Canine Conditioning
In this blog post, I want to share why canine conditioning matter for dogs of all ages, especially senior dogs. We just celebrated Rambo's 8th birthday last week. I conducted a poll on my Instagram story last week, asking whether an 8-year-old German Shepherd should be considered a senior dog. Over 70% of people voted yes. To be honest, I wasn't thrilled about the answer. As much as I don't want to admit or think about it, Rambo is indeed entering the senior citizen years.
Our dogs bring us immeasurable joy, laughter, and companionship throughout their lives. Like us, dogs go through various life stages, and their needs evolve as they age. As a responsible pet owner, it's our duty to adapt and provide the care and attention they require, especially as they reach their senior years. One often overlooked aspect of canine care that plays a pivotal role in enhancing their well-being is canine conditioning.
What Is Canine Conditioning?
Canine conditioning is a holistic and proactive approach to maintaining and enhancing our dogs' physical and mental well-being. Just as humans engage in exercise to stay fit and healthy, canine conditioning involves a series of purposeful activities designed to improve a dog's strength, body awareness, flexibility, balance, and overall fitness. It's not just regular dog training. In other words, canine conditioning is a customized fitness program for dogs. Dogs of all ages, particularly senior dogs, can benefit immensely from targeted exercises catering to their needs to enhance their quality of life. A well-tailored conditioning program includes a wide range of exercises, from gentle stretches and low-impact movements to more vigorous activities that challenge both the body and mind.
By incorporating canine conditioning into a dog's routine, we ensure that they enjoy a higher quality of life and develop a deeper bond with their humans. Benefits include promoting joint health, preventing muscle loss, and stimulating cognitive function, ultimately contributing to a happier and healthier life for our dogs.
Canine conditioning isn't exclusive to sports dogs competing for titles. It is not limited to a specific age group; dogs of all ages and pet dogs can all benefit from it. Whether you have a spirited puppy, an active adult, or a senior dog, targeted conditioning exercises can significantly improve their quality of life.
Our Experience with Canine Conditioning
Rambo is no stranger to canine conditioning exercises. I first learned about it when he was three years old (now eight). When he walked, I noticed his hind legs were a bit 'wobbly,' and I began searching for ways to strengthen his hind limbs. Looking back, I'm thankful I started him early. I recently retook the advanced canine conditioning class again from Fenzi Dog Sports Academy with Dr. Debbie Gross Torraca, a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and the owner of Wizard of Paws. I was so grateful to be Dr. Debbie's student again to learn from her.
5 Benefits of Canine Conditioning
Maintaining Mobility and Flexibility: As dogs age, their joints can become less flexible and more prone to stiffness or discomfort. Canine conditioning exercises, such as gentle stretches and low-impact activities, help maintain joint mobility and flexibility. These exercises promote healthy blood circulation, which is essential for delivering nutrients to joints and tissues, ultimately improving your senior dog's range of motion and reducing the risk of joint-related issues.
Muscle Strength and Balance: Just like humans, dogs also experience muscle loss as they age. Canine conditioning exercises target specific muscle groups to help prevent muscle atrophy and maintain overall strength. This is particularly important for senior dogs, as strong muscles support joints and help prevent injuries. Moreover, exercises that improve balance and coordination contribute to a dog's stability, reducing the risk of falls or accidents.
Weight Management and Joint Health: Carrying excess weight places additional strain on a dog's joints, exacerbating the challenges that come with aging. Canine conditioning includes activities that promote weight management, which is crucial for maintaining joint health. Engaging in gentle exercises on the joints, such as swimming or controlled walking, can help senior dogs maintain a healthy weight while reducing the risk of joint stress.
Cognitive Stimulation: Canine conditioning isn't just about physical fitness; it also offers cognitive stimulation. Engaging your senior dog in conditioning exercises challenges their mind and keeps them mentally active. This mental engagement is significant for older dogs, as it can help stave off cognitive decline and keep them mentally sharp. Activities involving problem-solving, like navigating through obstacle courses, can provide mental exercise and physical benefits.
Building a Stronger Relationship Between Human and Dog: Participating in canine conditioning activities can foster a deeper bond between you and your dog. Spending quality time together engaging in exercises, training, and activities strengthens your relationship and boosts your dog's confidence and happiness. This shared experience promotes trust and mutual understanding, strengthening emotional connection.
Why Canine Conditioning Matters for Dogs of All Ages
While we've explored the significance of canine conditioning, it's crucial to emphasize that it is not limited to senior dogs. Canine conditioning plays an essential role in enhancing the lives of dogs at every stage. Here's why it matters for dogs of all ages:
Preventing Issues: For puppies and adult dogs, early exposure to conditioning exercises can help avoid potential health issues in the future.
