Did you know that 60% of a dog’s body weight is supported by their front end?
That’s a significant load, isn’t it? And it’s not just about standing still—your dog’s front end is a powerhouse of activity.
From stopping and turning at full speed to picking up a ball or navigating obstacles, the front end is constantly engaged.
Think about agility weaves, taking a dumbbell in obedience, or going downstairs or downhill while hiking. Even everyday activities like jumping off the couch or out of the car rely heavily on the strength of the front end.
Engaged in quite a lot of activities, right?
This is why a strong front plays a big role in performance in sports such as agility, flyball, obedience, frisbee, and canicross, as well as in everyday life.
And because the front limb is attached to the body not by a joint but by muscle, it is more prone to injury.
This unique structure makes it more prone to injury, particularly in the shoulder region, one of the most frequently injured areas in active dogs.
Approximately 32 % of dog agility athletes develop an injury.*
*(Cullin et al. BMC Veterinary Research, 2017, 13:68)
By improving the strength in your dog’s shoulders (triceps, biceps, pectorals, upper thoracic musculature), as well as toes and wrists, you can provide support to joints and connective tissues at decelerations, landings, and when changing directions in sports performances, and therefore help to minimize the risk of potential injury.
💡 Did you know the forces on landing after a jump are 3-5x greater than the dog’s body weight?
I’ll let you do the math and count how many times the dog lands after a jump during a single agility training, for example.
Or perhaps imagine how many times the dog stops on cue or quickly turns when picking up a dumbbell at full speed in obedience, taking the ball from the box in flyball, or simply jumping off the sofa to say hello?
A simple but effective weight distribution exercise is simply elevating the hind end by teaching your dog to step with his hind feet on an object, keeping front feet lower.
When standing in this position, the dog shifts more weight to the front end, loads this body part more, and strengthens the weight bearing postural muscles.
Remember what we talked about with regard to head positioning in the Know-how for dog fitness: Understanding weight distribution is the key blog post?
Don’t forget about the importance of reward placement and focus of the dog here as it can significantly change the outcome of the performed exercise!
And if we want to increase the work in the dog’s front end, we can include several different active movements that additionally engage and dynamically strengthen front end musculature.
NEED SOME MORE CONDITIONING WORKOUT IDEAS?
Watch this video to see how the dog’s front end is engaged during different activities, and learn dog fitness exercises like the High 5 Exercise, Front Feet Stepping Side to Side and Play Bow to Stands!
The answer is simpler than you think.
They don’t focus nearly enough on the strengthening aspect of training.
Let’s face it—you already know the truth deep down, don’t you?
Dogs are incredible athletes!
👉 So here’s the most logical takeaway…
If you want your dog to enjoy a happy, active, and healthy life (and maybe even a stellar sports career), physical preparation needs to be your number one priority.
Besides, daily activities aren’t just great for building your dog’S physical strength; they’re also a huge boost for their mental health. Plus, it’s an awesome way to bond with your furry best friend in a whole new way.
That’s exactly why I designed our signature FUNdamentals Canine Conditioning Course with all active dogs in mind—including yours.
And here’s the best part:
You won’t need to set aside more than 10 minutes a day (although chances are, you’ll want to).
Seize this opportunity and take a look inside our most popular online course!
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
