Kyra's Canine Conditioning: Peak Performance * Injury Prevention * Coordination * Flexibility * Rehabilitation

by Kyra Sundance

Overview

Kyra's Canine Conditioning is designed to build on important life skills, such as confidence, strength, coordination, mental focus, and following directions. Featuring all new material, world-renowned trainer Kyra Sundance introduces activities that will strengthen each of these skills in your dog. Learn innovative ways to work with props, such as hoops, balls, FitPAWS inflatables, and Klimb pedestals.

Through this book, you will:

• Learn how to evaluate a dog’s physiology, and develop and execute a customized conditioning plan.
• Acquire the skills to improve a dog’s fitness through five components: coordination, stamina, balance, strength, and flexibility.
• Improve a dog’s confidence, mental focus, and direction-following skills through targeted games.

Physical fitness is just as important for dogs as it is for people. Keeping dogs fit and healthy can increase their lifespan and limit vet visits as they get older. It reduces the risk of sports-related injury, joint problems, and arthritis. Dogs who are conditioned and healthy tend to live happier and more playful lives. A program of games and canine conditioning makes fitness fun for both you and your dog!

This program conditions dogs through a series of games that are both a great physical foundation for dogs who want to pursue sports and a great way to easily condition dogs that are your average couch potato. Through these conditioning games, you will see a physical and mental transformation in your dog.

Thanks to the versatility of the games, a dog of any age can improve their health and fitness. Puppies can benefit from the coordination, confidence, and mental focus games while elderly dogs can work on their strength, balance, and direction-following skills. There is something for every owner and every dog. These games challenge your dog to experiment with different ideas to accomplish a goal. Your dog will get the exercise they need while building stamina, balance, hind end coordination, mental focus, and improving their overall athletic skills.

Working cooperatively with your dog in a positive way will be a wonderful bonding experience, and your dog will bask in your attention and pride in him. This book will educate you on dog physiology, and ways to stretch and condition a dog, but it is not meant as a replacement for veterinary advice or diagnosis. Understand the boundaries of your role as a coach, and refer dogs to the proper medical and professional specialists when needed.

Also by Kyra Sundance, learn to do even more with your dog with: 101 Dog Tricks; The Dog Tricks and Training Workbook; 51 Puppy Tricks; 10-Minute Dog Training Games; 101 Dog Tricks, Kids Edition; Dog Training 101; The Pocket Guide to Dog Tricks; and The Joy of Dog Training.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631596711
Publisher:	Quarry Books
Publication date:	02/05/2019
Series:	Dog Tricks and Training Series , #8
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	641,441
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Kyra Sundance is a world-renowned dog trainer, lecturer, and internationally best-selling author of 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge and Bond with Your Dog. With over a million copies in print, Kyra’s award-winning books, kits, and videos have inspired dog owners worldwide to develop fun and rewarding relationships with their dogs. Her other books include Dog Training 101, The Joy of Dog Training, The Dog Tricks and Training Workbook, Kyra’s Canine Conditioning, 51 Puppy Tricks, 10-Minute Dog Training Games, The Pocket Guide to Dog Tricks, and 101 Dog Tricks, Kids Edition.

Honed through decades of professional experience, Kyra’s easy step-by-step training methods are the most effective and humane way to train. Her positive methods foster confident, happy dogs who are motivated to do the right thing, rather than fearful of making a mistake.

As professional performers, Kyra and her Weimaraners starred in shows for the king of Morocco, Disney’s Hollywood stage shows, circuses, NBA halftime shows, on The Tonight Show, Ellen, Animal Planet, in movies, and in their own television series. Kyra is a professional set trainer for movie dogs, and is nationally ranked in competitive dog sports. She presents workshops around the world on dog tricks and canine conditioning.

Kyra is CEO of “Do More With Your Dog!” trick dog titling organization; the “National Trick Dog championships”; and Chair of the “Trick Dog Expo.”

Kyra lives in Lancaster, California.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

LEVEL 1

FLEXIBILITY

Flexibility exercises can improve your dog's posture, prevent muscular imbalances leading to injuries, and reduce soreness after a workout.

Stretching should be done on warm muscles not cold, stiff muscles. Warm up with a few minutes of jogging or moving before stretching. Stretching can also be done at the end of an exercise session, to loosen muscles and avoid cramping.

Stretching should feel mild and relaxing and not uncomfortable or painful. Signs your dog is feeling pain include

• Whining

• Whipping head back toward your arm, as if to bite

• Pulling back corners of lips; smiling

• Panting

• Licking lips

• Pulling leg away from you

• Whale eyes

• Pupils dilating

Passive Range of Motion

TECHNIQUE: PASSIVE RANGE OF MOTION (PROM)

BENEFIT: EXPANDS RANGE OF MOTION IN LIMBS

As dogs age, or when they are recovering from an injury, they may have reduced range of motion in their joints. This reduced mobility causes decreased blood flow and flexibility of the joints, which could become stiff and locked.

