Keeping the canine athlete fit, healthy and happy!
I just love dog agility, that's my sport! There are many other sports out there for us canines, flyball, schutzund, disc dog, earthdog, herding and loads more.
It's so important to keep us dogs fit for our activities, whatever it is we choose. So we've put together this lens packed full of resources on how to keep your canine athlete fit, healthy and happy; as well as resources and information on advances in canine sports medicine, and we just added some resources for human handlers!
Put your paws back and explore, there's lots of information to help your athlete be their best.
New book just released on stretching!
This new book - The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog - A Physical Therapy Approach was just released in early March 2009.Research on human athletes is changing what we know about stretching. For example, it is now recognized that aggressive stretching should only take place after muscles are warmed up and shortened from exertion. Authors Sasha and Ashley Foster have applied this latest research to dogs-many of whom compete in vigorous canine sporting events-so that you can learn how to safely and effectively stretch your dog to prevent injuries, maintain joint integrity, and improve you dog's fitness whether he is an elite canine athlete or a lap dog.
From the book - The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog
The three step patent-pending technique is based on muscle cell physiology and neurology research. Stretching your dog may maintain muscle and joint integrity for the full span of a dogs life. Stretching your canine athlete may improve muscle output in the form of increased strength, speed, or conformation.
Great articles about canine fitness!
- Canine fitness
- Chris Zink, DVM, PhD talks about canine fitness and it's importance in the new role of dogs in work and sport.
- Fitness in your backyard
- A great article by Suzanne Clothier about fitness and dogs.
- Corpulent canines
- A great article about dog weight in performance dogs by Chris Zink, DVM, PhD.
- Why Fluffy can't go hup
- The first in a series of four articles by Suzanne Clothier about jumping and dogs. A must read.
Wallace the pit bull in training!
Rocky Style Training - Wallace the Pit Bull
From "death row" to top level Frisbee dog, Wallace has an incredible underdog story, so it was only fitting to put together a little film in the fashion of the ultimate underdog story - Rocky
Runtime: 3:07
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Articles related to canine sports medicine!
- Optimum performance
- Robert L. Gillette, DVM, MSE, talks about optimum performance and getting the best out your dog; and about the most important element of canine sports medicine is recognizing the athleticism of the patient.
- Lameness and gait analysis
- Robert L. Gillette, DVM, MSE talks about the basics of locomotion, lameness and gait analysis of the dog.
- Clinical aspects
- Robert L. Gillette, DVM, MSE talks about the clinical aspects of the canine athlete.
- Gait analysis in training
- Dr. Gillette expands more upon the importance of including gait analysis in the yraining regimen.
- Feeding the canine athlete
- Dr. Gillette continues with writings on feeding the canine athlete for optimal performance.
- Canine sports medicine overview
- An extensive overview of canine sports medicine, including information on managing the canine athlete, pre- and post-performance, inhibitors,
- Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete
- © 2005 Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP - This article provides evidence through a number of recent studies to suggest that veterinarians and owners working with canine athletes should revisit the standard protocol in which all dogs that are not intended for breeding are spayed and neutered at or before 6 months of age.
Strengthening, stretching and conditioning articles for the performance dog!
- Conditioning Activities
- Conditioning for the Ausdauerprüfung (AD)
- Canine Performance Stress
- Conditioning for Healthy Dogs
- Canine Massage and Stretching - Improve your dog's performance
- Conditioning of the Competitive Dog
- Conditioning of the weekend warrior sighthound
- Get Pumped
- Core Strengthening and Conditioning for Healthy Dogs
- Stretching
- Training & Fitness for Sporting Dogs
- Stretching for the canine athlete
- Condition to compete-part 1
- Condition to compete-part 2
- Association of Canine Water Therapy
Great books and DVDs for strenghtening and conditioning the canine athlete!
The Agility Advantage
Need to design a conditioning program for your agility athlete? Trying to figure out which of your dog's legs is lame? Wondering how much longer to trial your senior dog? Worried about bringing back an injured dog too soon? Seeking guidance in selecting your next agility prospect? Not sure when it's best to spay or neuter your dog? This is the book for you.
Strengthening the Performance Dog DVD
Agility and other dog sports are wonderful for your dog, but training for those sports by itself is not enough to ensure your dog's long-term health and wellness or to keep him at his peak performance.
