Essential Agility Training Skills Enrollment Open!
Limited Working Spots Available!

55% OFF

Stable vs. unstable surfaces
in dog fitness
Is it as beneficial as it is fancy-looking?

Who doesn't love to watch all those cool workouts performed on various unstable surfaces? But, is it as beneficial as it is fancy-looking? Again, we like to look at some facts first. 🙂

Share This Post

Working out on UNSTABLE equipment

  • Primarily engages core and postural muscles that help to keep the dog’s body in balance.
  • Is especially useful for rehabilitation purposes where we need to re-educate and facilitate neuromuscular activity.

But can it happen that these stabilizers override the work of large muscle groups responsible for generating the actual power, so the total speed and strength of your dog might decrease?

Unstable surfaces make the exercises more difficult, but do not appear to increase the “over-load” sufficiently to increase the strength and power gains that are developed with performing actions on stable surfaces.

So there are some shortcomings to working out exclusively on unstable/inflatable fitness equipment.

But this is where stable pieces of equipment hop in and fill the gap!

Performing dynamic exercises on STABLE surfaces

  • engages large muscle groups (the ones that are responsible for producing powerful actions), while providing this needed sufficient “over-load” to the muscles to increase in power and strength.

Pretty cool, isn’t it?

So, do not underestimate the power of simple sit to stands on flat ground, for example 😉

While we tend to see unstable fitness equipment mostly as an option for progression and increase in difficulty of the exercise, let’s not forget it is more than recommended to also continue training on “simple” things: planks, bricks, wooden platforms or any potentially useful stable object you find at home or outside on a walk, even if your dog is already a true fitness expert!

And our advice: work first on stable pieces until the dog achieves proper form and understanding of the exercise and gains initial strength, then add some instability to the sessions. But keep working on both: stable & unstable pieces of equipment, to get the best effect and outcome from both! 🙂

Why is strength training so important for your dog?

Here’s why the majority of dog owners and trainers never reach their dog’s full potential …

It’s pretty simple, actually.

They focus waaaay too little on the strengthening aspect of training.

Deep down you already know the hardcore truth, right?

Dogs are the ultimate athletes!

So, the most logical conclusion you can think of is this …

If you truly want a happy, long, active and healthy life & career of your dog, a good physical preparation should be a number 1 priority!

Taking part in daily activities is not only good for their physical health, but also their mental health. … It’s also a great way for you and your canine companion to bond in a new way.

When designing the FUNdamentals canine conditioning course I had all active dogs in mind, including yours.

Here’s the best part.

You won’t have to invest more than 10 minutes per day (though you’ll probably love to).

It’s easy.

It’s super effective.

And most importantly … You’ll have a lot of FUN!

Check out the link below … 

Jana Gams, DVM, CCRP

Discover the expert secrets of canine conditioning

Join more than 3411 members of FUNdamentals K9 Conditioning Course!

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x