We use Passive Range of Motion (PROM) exercises on the dog to help keep joint areas flexible.

PROM exercises require no effort from the dog as you manually move their joints through their full range of motion. This will warm the joint fluid and improve blood flow to help joints and muscles feel more comfortable.

Perform these exercises at a time when your dog is relaxed and quiet. Start conservatively and slowly increase the range of motion.

STEPS:

1 Move the knee and ankle joints through their range of motion by gently bicycling the legs.

2 Bicycle the front limbs while avoiding putting significant tension on the muscles.

3 Twist the spine. Instead of holding the position, constantly move the hind legs so the spine twists and straightens again.

4 Lift the hind leg up to expand the hip, and back down again.

Static Stretch: Front Limbs

TECHNIQUE: STATIC STRETCHING, EXTENSION, FLEXION

BENEFIT: EXPANDS FRONT LEG RANGE OF MOTION

Stretching promotes increased range of motion, circulation, and increased oxygen to the dog's muscles.

Static stretching is a type of stretch whereby you stretch the muscle until a gentle tension is felt, and then hold the stretch. In static stretch, there is no movement or bouncing.

Don't rush the stretching. Watch your dog's reaction to your manipulation in order to gauge when he starts to feel discomfort (see here). If your dog pulls away, the stretch may be too aggressive, or the area may be sore. Never force a joint or muscle. Stop the stretch when you start to feel slight resistance, and hold the stretch there for 5–30 seconds.

Always hold the limb you are stretching with both hands. Open palms and gently cup the limb to avoid squeezing or stressing the joint.

Static stretching should be done after exercise, on warm muscles.

STEPS:

EXTENSION

Straightening the joint

1 SUPERMAN STRETCH: Shoulder flexors and extensors enable smooth movement and proper use of your dog's front legs. Support the dog's wrist with one hand and the dog's elbow with the other.

2 With an open palm, gently press up on the elbow until you feel slight resistance. Hold for 5 to 30 seconds.

FLEXION

Bending the joint

1 SCRUNCH-UP STRETCH: Support the dog's wrist and elbow.

2 With an open palm, gently press the dog's elbow up into his chest. Fold his wrist until you feel slight resistance. Hold for 5 to 30 seconds.

Static Stretch: Hind Limbs

TECHNIQUE: STATIC STRETCHING, EXTENSION, FLEXION, ABDUCTION

BENEFIT: EXPANDS HIND LIMB RANGE OF MOTION

Stretching is when a specific muscle or tendon (or muscle group) is deliberately flexed or stretched. Routine stretching increases muscle elasticity and control, flexibility, and range of motion. Stretching is also used to alleviate cramps.

As you stretch your dog, notice differences between his left and right limbs. A difference may indicate a problem with the limb you are currently manipulating, or it may indicate a problem standing on or balancing on the opposite limb. Imbalances should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Hip flexors (iliopsoas) is a common injury in dogs who train in the sport of agility.

STEPS:

EXTENSION

Straightening the joint

1 SUPERMAN STRETCH: Put one hand under the knee and the other on the hock. Do not grab or pull.

2 Support the hock, and press up on the knee until the dog's hock is just below his back.

FLEXION

Bending the joint

1 SCRUNCH-UP STRETCH: Put one hand under the knee and the other on the hock.

2 Scrunch the leg up into the dog's belly. Press on the knee and also on the hock.

ABDUCTION

Moving a limb away from the center line of the body

1 LEG HIKE STRETCH: Put one hand under the knee, and the other on the hock.

2 Lift the leg to the side, gently pressing upward on both the knee and the hock.

LEVEL 1

BALANCE

Balance is a complex system that requires mental and physical fitness. A dog depends on several body systems to keep upright. The inner ear, which senses head motions, plays an important role as does the proprioception system, which relays the feeling of the ground beneath his feet. And, of course, vision informs him of obstacles.

Tai chi, a form of human exercise that involves moving gently through a series of poses, improves our balance because it works with both the mind and body. In this chapter, we will be doing something similar to tai chi with our dog.

Paws up on a Pedestal

TECHNIQUE: STATIC BALANCE

BENEFIT: STRENGTHENS CORE AND FOREARM MUSCLES

There are two types of balance: static and dynamic. Static balance is the ability of the dog to maintain his body in a fixed posture.

Your dog is used to maintaining his balance while standing on the floor, but in this exercise, he is challenged to maintain that balance with his front feet raised.

