Obedience specific
Warm-Up / Cool-Down Routine

Alpha and Omega of every dog sport activity!

Learn more how to properly warm up your canine athlete before every dog training session and competition, and cool down after.

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Did you know...

…human sprinters on 100 m thoroughly prepare and activate their muscles for more than an hour before they start? 

And all they have to do is run straight for a world record of 9,58 seconds!

Now imagine an obedience dog performing in this mix of endurance and explosivity type of sport after only a short walk to wee, and a couple of heelwork steps!

Think about what kind of motions dogs do when participating in obedience ...

Looking at it from above makes it seem more like a marathon-type sport, because our dogs have to stay focused for up to 20, or more minutes, at the highest competition level. But having endurance is not all there is to it!

Obedience dogs also have to consistently carry out tasks with the utmost precision and must be prepared to accelerate from 0 to 100 with the recall, send away or retrieve!

This mix of endurance and explosivity makes obedience a tough sport! Not only do we have to make sure our dogs are in excellent physical condition, but also ensure they maintain peak mental stability and focus as well.

The warm-up not only prepares the whole body system: nervous system, cardiovascular system, metabolism, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, it also leads to an immediate improvement in performance, and helps reduce the risk of injury. To top it all off, the warm-up routine also raises mental preparation of both the dog, and the handler, and enhances our connection and focus before entering the ring.  

And when you have successfully finished your competition or your training, don’t call it quits just yet! Not only it is very discouraging for the dog to be put away and ignored after a good job, a cool-down certainly serves to accelerate the recovery process, and helps the dog to relax and settle down.

By warming up the dog prior to the activity we can:

  • Tremendously contribute to improved temperature in muscles and joints, allowing them to stretch and move within their better range of motion, reducing their susceptibility to injury
  • Improve extensibility of musculotendinous connections, which is believed to be one of the weakest links and most commonly damaged areas in the musculoskeletal system
  • Increase nerve impulse transmission and proprioception abilities - appreciation of joint position was found to be significantly more sensitive after warm-up
  • Increase cardiovascular function - heart rate, blood circulation and blood flow to the tissues, providing them with oxygen and nutrients
  • And encourage our dog’s mental preparation and focus, as well as our own, by establishing a recognizable routine!

Potential risks such as slippery surfaces, explosive acceleration and abrupt deceleration forces, as well as possible equipment negotiations and late handler cues that arise when things don’t go as planned, can contribute to an increased risk for injuries. Most often damaged areas include the shoulder region, toes, gastrocnemius and iliopsoas muscle.

SO WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • Essential Roots: learn about the why’s!

The science-based golden rules for successful warm up of your canine athlete.

  • Nuts and Bolts: game plan for effective Warm up routine

Practical part with all exercises for a complete three-dimensional routine specific for dogs participating in obedience. 

  • End of the line: cool down, stretch & mobility

Gradual decrease in activity for improved regeneration, and stretching exercises to help regain and maintain excellent mobility.

  • Common questions: Q and A’s

Answers to frequently asked questions, such as what to do if participating at multiple events per day, participating with multiple dogs, how to adapt the routines for group stays, in warm/cold weather, and more!

Extra bonus:

Check your dog

Learn how to check your canine athlete at home on a regular basis, to get first insights into your dog’s body and detect any areas of discomfort, before they turn into visible compensatory issues.

Working with canine athletes on a daily basis, not only with my own dogs, but also during my work in canine rehabilitation and physical therapy, has taught me that you, the owner, play the most important role in recognising potential discomforts in your dog’s body early on. 

This is why this step-by-step guide on how to check the range of motion in your dog at home will allow you to seek the help of an ortho or physio professional if/when needed in a timely manner, and therefore tremendously contribute to your dog’s physical wellbeing and performing abilities in the long-term.

ENROLL NOW:

€ 47 One time payment
  • Lifetime access
  • Visual content
  • Downloadable PDF handouts
  • Easy to use
Let's start!

This course is a product of science-based veterinary and canine sports medicine knowledge, personal training experiences, and thorough research on the warming-up & cooling-down field.

What obedience competitors said about this course

»Jana's energy, sincerity and knowledge are just amazing. I definitely recommend this course for all handlers doing any kind of obedience work with their dogs.«

»I have always used some kind of warm-up routine before training and competitions. During the course I improved my knowledge of specific exercises to warm-up all the muscle groups necessary for my dogs performance in the OB ring. As a result, I will adapt my existing warm-up routine with new exercises to help my dog perform even better - in training and competitions!
But more importantly, I will definitely start using cool-down routines - something we mostly tend to forget. Your focus on cool-down has convinced me of the importance of this particular part of training/competing. It was definitely my favorite part of the course (apart from watching your dogs perform 😍)!
Your energy, sincerity and knowledge are just amazing. I definitely recommend this course for all handlers doing any kind of obedience work with their dogs. Even if you already have warm-up and cool-down routines, this course will provide many new insights and knowledge about preparing your dog for work, cooling them down, doing regular stretching and checking them for potential issues.«
Staša Pardubsky, SloveniaInstructor, steward and trainee judge in FCI Obedience; active competitor with multiple dogs on international levels (including FCI OB World Championship 2015, FMBB, CMBF)
»I specifically like a part about how to check canine athletes and stretch & mobility.«