Energizing Adult Dogs: Active adult dogs need physical and mental stimulation, which canine conditioning provides.
Enhancing Seniors' Quality of Life: As we've mentioned, senior dogs benefit immensely from conditioning exercises, which help maintain their mobility, strength, and cognitive function. We also learned how to stretch the dogs properly. During these stretching exercises, our hands are always on our dogs. It's also an excellent time to feel the dog's skin to check for any lumps or bumps that require attention from the vets.
Rehabilitating Injured Dogs: Canine conditioning can also be a critical component of rehabilitation for dogs recovering from injuries or surgeries.
Developing a Routine: Introducing conditioning routines at a young age can establish a lifelong habit of physical fitness and mental engagement.
Tailored Approach: Canine conditioning can be tailored to individual needs and abilities, ensuring it's accessible and beneficial to all dogs.
Getting Started with Canine Conditioning
You might wonder how to get started with canine conditioning. Fortunately, you don't need a huge backyard or fancy equipment. All you need is a spare five minutes of your day to begin enhancing your dog's well-being. In our upcoming blog post, we'll dive deeper into how you can initiate canine conditioning and share tips for specific exercises you can try at home.
We will also share what kind of canine conditioning equipment you can get to start building a doggy gym for our dogs.
Online Canine Conditioning Courses
There are online courses available for those seeking more comprehensive guidance and structured training in canine conditioning. These courses are designed to cater to various needs and knowledge levels, whether you're a pet owner looking to improve your dog's fitness or a certified canine fitness trainer aiming to expand your expertise.
Online courses offer flexibility and convenience, allowing you to access valuable resources from the comfort of your home. It's especially perfect for me and Rambo because Rambo is usually wary of strangers. Bringing him to a conditioning class in person would be counterproductive since he couldn't relax and be in a comfortable environment. With easy access to online courses, you can start the conditioning journey with your dog and help your dog stay in shape and keep fit.
In-Person Canine Conditioning Classes
For those who want one-on-one, in-person professional services, you can also look for a certified canine fitness trainer in your area. Refrain from being confused with a canine fitness coach with regular dog trainers.
It's essential to distinguish between a certified canine fitness trainer and a regular dog trainer. Here are the key differences:
Certified Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach :
Specialization: Certified canine conditioning coach specializing in physical conditioning, exercise, and fitness for dogs. They have in-depth knowledge of a dog's anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. Their primary focus is on improving a dog's physical health and well-being.
Customized Fitness Programs: These trainers create personalized dog fitness programs based on their specific needs, age, breed, and health conditions. They design exercises to enhance strength, flexibility, balance, and overall fitness.
Rehabilitation: Certified canine fitness trainers often work with dogs recovering from injuries or surgeries, providing rehabilitation exercises to aid in the healing process.
Use of Specialized Equipment: They may use specialized equipment such as balance discs, exercise balls, and obstacle courses to challenge a dog's physical abilities.
Certification: They hold canine conditioning certification in canine fitness or related fields, demonstrating their expertise in this specialized area.
Dog Trainer:
Behavior and Obedience: Regular dog trainers focus on behavior, obedience, and training. They help dogs learn commands, correct behavioral issues, and improve manners. Their main goal is to create well-behaved and obedient pets.
General Training: They work on commands like sit, stay, heel, recall, and addressing problems like excessive barking, aggression, or leash pulling.
No Specialization in Fitness: While regular dog trainers may incorporate some physical activities into their training sessions, they typically need more specialized knowledge and equipment certified canine fitness trainers use for targeted physical conditioning.
Certification: Regular dog trainers often hold certifications related to dog training, behavior modification, or obedience, but not necessarily in canine fitness.
In summary, the primary distinction is that certified canine fitness trainers specialize in physical fitness and conditioning for dogs, focusing on tailored exercise programs to improve a dog's physical well-being. Regular dog trainers focus on behavior, obedience, and general training without specialization in fitness and physical conditioning. Suppose your goal is to improve your dog's physical fitness, mobility, and overall well-being. In that case, seeking a certified canine fitness trainer is more appropriate.
Conclusion
Just as humans value the benefits of regular exercise, our canine companions thrive when engaged in a thoughtful and tailored fitness routine. As we've explored the parallels between canine conditioning and human workouts, you'll realize that engaging your dog in purposeful activities is simple enough. You don't need a huge backyard or fancy equipment. All you need is an extra 5 minutes of your day.
In our upcoming blog post, we will dive deeper into how to get started with canine conditioning from your home.
If you don't want to miss out on our next post, make sure you subscribe to our blog to stay updated!
