By this point in time, everybody and their uncle knows that going for walks is the most basic physical activity that one should engage in regularly. Not only are walks convenient and relatively easy, but they are also wonderful for our physical health—especially our mental, cardiovascular and joint health.
But did you know that dogs need walking and outdoor exercise even more than we do? They need it as much as they need food and air. So, if you are already giving your amazing dog an active lifestyle, you are being a very thoughtful and responsible pet parent! If you are collaborating in these walks with your dog while also matching their enthusiasm and level of engagement, you are helping your dog get the most out of these walks so, bravo!
There are so many benefits from simply being out in fresh air and moving but for most dogs, walks need to consist of a lot more than just walking! They need exercise that leads to physical fitness which incorporates a lot of different elements like running, playing and bonding with you. Physical fitness is what will keep your dog in the best physical health for as long as possible, not to mention happy and confident!
There are so many different ways to achieve this goal through ZENFULdog Training but just like with people, there are some dogs that really need to “hit the gym” to get the best results! Canine Fitness classes at ZENFULdog offer a plethora of exercises to make sure that your dog reaches and maintains their physical health goals while having fun and staying safe!
An Introduction to Canine Fitness at ZENFULdog
The primary goals of canine fitness classes are:
To build on the connection between pet parent and dog
To build confidence and to improve coordination and flexibility
To improve the overall performance of dogs so they can have more enriched and healthier lives
The Basics
At ZENFULdog canine fitness classes, safety is always at the forefront and Kendra works with members to ensure injury prevention. When engaging in canine fitness, Kendra is concerned about proper form. Good habits lead to proper muscle memory and good movements so that the dog is never compensating which could lead to injury. Working small muscle groups also reduces the tendency to injuries.
The dogs’ backgrounds are kept in mind when beginning fitness training. Dogs always start with stable equipment and move to instability training later on. The dog gets accustomed to one piece of equipment before moving on to more and the equipment starts out at equal height. Dogs undergo a lot of skill training with the equipment before beginning fitness training.
When ready to begin fitness training, these are the 5 core elements:
Strength training: limb and core
Flexibility training: range of motion
Balance training: proprioception
Mental stimulation training for dog
Cardiovascular training: cardiorespiratory and weight
ZENFULdog canine fitness training is also tailored to these 4 life stages:
Puppies: who need short, low impact sessions
Companion dogs: who need low to moderate sessions that are fun and easy so they do not lose motivation
Performance dogs: who need sessions that remain challenging
Senior dogs (8 years and older): who need to keep moving
Special conditions: we recommend a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist
Warming-up and Cooling Down
A look at the warm-up and cool-down of a typical ZENFULdog fitness class can give you a glimpse into a typical session.
A canine fitness warm-up is about optimizing the dog’s range of motion by increasing joint and muscle temperature. Warm-ups also help to increase focus and engagement before starting with equipment.
ZENFUL warm-ups are designed to:
Increase muscle contraction
Increase blood flow to reduce stiffness
Increase breathing and heart rate
Stretch and lubricate muscles and ligaments to decrease the chance of injury
ZENFUL warm-ups are also a perfect opportunity to get to know your dog’s physicality and to notice anything that is wrong that needs to be corrected before diving into a session. Warm-ups are more active than static and are meant to reach your dog’s optimal heart rate, oxygen and blood pressure levels. Warm-ups should be increased if it is particularly cold out.
Example of a ZENFUL Warm-Up:
Step 1: Brisk walk in each direction left and right for 5 minutes— 2.5 minutes in each direction
Step 1, part b: Maybe do some trotting
Step 2: Ask dog to spin or circle 3 times to the left then 3 times to the right
Step 3: Stand to down, 5 times
Step 4: Side pass 5 times each direction
Step 5: Stand to rock, back, sit
Step 6: Play bow, 5 times
Step 7: Back up 4 to 6 feet, 5 times
Step 8: Cookie stretches: nose to shoulder, nose to rib and nose to hip, both sides
Step 9: Repeat routine a second time (starting with brisk walk)
*Proper movement is important, repeat sequence 2-3 times, adjust for weather (cold out=longer warm up, hot out=longer cool down)
Example of a Cool-Down
A cool down’s goal is to bring your dog’s heart rate back to normal and for your dog’s blood pressure to decrease. A cool-down should be longer when it is particularly hot outside.
ZENFUL COOL DOWN:
Step 1: A nice 5 to 10-minute walk
Step 2: Repeat exercises but more leisurely—slowly and thoughtfully
Step 3: Effleurage: pre and post-workout—like a massage for your dogs
Kendra says: “Canine fitness is so important, even for non-competitive dogs. It blends balance, strength, endurance and flexibility exercises that support the health, connection, vitality and joy of your dog! It improves the quality of life, body awareness, physical performance, helps maintain mobility, prevents bad patterns of movement to prevent susceptibility to injury while providing physical, cognitive and sensory enrichment.”
Don’t forget to follow ZENFULdog Training on Facebook where you can stay connected to your like-minded dog-loving community every day.
Kendra recommends asking your veterinarian about fitness conditioning before you start—even a quick call to let them know you are starting exercises.
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