If you’ve been exploring ways to keep your dog healthy and strong, you might have come across all kinds of dog fitness equipment—some stable, some wobbly, and everything in between.
But how do you know which exercises are best for your dog?
We all love to watch all those cool canine conditioning workouts performed on various unstable surfaces.
But, are they as beneficial as they are fancy-looking?
The truth is, that finding the right balance between stable and unstable exercises is what truly makes a difference in your dog’s overall fitness, performance, and injury prevention.
Whether you’re working with a canine athlete, a senior dog, or a family pet, it’s essential to understand how different types of exercises impact your dog’s body.
Each type of exercise serves a unique purpose, and when combined thoughtfully, it can help your dog become stronger, more confident, and better prepared for life’s adventures and sports.
Let’s talk about why these two approaches matter and how to make the most of them for your dog.
Unstable dog fitness equipment—like wobble boards, balance discs, or inflatable platforms—has become increasingly popular in canine fitness.
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However, relying solely on unstable equipment can have its downsides.
Because these exercises focus on balance and stabilization, the larger muscle groups—like those in your dog’s rear and front legs—don’t get the same level of strength-building work they would on stable surfaces.
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.
Here’s where stable pieces of dog fitness equipment come to the rescue!
Performing dynamic exercises on flat, stable ground engages the large muscle groups—like the glutes, quads, and shoulders—that are essential for producing powerful actions.
These surfaces allow for proper “overload,” the increased demand on muscles that leads to greater strength and power gains.
For example, simple exercises like sit-to-stands on flat ground might look basic, but they’re incredibly effective at building functional strength and endurance.
The key to maximizing your dog’s fitness potential and getting the best effect, is combining both stable and unstable exercises.
While unstable surfaces add variety and challenge balance, stable surfaces ensure that foundational strength and power are not overlooked.
Here’s a simple plan to get started:
We often tend to see unstable dog fitness equipment mostly as an option for progression and an increase in the difficulty of the exercise, but 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!
Whether you take care for a puppy, a senior dog, or raising a canine athlete, strength training is essential for a long, happy, and healthy life.
Here’s why it’s so important:
THE GOOD NEWS?
Building your dog’s strength doesn’t require hours of effort or all kinds of fancy dog fitness equipment.
With just 10 minutes a day, you can make a meaningful impact on their health and happiness.
That’s exactly why I created the FUNdamentals Canine Conditioning Course — to make strength training simple, effective, and fun for both you and your dog.
Want to learn more? Grab free videos below and start building your dog’s fitness routine today!
Because every dog deserves to live an active, pain-free life!
Jana Gams, DVM, CCRP
COMES WITH 12 EXERCISES AND LESSONS & covers topics like:
➜ Bony Landmarks – Get to Know Your Dog
➜ The Core – Center of Gravity
➜ Introduction to the Skill Room
➜ Starting Points – Front Feet Up
➜ The Cavaletti Exercise
➜ Walking backwards
➜ Workout: Rear + Core
➜ Resting day