This exercise is about maintaining proper posture. Raise the height of the platform only when your dog is able to perform this exercise stably, and with proper form.

STEPS:

1 Set a low, sturdy platform. Use a treat to lure your dog to put his front feet on it.

2 Give the dog the treat while he is still in the correct position (with front feet on the platform).

3 Raise the platform. Again, slowly move the treat from your dog's nose to over the center of the platform.

4 Allow your dog to nibble or lick a treat to keep him there. Shift the treat a little to cause your dog to readjust his balance.

Paws up on Balance Disc

TECHNIQUE: DYNAMIC BALANCE/INSTABILITY TRAINING

BENEFIT: IMPROVES BALANCE, STRENGTHENS CORE AND FOREARM MUSCLES

In the previous exercise, your dog used static balance. In this exercise, he will use dynamic balance, which is maintaining equilibrium while in motion or switching between positions.

Your dog uses his eyes, ears, and proprioception, or muscle sense, to help retain balance. Your dog will learn to use his proprioception and mind to quickly compensate for shifts in the object beneath his feet.

Have you ever stood on something that moved and made you slip, and caused you to feel a moment of panic? We want to avoid that situation with our dogs. Flat balance discs are fairly stable and will allow your dog to develop his confidence as well as muscle strength and balance.

STEPS:

1 Use a treat to lure your dog to step on and off the balance disc.

2 A specific body position is not required. Ask your dog for a "sit" on top of the disc.

3 Make it more challenging by adding several balance discs. Progress only when your dog is able to maintain good posture.

4 Keep luring the dog over the disc until his back feet are on it.

5 Your dog will gain confidence as he maneuvers this new game.

Fit Bones

TECHNIQUE: INSTABILITY TRAINING

BENEFIT: IMPROVES BALANCE, STRENGTHENS WHOLE BODY

Training on unstable surfaces increases your dog's muscle activation, improves proprioception and balance, and improves neuromuscular control, all of which improves his functional performance.

A very popular mode of training in recent years has been the use of instability devices and exercises to train the core musculature. While struggling to maintain balance on an unstable object, the dog tightens his body.

Instability training requires high-intensity concentration from your dog, and this residual benefit will improve his mind and focus.

In this exercise, your dog will be introduced to instability training by learning to mount and dismount an inflatable fit bone, and to manage his balance while standing on the bone.

STEPS:

1 Use a treat to lure your dog to step on the squishy object.

2 Engage all four limbs by arranging a pathway of multiple fit bones. Hold the treat at nose height to keep his neck and back in line.

1 Adding spaces between bones will require your dog to constantly evaluate steady versus unstable foot placements.

2 A skinny rail arrangement requires lateral balance adjustments and shoulder activation.

1 Three to five minutes of instability training will give your dog a surprisingly strenuous workout.

LEVEL 1

STAMINA

Aerobic exercise strengthens your dog's respiratory muscles (lungs) and heart. This will reduce blood pressure and increase red blood cells, facilitating transport of oxygen and resulting in athletic efficiency.

Endurance exercise also reduces anxiety and increases cognitive capacity.

Warm up Before each stamina workout session, warm up for 5 to 10 minutes to gradually rev up your dog's cardiovascular system and increase blood flow to his muscles. Try a low-intensity version of your planned activity.

Conditioning At your dog's pace, work up to 20 minutes of cardio to increase your dog's heart rate, depth of breathing, and muscle endurance.

Cool down After each session, cool down for 5 to 10 minutes by slowing down to a walk. This allows your dog's heart rate and muscles to return to normal.

Treadmill

TECHNIQUE: RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT TRAINING

BENEFIT: CARDIOVASCULAR STAMINA

In addition to evaluating our dog's physical structure while standing still, we want to also evaluate her structure in movement. A dog treadmill allows you to watch and evaluate your dog's gait and check for abnormalities.

Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) is a system of gentle, rhythmic movements. RMT is used with children to improve attention, impulse control, brain connectivity, as well as physical strength and stamina.

Long-term endurance training leads to decreased heart rate, increased stroke volume of the heart, increased blood flow to muscles, and increased muscle tone. One of the best endurance training exercises you can provide for your dog is the extended trot gait on a treadmill. This weight-bearing exercise works both sides of the body evenly. Use a treadmill with a belt length of at least one and a half times the length of the dog. Work your way up to having your dog gait with a low to medium intensity for 20 minutes.

STEPS:

1 Introduce the treadmill to your dog when it is turned off. Stand on it yourself, and encourage her to explore it.

2 Set the treadmill to its slowest setting. Use a treat to lure your dog on from the rear.

3 A harness will be helpful to keep your dog steady and not making sudden leaps off of the treadmill. Keep a light hand on the harness, but do not tether the dog to the treadmill.

