Canine Sports Medicine Part 2: Cross-Training
- Tiffany Downing, RVT & Lauryn Harker, CCAT, CCRP, RVT, CAPM
- Apr 10
- 5 min read
*** The tips and recommendations within this article are made for dogs that are free from any health concerns and may not be right for your dog. As all dogs are unique individuals, we recommend that you consult with your Veterinarian or schedule a Fitness Consultation with the Physical Rehabilitation Specialists at Canine Rehabilitation of Orange County to discuss what is right for your dog.***
What does weight lifting have to do with playing tennis? Human athletes cross-train to ensure they are in peak physical condition and ready to perform at their best. They know that weight training and targeted exercises translate to bigger wins and reduced chances of injury. That’s why olympic swimmers can be found cycling and basketball players will practice pilates. Using low-impact, targeted exercises, cross-training will improve your Canine Athlete’s balance, endurance, flexibility, and strength in the same way as their human counterparts.
Balance
Balance is the ability to maintain uprightness and avoid falling, so we begin our work here before moving our focus to coordination and strength.
You can’t focus on getting stronger if you keep falling over!
Balance work also increases core strength; a weak core can cause hypermobility of the spine and predispose your dog to significant back injuries and chronic pain. Poor core strength will also put excess force onto the limbs, increasing risk of compensatory injury. The goal with balance work is to gradually increase the challenge of each movement. If your dog is unsteady at a certain level and cannot hold a balance pose for extended periods of time, continue to train and repeat the exercise until it is no longer difficult for at least 5 sets of 15 seconds.
Proprioception
The foundation of good agility, proprioception is the brain’s awareness of the body’s position in space.
Improving proprioception enhances your dog’s speed and precision of limb movement.
Poor proprioception can mean the difference between 1st and 2nd place, but it might also be the variable saving your dog from serious injury. One paw in the wrong spot could lead to a nasty fall off an obstacle and potentially months to recover before they can resume their favorite activity.
Strength
In order to gain strength, exercises must be challenging enough to require cellular adaptation but not so difficult that the body has to modify or compensate in a counterproductive way.
It takes an average of 8-12 weeks of strength training to achieve measurable outcomes.
Remember that rest & recovery is vital as strength training too frequently can result in overly fatigued muscles, followed by catabolizing (breaking down) of the muscle tissue. At least 48 hours between strength training sessions is necessary for recovery, with the average Canine Athlete strength training just 1-2 times weekly. It’s also important to keep in mind that fast movements do not enhance muscle mass but slow, controlled movements do!
A Quick Word on Overtraining
The buildup of lactic acid is proof of muscle strengthening occurring but it can also result in Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Sore and tight muscles can delay performance reaction times, so cross-training should be avoided in the two days prior to a competition or performance. Varied training will help decrease the risk of exhaustion and soreness, but it’s important not to overtrain your Canine Athlete.
An example workout week might look like 1-2 days of cardio, 1-2 days of strength training, and 3 days of target training for the sport or job your dog participates in.
If you note that your Canine Athlete stretches a lot the day after a workout or event, they are likely experiencing DOMS and would benefit from a good massage and stretching session. The application of Cryotherapy can help reduce inflammation and swelling in acute phases of tissue trauma (occurring immediately after an activity/injury) by reducing blood flow to the area, therefore reducing pain. Cold packs can be made at home using a sealable bag with three parts water to one part running alcohol. Wrap the cold pack in a thin towel and apply to your dog for 15 minutes, but no longer than 20 minutes.
Target Exercises for the Canine Athlete
The following target exercises can be helpful for working and sporting dogs, but please use your best judgement before attempting them with your Canine Athlete as these exercises may not be right for them.
For a comprehensive and customized Fitness Plan, schedule a Fitness Consultation with our Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation team.
We always recommend checking with your Rehab Team or Primary Veterinarian before beginning any new exercise regimen with your dog. We strongly recommend using a harness during exercise so you have better control of your dog and can catch them more easily if they stumble. If your dog has not been properly warmed up for exercise, check out Part ONE of our Canine Sports Medicine series first!
Step Up & Step Down
Your dog will be standing still for this exercise. Have your dog step up a single stair, curb, or other raised surface & leave their back legs on the lower surface. While in this position, gently push one area of the body & then another. Vary the speed & direction of each push. Push enough to challenge your dog’s balance but not enough to make them take a step or fall. For a Step Down, have your dog stand with their back legs on the higher surface & their front legs on the lower surface, then repeat gentle pushing to challenge balance. For increased challenge, add a three legged stand or an unstable surface like a fitbone, or wobble board.
Three Legged Stand
Your dog will be standing still for this exercise. Lift one of their legs off the ground. When holding a front leg, bring the leg forward, holding the underside of the paw above the big pad. When holding a back leg, bring the leg backward by holding it at the ankle & pulling up & back so that the paw pads face up. Support the paw lightly so that your dog cannot use your hand to support their weight. For increased challenge, combine this exercise with a Step Up or Step Down, add an unstable surface, or for even more challenge, lift up a front leg on one side & a back leg on the other.
Figure 8's
Using a leash and harness, slowly walk your dog in a large, wide figure 8 pattern. It can be helpful to have objects for your dog to walk around. This exercise can be included as part of your dog's regular walks.