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Core conditioning for your dog? It’s not that far fetched. 

Dogs who have good balance and core body strength recover quickly from not-so-great landings and rapid direction changes. Whether it’s a game of Frisbee, tug, or organized sports such as agility, flyball, and others like them, all dogs can benefit from core conditioning.

Simple exercises can dramatically change a dog’s quality of life. In athletic dogs, the proof is in their continued good health, enhanced performance, and absence of injuries. Elderly and sedentary dogs benefit, too, they quickly show increased range of motion and a renewed enthusiasm for activities.

In humans, Pilate’s exercises flatten the stomach, improve posture, alleviate back pain, enhance athletic performance, improve balance and coordination, increase flexibility, improve range of motion, deepen breathing, alleviate stress and physical tension, reduce injuries, and increase body awareness.

As Dr. Carol Helfer of Canine Peak Performance Sports Medicine & Physical Rehabilitation Center in Portland, Oregon suggests, there’s no reason why dogs can’t enjoy similar benefits from similar conditioning.

Think of ‘sitting pretty’ as the canine equivalent of sit ups. A play bow is a great stretch for their flexibility.  

Here at the Dog Ranch we can set up an exercise program for your dog, building on the core strengthening principles of Pilates.