Pilates for Pooches DVD
Pilates for Pooches will teach your dog to move from his core while actively stretching and strengthening his muscles through the use of various boxes and wobble devices.
Peak Performance
Peak Performance is about preparing and conditioning dogs for agility, herding, sledding, hunting, frisbee, or any other athletic endeavor, whether your goal is for top-level competition or casual recreation.
Get on the Ball DVD
Would you like to improve your dog's core strength, balance, flexibility, tone, and endurance? Whether you have a healthy competition-level performance dog, a dog recovering from an injury, or a new pup, TheraBall work is an extremely useful cross-training activity-and, it's something you can do in the comfort of your living room regardless of the weather.
Building the Canine Athlete DVD
30 targeted exercises designed to help active dogs and canine athletes get fit and live longer. All the information you need in one DVD.
Cool stuff for cool dogs!
Be sure and visit my website - JohannTheDog.com - where you can shop for cool stuff for cool dogs!We've put together, in one place, all the cool stuff you need for your dog!
Find dog beds, all natural foods and treats, collars, leashes,charms, training and agility gear, vitamins and supplements, books, clothing, toys and more!
And the best part is that we donate 10% of our profits to dog rescues and shelters!
Books and DVDs on movement and structure of the canine athlete!
Dogsteps DVD
The Dogsteps DVD offers an analysis of a wide variety of dogs that illustrates differences in conformation, quality of physical structure, and ways of moving. Photographed in slow motion, the subjects are shown gaiting from the side and coming toward and going away from the viewer.
Puppy Puzzle DVD
Bob and Pat Hastings spent years researching their now tried-and-true method of evaluating the structure of 8-week-old puppies. Their search for answers led them from one vet school to another, from general-practice vets to orthopedic surgeons, and from research facilities to engineers. Each resource provided a piece of the puzzle. The puppy-evaluation process that resulted from putting this puzzle together has been used for nearly 20 years.
The Dog In Action
Originally published in 1950, The Dog In Action has been out of print until recently. The Dog In Action was the first book to thoroughly analyze, illustrate, and explain the under-the-skin workings of the dog. It showed people that the principles of movement apply to all breeds and is the foundation for all gait and locomotion books which have since been written.
Dogsteps Book
"Gait tells us much about a dog's structure that is not revealed when he is standing still, as it reflects his physical coordination, balance of body, and soundness..." There has long been a need for understandable information on how dogs move and how their conformation effects movement. Rachel Page Elliott has recognized this need, and through her continuing research, has produced the third edition of her best-selling book, Dogsteps.
Prevention articles!
Great books about bodywork and stretching!
Balance Your Dog: Canine Massage
Compelling scientific evidence regarding the power of massage for both treating and preventing problems is quickly accumulating. Whether you're the owner of a canine athlete who wants a warm-up and cool-down routine to improve performance and protect the dog's health, or a serious student of canine massage therapy.
Bodywork for Dogs DVD
Discover the benefits and rewards of bodywork for your dog as well as for your relationship with your dog. Lynn Vaughan and Deborah Jones combine their insight as massage therapists with their experience in animal healing to create an easy-to-follow instructional video about incorporating holistic health techniques into the lives of our dogs.
How to Massage Your Dog DVD
A certified expert in many forms of animal massage, Maria Duthie demonstrates techniques that you can use to help your competition or companion dog lead a healthier, more energetic and pain-free life.
Unleash Your Dogs Potential DVD
Highly acclaimed animal expert, Linda Tellington-Jones, renowned for her groundbreaking TTouch bodywork with all animals, now offers a DVD specifically for dogs-Unleash Your Dogs Potential.
Information on common injuries in agility dogs!
- One of the most common muscle injuries in a dog
- By Daniel Beatty, DVM - Three of the most common injuries in a performance dog are Cranial Cruciate Rupture (blown knee), Supraspinatus/Infraspinatus Strains (shoulder muscle strain), and the Psoas group muscle strain. As an animal chiropractor I see a lot of Psoas muscle injuries; lets talk about how to prevent this from occurring.
- Questionable Hindlimb Lameness
- Deborah Gross Saunders, MSPT, CCRP, Diplomate ABPTS (Orthopedics),Wizard of Paws Physical Rehabilitation for Animals, LLC, Colchester, Connecticut - A 5-year-old, intact male
Portuguese water dog presented
with intermittent lameness
of the right hindlimb. - Non-responsive Hind-limb Lameness in Agility Dogs: Iliopsoas Strains
- By Sherman O. Canapp, Jr., D.V.M., M.S., Diplomate ACVS - Over the past two months Strider had been having difficulty in agility runs, knocking bars with her hind limbs and slowing down in the weave poles.