LEVEL 1

COORDINATION

Motor coordination is the combination of body movements that result in intended actions. Often, several body parts or limbs are required to move in a way that is synchronized, well timed, smooth, and efficient.

Coordination is a complex skill that requires not only good balance but also strength and agility. It involves the integration of proprioceptive information (knowing where our body is in space) with brain signals telling our body where to move next.

Good coordination is important for excelling at most dog sports, especially ones that require quick changes in speed and direction. It can make your dog a better athlete, and less prone towards falling and injury.

Scattered Sticks

TECHNIQUE: AGILITY

BENEFIT: IMPROVE PROPRIOCEPTION/HIND-END AWARENESS

It is commonly joked that "dogs don't know they have back feet," as they seem to move along with their front feet, while their back feet just follow behind. Knowing how to specifically place those back feet is a skill that can be easily improved, and a skill that will help prevent injury (think of a search-and-rescue dog navigating over rubble or an agility athlete running the dog walk). This skill of knowing where your body parts are in space is called proprioception.

In this exercise, your dog will build his proprioception by walking through a yard of scattered poles. He will need to think about where he places each foot.

STEPS:

1 Scatter several poles (or other objects) on the ground. Use a leash to slowly walk your dog through them.

2 The first few times your dog walks through the poles, he may stumble with his back feet, but by the fifth time you should see him deliberately thinking about the placement of his back feet.

Walk Line of Platforms

TECHNIQUE: CONTINUOUS MOTOR SKILLS

BENEFIT: GROSS MOTOR SKILLS

After your dog has had experience with floor-level exercises (previous page), we can work an elevated exercise. Exercises utilizing your dog's gross motor skills require coordinated movement of large muscle groups such as walking and running.

Walking and running exercises require coordination, but do not have a defined start and finish. These exercises are a type of continuous motor skills.

In this exercise, your dog will walk a line platforms. Challenge him further by staggering, rotating, and randomizing the platforms.

STEPS:

1 Construct a line of platforms for your dog to walk across. It is best to not use a treat lure in this exercise, as your dog will need to watch his feet. You may wish to leave a treat at the end of the line or simply hand him a treat at the end.

2 Gradually increase the space between platforms. Vary the space between each, to cause your dog to continually reassess his movements.

3 Set the platforms on angle or pull some out to the side. Allow your dog to go at his own pace.

Targeting: Nose Touch Your Hand

TECHNIQUE: TARGETING

BENEFIT: NOSE-EYE COORDINATION/DISCRETE MOTOR SKILLS

In this exercise, you dog will learn to nose-touch your open palm. This targeting skill will be used to move your dog into various body positions.

Nose-eye coordination skills require the ability of the dog to coordinate visual information and then navigate his nose to a specific spot. In humans, this would be called hand-eye coordination, which is used in tasks such as catching a ball, sewing, or using a computer mouse.

Discrete motor skills are skills that have an observable start and finish. So, for example, nose-touching your hand is a discrete movement. The dog aims, touches your hand, and it's done!

STEPS:

1 Hold a treat between your fingers.

2 Hold you palm to your dog and say "touch!" Don't push your hand toward him, but make him come to you. Let him take the treat.

3 Once your dog understands your "touch" cue, use your hand as a target to get him to jump onto a pedestal.

4 Hold your palm at the ground and use it as a target to get your dog to jump off the pedestal.

5 Have your dog target your hand up high for a core strength exercise.

6 Place your target hand between his front paws for a neck/spine stretch.

Rainbow Ladder

TECHNIQUE: RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT TRAINING

BENEFIT: IMPROVE PROPRIOCEPTION/HIND-END AWARENESS

In the scattered sticks exercise, we made the dog think about where he is placing his back feet. In this exercise, we will build on that coordination skill by challenging him to rhythmically trot over ladder rungs.

Ladder work is a foundation tool in dog sports, and in canine conditioning and rehabilitation.

The rainbow ladder exercise is designed to increase your dog's proprioception, coordination, and focus, and can be used in a variety of exercises.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Kyra's Canine Conditioning"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Kyra Sundance.
Excerpted by permission of The Quarto Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction,
The 5 Fitness Components,
Assessing the Dog,
LEVEL I,
FLEXIBILITY,
BALANCE,
STAMINA,
COORDINATION,
STRENGTH,
LEVEL II,
FLEXIBILITY,
BALANCE,
STAMINA,
COORDINATION,
STRENGTH,
LEVEL III,
FLEXIBILITY,
BALANCE,
STAMINA,
COORDINATION,
STRENGTH,
LEVEL IV,
FLEXIBILITY,
BALANCE,
STAMINA,
COORDINATION,
STRENGTH,
INDEX,
PROFESSIONAL EXPERT REVIEWERS,