There’s one vital part of the body we have to cover in our blog series on canine body parts: the dog’s core – their center of gravity.
The dog’s core is the body’s true stabilizing mechanism, playing a crucial role in a variety of activities.
It’s responsible for:
Despite its important role, the core is often overlooked in favor of the more visible primary movers—the large muscle groups of the rear and front legs.
But this crucial link between the front and rear is what enables efficient, coordinated movement. Without a strong core, even the most powerful limbs can’t reach their full potential.
The core’s job is to stabilize the spine and ensure smooth coordination between the front and rear limbs.
If the core muscles (like the abdominals and lower back) are weak, the body can’t respond effectively to the demands of running, jumping, or turning, leading to:
Think about the demands your dog faces in sports or daily life: leaping onto a couch, racing to catch a ball, or navigating uneven terrain. Each of these activities relies heavily on core strength to execute smoothly and safely.
The iliopsoas—a deep flexor of the hip—plays a dual role in dog’s core stabilization and movement.
Made up of the m. iliacus and m. psoas major (also psoas minor), this muscle originates in the lumbar spine and ilium and attaches to the inside of the femur.
It’s responsible for:
This muscle comes into play during activities like running, jumping, turning, negotiating obstacles, and even climbing stairs.
However, it’s also highly susceptible to injury from overextension. Actions like jumping beyond strength or length capacity or taking a sharp turn at high speed can overstretch the iliopsoas, leading to strains or tears.
So, how can you protect your dog’s health and enhance their sports performance?
Start by prioritizing core strengthening exercises in their fitness routine. Strengthening the core and hip flexor area doesn’t just prevent injuries; it also supports better posture, improved coordination, and overall mobility.
Here’s how you can get started:
You don’t always need fancy equipment to give your dog a great core workout. Here are a few simple exercises you can incorporate into your routine:
Have your dog turn left and right in small circles on flat ground. This simple exercise engages the core (abdominals and spinal muscles) to stabilize the body during the turns. It’s also great for improving spinal flexibility while keeping the movement smooth and controlled.
Similar to the classic sit-to-stand exercise, this variation involves having your dog push up from a standing position back into a seated position with an object placed under their rear for support. This movement requires significant core strength and activates the abdominals and lower back. At the same time, the elevated rear position ensures the front end gets a great workout too.
Side-stepping strengthens not only the core but also the abductor and adductor muscles of both the front and rear limbs (targeting medial and lateral shoulders and hips). This exercise also challenges your dog’s body awareness, as they must focus on precise movements to maintain balance.
Just remember: QUALITY before QUANTITY!
Training with poor technique and poor neuromuscular control develops poor muscle patterns and poor stabilization.
Read more about proper body positioning during specific exercises in the Know-how for dog fitness blog post!
The reason is simpler than you think.
They often overlook the importance of the strength training.
Let’s be real—you probably already had a hunch about this, didn’t you?
Dogs are born athletes, built for action!
👉 So here’s the key takeaway…
If you want your dog to live a long, happy, active, and healthy life (or even excel in sports), prioritizing their physical preparation is absolutely essential.
And don’t forget – these fitness activities don’t just build strength—they boost your dog’s mental well-being and give you both a chance to bond in new and exciting ways.
That’s exactly why I designed our signature FUNdamentals Canine Conditioning Course with all active dogs in mind—including yours.
Here’s the best part: It only takes 10 minutes a day (but honestly, you’ll probably enjoy it so much, you’ll want to spend even more time on it).
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