- The Dangers of Winter Injuries Resulting in Hip Flexor Strains
- By Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM., MS., Diplomate ACVS & Debra A. Canapp DVM., CCRT - With the winter upon us it is important to be aware of certain environmental factors that can lead to injury in your dog.
- Pathology of muscles and tendons
- Traumatic muscle disorders are common in Sporting dogs. They are incapacitating and painful and leave serious muscular scarring that can put a dog's sporting career at risk.
- A-TraC Dynamic Brace
- A-TraC Dynamic BraceTM is the first brace
of its kind introduced for dogs. "A-TraC" stands for "anti-transitional cruciate" brace. The brace prevents anterior translation of the tibia on the femur. - Shoulder Conditions in Agility Dogs
- By Dr. Sherman O. Canapp, Jr. - The shoulder joint is an intricate network of interlinked support network mechanisms especially designed to withstand large forces, to provide extraordinary mobility, and yet to maintain the stability and control necessary to enable precise function of the forelimb during agility competition.
- Medial Shoulder Instability
- By Ria Acciani, MPT & David Acciani, PT - The following is a summary of an article coauthored with Dr. Sherman Canapp, Jr., DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS.
- Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament
- By Holly Nash, DVM, MS - The knee is prone to a number of injuries as any football player will tell you. One of the most common knee injuries in dogs is a ruptured cruciate ligament.
- Orthodogs Yahoo Group
- Discussion of canine orthopedic issues
- Information on cold laser therapy for veterinary use.
- What is Low Level Laser Therapy?
Performance nutrition links!
Performance Dog NutritionThe first and only nutrition book written with the special needs of your performance dog in mind. Performance Dog Nutrition is an excellent resource for determining what food is best for your dog to enhance his working ability.
Equipment to keep your canine athlete strengthened and conditioned!
Stretching, conditioning, strengthening - all athletes need it and dogs are no different. It's so important to help your dog be prepared for any activity they undertake.Check out these great strengthening, conditioning and exercise resources:
Get on the Ball DVD
Strengthening the Performance Dog DVD
Pezzi Gymnastik Balls
FitBALL Giant Balance Disc, 22 in.
FitBALL Balance Disc, 14 in.
Pezzi EggBalls
Pezzi 120cm Physioball
Additional resources!
- Auburn University Veterinary Sports Medicine Program.
- The Sports Medicine program was established in 1991, with faculty from throughout AU's College of Veterinary Medicine involved in studying injuries, diseases, nutritional factors and physiologic functions of dogs and horses involved in field sports and working endeavors.
Watch their website for more research and study information coming soon. - The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
- Includes databases on many diseases which can affect canine performance, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cardiac murmurs.
- American Canine Sports Medicine Association
- Information on the dog as an athlete, and medical and surgical problems of canine athletes.
- Canine Rehabilitation Institute
- Offers Certification Programs in Canine Rehabilitation for licensed Veterinarians, Physical Therapists and Veterinary Technicians. With links to finding a therapist.
Visit these alternative therapy lenses for great info on keeping your dog healthy!
Canine Chiropractic
In concert with conventional veterinary care, use of veterinary chiropractic reflects the use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine which continues to grow within the veterinary community. Proposed benefits of animal chiropractic include, enhanced performance, function and quality of life.
Canine Massage
There are great benefits to massage. It can promote good circulation and flexibility, and alleviate arthritic pain. Other benefits include aiding in surgical recovery, helping pets heal from emotional or physical traumas, and improved muscle tone.
Canine Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a deep, internal therapy that works by inserting tiny needles into various identified points on your dog's body. Chinese medicine holds that all animals (and humans) have a "life force" called qi that moves through the body through pathways called meridians. Specific points on these meridians that are located close to the surface of the body, then, can be accessed via small needles or lasers to re-establish balance in the movement of the qi.
Getting back in shape!
I've had my share of injuries, even though I'm only 4 years old. Surgery after being attacked in 2005, a dislocated toe in 2006, a broken metacarpal the Winter of 2007, and a pulled iliopsoas muscle in 2008.
