broom independently.

This exercise is good for strengthening the muscles around the shoulder, hip, elbow, and stifle joints.

It is also good for teaching the dog co-ordination. To perform this exercise, dogs need to have good perception of the position of their limbs so they don’t bump the broom. This is called proprioception and it is necessary for the dog to have good proprioception when moving on uneven ground to avoid slips, falls and muscle strain.

2. Limbo – going under

Position the broom between two chairs and ask the dog to “limbo” under the broom. When the broom is positioned at the appropriate height, this exercise gives the dog a good neck, back, shoulder, hamstring muscle stretch. Such a stretch can help relax muscles and improve flexibility through the back. One of the functions of the muscles in the dog’s back and torso is to stabilise them when they are moving and to aid respiration (breathing). Good flexibility and muscle tone is therefore essential to the dog’s fitness.

Going under the broom also strengthens and conditions the muscles that support the shoulder and hip joint when they are flexed. Strong muscles supporting these joints are particularly important for dogs with joint conditions such as hip dysplasia or osteoarthritis.

3. Go around

Position the broom so it is vertical. Ask your dog to go around the broom in a clockwise direction and then anti-clockwise. Circling requires the dog to flex their spine laterally which provides a good stretch through the torso.

As the dog turns to round the broom, their weight shifts onto the outside of the fore and hind limbs. This weight shift helps conditions the adductor and abductor muscles that keep the limbs moving properly when the torso is rotating laterally. So this exercise is good for the dog’s coordination and balance.

4. Reverse over broom

For a more advanced exercise, place the broom on the ground and ask your dog to back up over the broom handle. This exercise builds coordination and proprioception as the dog needs to be very aware of the position of their hind limbs so they can lift their legs up and over the broom handle.

This exercise also strengthens the muscles around the hip joint as the joint flexes when the dog lifts their leg over the broom.

5. Speed exercises

When the dog is really proficient going around the broom when it is upright, train this speed exercise. Hold the dog by their collar or harness with a little backward pressure, say “Ready, Set, Go”, release your dog, and race them to run around the broom and back to the start for a treat and play. Gradually, increase the distance from which you are sending your dog.

Speed exercises build muscle strength and endurance. They also elevate the heart rate which stimulates the circulatory system. Most of all, this is a fun game to play with your dog.

Before playing these games, please warm up yourself and your dog to avoid muscle strains. For warm up tips, please see http://www.fullstride.com.au/blog/Do-I-need-to-warm-my-dog-up-before-exercise

If your dog is rehabilitating, please ask your veterinarian or myofunctional therapist to advise on appropriate exercise for your dog’s stage of healing.

Full Stride provides canine rehabilitation services including remedial massage therapy, exercise therapy and nutrition. I would be delighted to chat with you about how a treatment may get your dog fit and mobile.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.