By Dr.
Debbie Gross Saunders
Dr. Debbie Gross Saunders is a certified
canine physical rehabilitation practitioner
and physical therapist that specializes in
canine rehabilitation. She has over fifteen
years experience in the field and specializes
in the performance dog. One of her DVDs, Get
on the Ball Two, has just been released.
Check out this new DVD as well as other work
on her website at www.wizardofpaws.net.
Dogs are meant to be mobile creatures - to
them, movement is life. Therefore, exercise
is essential to their well being. We feel
better after we exercise and so do dogs.
There are many forms of exercise that a dog
may perform on a regular basis, inclusive of
walks, hikes, swims in a lake, or specific
exercises. And an exercise program should be
a component of any dog's protocol. Whether
the dog is competing in obedience, rally,
flyball, agility, tracking, etc., the dog
should have a good cross training program
available. Even if your dog's only job is a
loyal companion, an exercise program is
essential. Daily walks and exercise help
older dogs feel better as well.
Core strength targets the lower back, the
abdominals, the large muscles of the hips,
and the large muscles of the shoulders.
These muscles are important for activities
such as running, jumping, playing ball,
competing in agility, negotiating the stairs,
and many more activities.
The theraball, or exercise egg, offers an
amazing method of improving the core strength
of the dog.
Lower back injuries are fairly common in
people, and a majority of the back problems
are secondary to improper lower back and
abdominal strength. I am sure many of you
reading this can appreciate lower back pain
and understand the stronger your back is, the
more stable your core is. In a dog,
inadequate core control, places the dog at
risk to their body, especially their back and
groin area. Inadequate core strength could
also place the dog at risk for an injury.
For example, if a dog has a weak core, they
may compensate with their rear and begin to
break down with initial 'tight' muscles,
muscle strains or other issues. Many dogs
with weak core muscles have difficulty
maintaining their posture while jumping,
running or playing. While jumping, if they
do not possess the core strength, they may
come down harder on their shoulders and
wrists and begin to see breakdowns in that
area. Some dogs may show signs of not being
able to jump in and out of the car secondary
to the lack of strength.
Any dog can benefit from a core strengthening
program. Whether it is a high end obedience
dog or an older dog with arthritis, the
theraball can benefit the dog. Many older
dogs that cannot actively exercise outdoors
do very well with a theraball. In addition,
the ball provides a wonderful exercise option
when the weather outside does not permit
outdoor exercise.
A theraball, physio-roll or egg ball may be
utilized for strengthening. For core
strengthening work, the ball or roll shoulder
be at least four inches higher than the dog
is at their withers. The goal is to place
the dog on the ball and have all four limbs
on the ball so they cannot touch the ground.
If the ball is higher than four inches over
the dog's withers, that is fine. If owners
have multiple size dogs at home, I recommend
one large ball or roll and the ball may be
easily used for all sizes. Eggs or
physiorolls work the best because they allow
the dog to completely stand on the surface.
If the dog is on too small of a surface, it
can cause problems with their back. (Please
note, from the rest of the article on, I will
refer to the physioroll, the egg and the
ball, as the ball.)
The two most common questions I receive about
the ball are 1) how do I get my dog on the
ball, and 2) will they pop it? I'll describe
the answer to the first question shortly.
The answer to the second question is train
the ball as a working activity rather than
for play. At no time do you want the dog to
chase or bite the ball in the working
environment. And unless the nails are very
sharp, the dogs' nails should not pop the
ball. It is important to buy a good quality
ball or roll. The less expensive brands do
not hold up as well and it is money well
spent to invest in a good quality ball, roll
or egg.
So how do you get your dog up on the ball? I
always suggest a good deal of positive
reinforcement as soon as the dog approaches
the ball. Whether it is clicker training,
treats or positive praise, utilize your
training technique to reinforce the
introduction to the ball. I have worked with
some dogs that immediately adapt to the ball
on their first session, and others that take
two or three sessions to feel comfortable
with the new situation. Food incentives,
such as spread peanut butter, work well to
encourage the dog over to the ball. Spray or
spread some peanut butter on the theraball
and encourage the dog to come over and lick
it off. Once the dog is on the ball, the
peanut butter or similar substance can be
used to encourage the dog to stay on the ball
and help maintain the position.
The ball is a moving object and so is the
dog. When placing the dog on the ball, try
to wedge the ball up against a wall to help
stabilize it. Other helpful hints involve
placing the ball between a sofa and coffee
table, or using the PVC pipe beds in an
upside down position to maintain the balls.
Some people prefer to sit while they perform
the exercises with their dogs. Keep in mind;
your body mechanics, posture and strength are
just as important as the dogs!
So once the dog is near the ball, stabilize
the ball or prevent it from moving by either
placing it up against a wall or piece of
furniture or by wedging it up against a
telephone book or large book. Encourage the
dog to place its front legs on the ball or
roll and then lift the back legs on to the
ball. Once the dog is on the ball - work
with the position the dog assumes. For
example, if the dog gets up on the ball and
they are sitting - work with them that way.
Of course, be careful the dog does not fall
off the ball. Gently bounce the dog on the
ball - the bounces should be slow and
calming. The purpose of the bouncing is to
calm the dog down and provide relaxation.
You may need to do this for two to five
minutes. While doing this, the dog is
utilizing its core muscles to stabilize
themselves on the ball. You may notice their
shoulders and hips are working - they are
stabilizing the dog's position and working
with the core muscles.
Once the dog feels comfortable begin some
gentle weight shifting. Encourage the dog to
reach forward with a treat and then back. Do
this between five and ten times, or until the
dog tires. Then encourage the dog to reach
from left side to right side. Watch the
dog's hips and shoulders as these movements
occur. Start with alternating turns from
side to side, five times on each side. As
the dog progresses, you may make them reach
further and further. Progressions will also
include increasing the number of repetitions.
While the dog is on the ball, gently rock its
hips back and forth - or push their hips back
and forth. The goal is not to push the dog
off balance but encourage them to shift their
weight.
Now place the dog in a sitting position and
encourage a tight sit. Have them maintain
that posture as long as they can. Once they
lose the position, give them a break. The
break may be coming off the ball or just
bouncing on the ball. Then repeat the
exercise up to ten times. Do the same with
the down position. The goal is to maintain
the hips, knees and hocks in a tight position.
Initial sessions should last between five and
ten minutes and I recommend performing the
exercises once a day, at least five times a
week. Improvements will be seen in the first
two weeks. After the initial period, this
exercise may be performed three times per week.
It may not appear that the dog is doing a
significant amount, but their core muscles
are in a constant state of contraction or
activity while they are on the ball. Prepare
yourself for a tired dog after the ball work!
