Front Matter

Chapter 10 Conditioning and Retraining the Canine Athlete 245

the perch in each direction. The perch can
then be gradually elevated to elbow height,
for example by using a footstool, an upside‐
down storage bin, or other objects.
Pushing against a bungee cord. With the
dog wearing a nonrestrictive harness (one
that leaves the thoracic limbs free to extend
fully forward) and standing on a nonslip
surface, the client stands behind the dog
and attaches a bungee cord to the harness.
The dog is encouraged to lean forward to
get a treat or its dinner (Figure 10.24). This
works best if the food is placed in a bowl
elevated to approximately the dog’s elbow
height. The dog uses its pelvic limbs to push
against the bungee cord toward the food.

Outdoor strength exercises

Outdoor strengthening exercises such as those
described below are tremendously beneficial
for dogs psychologically and of course do
build strength; however, unlike the indoor
exercises, they generally cannot be targeted at
specific muscle groups, they almost all involve
concussion, and working to overload usually
means exhausting the dog, which should be
avoided due to the increased risk of injury.
Nonetheless, the psychological benefits of
these exercises make them a must for dogs.

Most of these exercises combine both strength

and aerobic components.

Whole body strength exercises

Hiking. Hiking over varied terrain, especially

over hilly terrain, is one of the best ways to

strengthen all the muscles in a dog’s body.

Playing chase and dodge as a part of the hike

also builds strength.

Jump chutes. Another way to build overall

strength in agility and obedience dogs that

already know how to jump is to have the

dog jump over a series of jumps set up in a

straight line (jump chutes) or in a large diam­

eter circle. The height of the jumps and the

distances between the jumps can be varied to

increase the challenge.

Retrieving on land or water. Retrieving

objects on land or in water over distances

up to 50 yards (45 m) is another excellent

outdoor strength exercise (Figure  10.25).

The latter exercise can be made more diffi­

cult by having the dog run through cover

of varying depths and densities and over/

across obstacles such as creeks, low fences,

or ditches.

Cavaletti poles. A very effective way to build

overall strength outdoors is to have the dog

trot over cavaletti ground poles placed parallel

to each other approximately as far apart as the

Figure 10.24 With the dog wearing a nonrestrictive harness (one that leaves the forelimbs free to extend forward) and a
bungee attached, the dog is encouraged to lean forward to get a treat or its dinner. Source: Photo by Roseann Baars.