Front Matter

Chapter 10 Conditioning and Retraining the Canine Athlete 237

more than 5 seconds ( Figure 10.10). One way

to get a dog to initiate this movement is to

take a piece of sticky tape such as duct tape

or packing tape and make it into a roll with

the sticky side out. Place the tape roll on the

dog’s eyebrow, and wait until the dog lifts its

foot to rub the tape off, at which time the dog

is praised effusively and immediately given

a treat. With repetition, the dog will start to

lift its foot before the tape is placed. At this

point, the reward can be delayed a little bit at

a time until the dog lifts its foot higher and

higher. This exercise not only strengthens

the flexor muscles of the thoracic limb that

is being raised but also the stabilizer mus­

cles of the thoracic limb that is supporting

the dog.

High‐nines. The client places their hand

randomly at nine locations: three at head

level (one to each side, and one centered

on the dog), three at chest level, and three

at carpus level (Figure  10.11A). The dog

then places each foot firmly on the client’s

hand at each of the various  locations

(Figure 10.11B), thus adducting or abducting

Figure 10.10 A dog waving with the foot raised and
held above head level.

(A) (B)

Figure 10.11 “High‐nines.” The client should imagine nine locations in front of the dog: three at head level (one to
each side, and one centered on the dog), three at chest level, and three at carpus level (A). The dog then places each
foot firmly on the client’s hand at each of the various locations randomly (B), thus adducting or abducting the thoracic
limbs, depending on which muscles are being targeted.