Canine fitness (also called conditioning) is a workout with specific exercises for healthy dogs. It’s much like if you were to see a personal trainer at a gym. The Personal Trainer will prescribe a workout for you to complete. In some cases, you may need their expertise and motivation on a session-by-session basis, in others you may only need their help to review and progress the program.
The goal of canine fitness/conditioning is to improve:
General Fitness
Muscle Mass and Strength
Cardiovascular and/or Muscular Endurance
Co-ordination and Balance
Weight Loss
Physical preparation for sports and specific activities
(hiking, dog agility, IPO, flyball, etc)
Injury prevention
Injuries often occur during activities when there is lengthening/stretching of the muscles and joints in a manner that your dog is not prepared for. It may be a range of motion (stretching) issue, or possibly a strength or endurance issue. Canine conditioning tries to prepare your dog’s body as much as possible.
