Preventative Physiotherapy: A Key to Longevity in Active Canines

The unique demands of active dogs are often overlooked in everyday routines, with our pet’s enthusiasm and love for long hikes, free running or agility competitions often tricking us into thinking that the lifestyle is easy for them. However, without intentional preparation, cross-training and sufficient rest and recovery, the risk of acute injury or chronic disease is greater than you might suspect.

Eighty percent of dogs over the age of 8 suffer from arthritis, with a lifetime of high-impact and strenuous activity increasing this risk even further. Despite this, the solution lies not in taking away from the activities that you enjoy together, but in adding targeted care; our active dogs should be treated like the athletes they are!

Conditioning Exercises

The secret to preventing injury lies in the adaptability of the musculoskeletal system. The stronger the muscles, the more stable the joints, reducing wear and tear throughout the whole body. This is achieved through targeted exercise, which has been proven to both improve performance and reduce the risk of injury. Whilst it’s important to visit a physiotherapist to develop a safe exercise plan for your dog’s specific needs, all healthy dogs can benefit from simple exercises performed regularly and with correct form.

Sit-Stand

From a sitting position, lure your dog into a stand, using a treat on their nose and slowly moving it out. This will encourage them to step their front feet forwards into the stand, pushing herself up using their hind limbs, which should remain planted. Reward in this position, and move a treat back towards her to encourage the transition back to a sit.

Cavaletti

Set up a line 4 poles, of varying heights up to your dog’s wrist. We want your dog to complete the poles slowly with a neutral head position, so avoid holding treats that will make them look up towards you. You could try using a lead or placing the treats between the poles – it may take a few attempts to figure out what works best for them.

Proprioceptive Pathway

Lay out a series of differing textured surfaces for Jess to walk across. All surfaces should be non-slip, and can include items such as texture doormats, foam mats and bubble wrap.

Start off by completing 5-6 repetitions of each exercise, and gradually increase the number of repetitions when your dog is comfortable. When completing exercises, it is important to be aware of signs of fatigue, which indicates that you should give your dog a rest. These include: lip-licking, panting, disengaging, fidgeting and any other signs of discomfort that you recognise in your dog.

Cross-Training

Regularly performing a specific activity can lead to muscular imbalances in both us humans and our dogs, limiting the function of the whole body. Flyball dogs often have more muscle on the side of their favoured box turn, agility dogs develop stress through shoulders due to repetitive jumping, and long hikes on difficult terrain are hard on the tendons of the lower limbs. These changes can be countered by regularly varying your dog’s activities. Try adding long walks alongside your usual competition training, or try a new fun sport together! Dog Sports are growing quickly, and there are options to suit all partnerships. Here are some of my favourites for adding into your existing routine!

Cani-Cross or Bike-Joring: These activities involve running or biking with your dog attached to a specialized harness and bungee line. It is a great bonding experience and whole body workout, targeting the cardiovascular system that is challenging to incorporate in an at-home fitness programme. Check out the Cani-cross UK page for more information.

Rally: Rally is an up and coming canine sport, which has a fun spin on traditional obedience. As you and your dog navigate the course, their body is challenged by completing tasks such as recall, position changes and heelwork patterns. Unlike obedience, the side of your body that your dog is working on changes frequently, making it a great way promote even muscle and strength. Check out the Kennel Club Rally page for more information.

Hoopers: Initially starting out as a low-impact alternative to agility, hoopers has quickly evolved into a fun and competitive sport in its own right. This activity involves navigating a series of hoops, barrels, and tunnels, showcasing your dog's agility and teamwork. It’s fun, fast and challenges your training skills without the high-impact obstacles of agility, making it a great addition or alternative to your current sport. Check out the Canine Hoopers UK page for more information.

Rest and Recovery

Amidst the excitement of canine activities and training, it's important not to underestimate the importance of sufficient rest and recovery for our active companions. Like us, dogs need downtime to repair and rejuvenate their bodies. Here are some tips for incorporating high quality rest into your dog’s active lifestyle.

Schedule Rest Days: Schedule at least 1 rest day per week for your dog. On this day, keep activity light, such as on-lead walks or sniffing and enrichment games in the garden.

Sleep Quality: Adult dogs need between 12-14 hours of sleep a day. Help them to achieve this by creating a comfortable and quiet environment that they can rely on for uninterrupted rest.

Enrichment: Mentally stimulating activities like scent work and enrichment toys such as stuffed Kongs and lickimats, are a great way to occupy dogs during their rest time, helping them to settle without boredom.

Supporting our canine companions in living a fulfilling and active life is not an easy endeavour. The unique demands of this lifestyle requires intentional planning and preparation, giving your pet the best chance of maintaining a high quality of life into their senior years. Working with a veterinary physiotherapist is a great way to keep on the right track. They have specialist knowledge and skills to help you navigate your lifestyle’s unique demands, providing peace of mind that you are doing everything possible for the health of your active pet.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any help, support or questions, or check out my Active Dogs Programme here.