Much like humans, our canine friends – young and old – need to stay physically active to remain healthy. Stretching or strengthening activities can help maintain muscle mass, boost body awareness and balance, as well as provide stimulating physical and mental exercise for your pup.
Some dogs innately seem to have good balance, but some do not. Luckily, you can improve your dog’s balance pretty quickly.
In this article, we’ll list down the best ways to improve dog’s balance!
5 Exercises to Improve Dog’s Balance
1. Stretching Exercises
Stretching is great for keeping your dog limber. It’s also useful for warming up before exercise and cooling down after, like using a target stick.
2. Step Stool Stroll
Let your dog walk around a step stool with their front paws on the stool and back paws on the ground. Once your dog is comfortable, encourage movement to either side while the front paws stay elevated.
3. Figure Eights
Walking in a figure-eight pattern is a great way to stretch your dog’s back and improve spinal flexibility. Props needed includes cone, garbage cans, or even food tins.
4. Puppy Push-Ups
This exercise is a great warm-up and muscle builder for dogs of any age aside from its benefit of honing basic obedience skills. It means having your dog move from a sit position to a down position, then back into a sit.
5. Balance Exercises
What better way to improve balance than simple balancing exercises? Simply teach your dog to place all four paws on an unsteady but safe surface. Props to start include an inflatable ball like in the video above, an upside-down shallow plastic storage bin, or a wobble board. Dogs must maintain balance to stay standing on the item.
Conclusion
As the intelligent animals they are, dogs can learn how to balance quickly. With consistent training 3-4 times a week, you’ll see your pup improve in no time. Don’t forget to reward them with treats and verbal praise as soon as they complete an exercise successfully!
For more fitness and exercise tips, check out our PetFitness blog!