»I liked this course very much. It is clear, useful and effective. It gives me a clear plan on how I can do warm-up and cool-down correctly. It’s very important for sports dogs. I specifically like a part about how to check canine athletes and stretch & mobility. I recommend this course for both beginner and advanced sportsman, for everyone who cares about their dog.«
Laura CeccoliniItaly
»This course gives me a routine to follow. It is so simple to learn and repeat every time. So now I never forget to do any of the exercises before training and competitions.«

»This course gives me a routine to follow. It is so simple to learn and repeat every time. So now I never forget to do any of the exercises before training and competitions. The routine makes me confident as I know I’m doing the correct thing to warm up my dog, and I know when to begin the warm up before we enter the ring, because I know exactly how much time it takes. Now, I enter the ring being more relaxed and concentrated; I feel less competition stress because me and my dog are already connected and my dog is more focused, with a good level of arousal, not too low or too high.
I like the course very much because Jana explains what we have to focus on very well. The videos are pleasant to watch and it is very easy to learn the exercises and the routine.
The additional part, which I liked the most, is the section on how to check if a dog has a problem using the easy range of motion moves which I can perform myself. With them I can discover some tension or pain and have my dog checked by a vet soon, before the injury becomes worse.
I adore the advice to breathe and relax before competition, because very often we, hadlers, forget it and our mood makes our dog uneasy in the new environment.
This course changed how I begin every training and competition. I suggest every handler enrolls in this course, for the wellbeing of their dog and for the good feeling you both can achieve.«
Ana JelinčičSlovenia

»Your energy, sincerity and knowledge are just amazing. I definitely recommend this course for all handlers doing any kind of obedience work with their dogs. «

»I have always used some kind of warm-up routine before training and competitions. During the course I improved my knowledge of specific exercises to warm-up all the muscle groups necessary for my dogs performance in the OB ring. As a result, I will adapt my existing warm-up routine with new exercises to help my dog perform even better - in training and competitions!
But more importantly, I will definitely start using cool-down routines - something we mostly tend to forget. Your focus on cool-down has convinced me of the importance of this particular part of training/competing. It was definitely my favorite part of the course (apart from watching your dogs perform 😍)!
Your energy, sincerity and knowledge are just amazing. I definitely recommend this course for all handlers doing any kind of obedience work with their dogs. Even if you already have warm-up and cool-down routines, this course will provide many new insights and knowledge about preparing your dog for work, cooling them down, doing regular stretching and checking them for potential issues. .«
Staša Pardubsky, Slovenia
Instructor, steward and trainee judge in FCI Obedience; active competitor with multiple dogs on international levels (including FCI OB World Championship 2015, FMBB, CMBF)

»This course gives me a routine to follow. It is so simple to learn and repeat every time.«

»This course gives me a routine to follow. It is so simple to learn and repeat every time. So now I never forget to do any of the exercises before training and competitions. The routine makes me confident as I know I’m doing the correct thing to warm up my dog, and I know when to begin the warm up before we enter the ring, because I know exactly how much time it takes. Now, I enter the ring being more relaxed and concentrated; I feel less competition stress because me and my dog are already connected and my dog is more focused, with a good level of arousal, not too low or too high.
I like the course very much because Jana explains what we have to focus on very well. The videos are pleasant to watch and it is very easy to learn the exercises and the routine.
The additional part, which I liked the most, is the section on how to check if a dog has a problem using the easy range of motion moves which I can perform myself. With them I can discover some tension or pain and have my dog checked by a vet soon, before the injury becomes worse.
I adore the advice to breathe and relax before competition, because very often we, hadlers, forget it and our mood makes our dog uneasy in the new environment.
This course changed how I begin every training and competition. I suggest every handler enrolls in this course, for the wellbeing of their dog and for the good feeling you both can achieve. «
Laura Ceccolini, Italy

»I specifically like a part about how to check canine athletes and stretch & mobility.«

»I liked this course very much. It is clear, useful and effective. It gives me a clear plan on how I can do warm-up and cool-down correctly. It’s very important for sports dogs. I specifically like a part about how to check canine athletes and stretch & mobility. I recommend this course for both beginner and advanced sportsman, for everyone who cares about their dog.«
Elena Murashova, Russia
World champion of FMBB in FCI Obedience in Germany (2017), Slovenia (2018); Vice-champion in Czech Republic (2019)

About Jana Gams

I have been an active trainer and competitor in several dog sports with my own dogs for the past 16 years.

All of this has helped me better understand their needs and just how important it is that they are well mentally prepared and in excellent physical shape.

I work in canine rehab and sports medicine where I treat and work with lots of canine athletes on a daily basis – be it Agility World Champions, other big international events competitors, or active pets alike.

I am excited and proud to share this knowledge with you!

  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana)
  • CCRP – Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (University of Tennessee)
  • CEO of Dogs4motion, Canine Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine
  • Active competitor on international levels and FCI Dog Training Instructor in Agility and FCI Obedience

If you didn't warm up and cool down your dog so far, or if you are still questioning yourself whether your routine is fully appropriate or not yet, this is the right time to be guided by Jana.

So don't miss out! Seize the opportunity and join right now.

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