After my broken metacarpal, my vet and pt put me in hydrotherapy to get me back in shape and build up the muscle mass that I had lost after wearing a cast for 8 weeks. And I saw a soft tissue specialist to help with my pulled iliopsoas.
Here are a few vids that showcase just some of the things we've been doing to rehab and work to stay in shape for the future.
After my broken metacarpal, my vet and pt put me in hydrotherapy to get me back in shape and build up the muscle mass that I had lost after wearing a cast for 8 weeks. And I saw a soft tissue specialist to help with my pulled iliopsoas.
Here are a few vids that showcase just some of the things we've been doing to rehab and work to stay in shape for the future.
Health and Nutrition!
Health and nutrition are foundations for any athlete. Even us dog athletes! Here you'll find some great links to keep your dog healthy, fit, and running in top condition.
- How to find the best food for your canine athlete.
- All natural foods and treats are essential to our wellbeing. Here is a great site that has all kinds of foods and treats with all natural, organic ingredients.
- Why all natural foods and treats?
- Only Natural Pet Store has a great library of nutritional and health information. Try it out if you want to learn more, or find information on all kinds of health conditions.
- Great list of resources for holistic veterinary information.
- Another great resource from Only Natural Pet Store, where they have links to a wide variety of veterinary, and alternative/holistic veterinary organizations and information. Not to be missed for us agility athletes.
- Finding the right veterinarian for you and your canine athlete.
- The right veterinarian is critical to your canine athlete. Just ask my Mom. Injuries can happen, since we are so active. Here is a great site to help with your search.
Stretching, warm up and workout resources for the agility handler!
Here are a few vids to help you create a routine for stretching and warming up before running your dog. Remember to visit with your Doc for advice before beginning any fitness program. Check back, we'll be adding more resources in the coming days.
Warm up, stretching and exercise resources for handlers!
Human Agility Training Vol. 1 DVDIn Human Agility Training Vol. 1, you will learn: 1) Proper running mechanics so that you can run more efficiently and start becoming the athlete that your dog always wanted, and 2) a dynamic warm-up to use before your agility runs that will effectively prepare you for optimal performance, helping your Q-rate rise and your course times fall.
Louise Solomon's Yoga & Pilates: Total Body Toner a.k.a. Yogalates, Vol. 2This workout designed around the techniques of yoga and Pilates is made up of four separate workouts targeting abdominals, upper body, lower body, and the body as a whole, for a total of 90 minutes.
Denise Austin - Boot Camp - Total Body BlastIn the world of fitness, the name Denise Austin is a virtual industry unto herself. In this release, those looking to lose weight while improving muscle tone, boosting cardiovascular strength, and improve muscle tone can receive the best fitness instruction possible.
AM and PM Yoga for Beginners Take your yoga practice to the next level!
More resources...
- Stay Loose: Stretches for Runners
- Incorporate the Cool Running stretching routine into your workouts to reduce muscle soreness and prevent injury. Includes graphics.
- Head-to-Toe Running Stretches
- 10 descriptive exercises for warm up and stretching.
- Stretching: The Truth
- A New York Times Article with new research on the correct ways to stretch for a variety of activities.
- Asanas Yoga - Yoga Exercises & Postures
- Great site with Yogo poses, visuals and descriptions.
- The First 10 Pilates Mat Exercises
- Exercises, links, visuals and descriptions of the first 10 pilates mat exercises - Level 1. Here is Level 2 strength and stretch.
- 8-Minute Workout: Pilates
- This express Pilates workout will help you tone your core and improve your posture. Also see the Fat-Burning Power Pilates workout.
- The Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi Energy-Boosting Workout
- This combo of yoga, Pilates, and tai chi exercises will get you strong, sculpted, and totally revitalized -- plus give you an invigorating energy boost!
- 30 Minute Boot Camp Workout
- Animated visuals of individual boot camp exercises. See more boot camp workouts.
Bark at me!
Lensmaster
More excellent information. Thanks.
Posted April 04, 2009
KadabaCo wrote...
This is fantastic! I've been wondering about doggie exercise equipment and toys that would be good for the urban woofie! 5*
Posted April 22, 2008
by JohannTheDog
Hi, I'm Johann, nice to meet you! I have my own website, JohannTheDog.com, and Dog Blog.I'm an agility dog, do herding when I get the chance, and he... (more)
