Spring has arrived! The longer hours and warmer weather give us and our dogs a little boost of energy that makes us want to move. So what are you waiting for? Here are a few quick “Dog Weekend” ideas that will keep you and your dog(s) smiling through the next week: Take a Hike – Lace up the shoes, grab your backpack! Don’t forget to stock water and food for you and your dog if you plan to be... »
Join us on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, for our DogTread “Walk With Us” Event Obesity, a common and costly health issue that increases risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, affects more than one-third of adults and 17 percent of youth in the United States. By the numbers, 78 million adults and 12 million children are obese—figures many regard as an epidemic. 40% of our dogs are ... »
Treadmill Workouts are Great for Laggers & Leash Pullers ———————–Lucy all smiles Consider Treadmill Work during Early Rehabilitation Lucy recently came in with back pain. This darling little dog loves to sniff the ground during outside walks; she often lags behind her owner and needs some encouragement with the leash attached to her harness. Lucy’s history included a variety of pain mana... »
Blind dogs can exercise safely with the DogTread Treadmill Zeus is 12 years old and loves his weekend hikes On a recent hike with Zeus in the high mountains of Colorado, it became apparent that he has lost even more depth perception. At home, he must have everything memorized – and I’m definitely not one to rearrange the furniture weekly. So when hiking over rocks and logs and a variety of t... »
Join us on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, for our DogTread “Walk With Us” Event Obesity, a common and costly health issue that increases risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, affects more than one-third of adults and 17 percent of youth in the United States. By the numbers, 78 million adults and 12 million children are obese—figures many regard as an epidemic. 40% of our dogs are ... »
Caveletti poles are a staple for agility dog fitness and skills training. Indeed, they are often the first piece of equipment purchased for home use by an aspiring agility handler. Despite the perception that Cavelettis are “for agility’, they in fact are an extremely useful and versatile piece of canine fitness equipment that can provide benefits to dogs of all ages, sizes and fitness level... »
Many years ago, when I was recovering from a strained Achilles tendon, my physical therapist had me use their water treadmill as part of my return to walking and running. This was an interesting experience for me. Although it didn’t quite feel like real running, I could tell that my muscles were being worked, albeit in a different way. Lucky for me, I have not had to use the water treadmill ... »
When it comes to canine fitness equipment, cones and poles are a versatile option that many pet owners don’t immediately think of. Yet, these portable products can be used in many different ways for dogs of all ages and athletic ability. Look no further than human fitness for validation. Many sports use cones and poles (or pole-like hurdles) to train and condition their athletes for the rigo... »
To the surprise of many, dogs can lift weights as part of a well-rounded fitness program. Of course, I don’t mean barbells and dumbbells, pullup bars or kettlebells. Sorry, dogs just don’t have that opposable thumb that is so key for grabbing and holding heavy objects. However, there are a few options for those who want to add weights into their dog’s exercise mix. When it comes ... »
As I discussed last time, adding some level of instability to a canine exercise can make it more challenging while also requiring the recruitment of stabilizer muscles to control the body. Balance discs and balance (wobble) boards are another excellent choice when it comes to canine fitness equipment. Balance Discs for Dogs Balance discs are low to the ground objects that are often inflated with a... »
