Stabilizing excercises for show dogs part 1

In addition to ring training and practicing the stack, there are other exercises you can train with your dog.

A strong and stable body is essential for your dog to shine in the show ring. Balance training not only helps improve posture and movement, but also strengthens the deep stabilizing muscles that are important for maintaining a beautiful shape.

Below you will find four effective balance training exercises for a stable and stylish dog in the show ring.

 

1. Standing on balance disc or pillow

Standing on a balance disc or other unstable surface as a pillow challenges the dog's balance and strengthens the core muscles. Start by letting the dog put its front paws on the disc, and when it becomes secure, you can train the dog to change position between sitting, lying down and standing. The dog must have a locked position with the front paws on the disc and the body carrying out the movements. This exercise promotes even weight distribution, balance and improves posture.

 

2. Walk on uneven ground

Walking on uneven ground helps the dog develop stability and body control. Feel free to change the walk on asphalt to a forest path with moss and various hills. This strengthens the small stabilizing muscles and means that the dog learns to adapt its posture to the surface, which is valuable for a neat walk in the ring. You can also train this with the help of several pillows in a row that the dog should walk over under control.

 

3. Back leg focused exercises

Strengthening the back legs is important for correct posture. Let the dog stand with its front paws on a low platform such as the balance disc or a low platform, while the hind legs remain on the ground. Have the dog move its hind legs around the platform with its front paws still. This exercise promotes hindquarter control and helps the dog develop a straight and proud posture.

 

4. Side steps and Circling

Side steps and circling are exercises where the dog moves sideways or in a circle around you. These movements require the dog to activate its side muscles and maintain balance. These exercises help improve range of motion and body control, allowing for graceful and stable movement in the ring. Side steps can be trained in such a way that you have the dog in the "heeling position” and move sideways towards the dog so that it takes a step to the side away from you. Reward each step so the dog understands what you want it to do. The circling movements can either be trained by luring the dog with a treat and getting the dog to walk around you (suitable if you have a large dog), while if you have a small dog, you get more out of the exercise if you instead entice the dog to walk around his own axis (attract with candy at the dog's rear so that it reaches for the candy and starts a circular movement). Important to remember that you should do the same number of repetitions in each direction.

By regularly including these balance training exercises in your dog's training routine, you can help them develop better posture, stability and body control. This will show in the show ring, where a strong and balanced body is the key to success. Young and older dogs can be especially deserving of this training.

Next week we will approach the topic about how you can train your dog in water. 

Good luck with your excercises!