When my dogs were younger, we enjoyed practicing basic skills at home, such as sit, stay and leave it. We worked on our skills every day and even took several more advanced classes to learn tricks and intro agility. This training was wonderful for teaching manners, bonding with our pups and exposing them to new people, dogs and places during classes. Plus, we had a lot of fun! As my girls got older, we gradually found ourselves training less and less. We didn’t do this intentionally; it just naturally occurred as life became busy and we focused our time elsewhere. And to be honest, we didn’t feel that they needed the training any longer once they had mastered the skills and were generally well-behaved pups.
As the girls grew into their senior years, they began noticeably losing strength in their hindlegs and becoming less aware of their feet and the need to actually pick them up when walking. And it was then that I learned the physical, not just mental and behavioral, value of basic skills training. Use it or lose it, right? We have always enjoyed hiking with our dogs, even in their later years, and while the physical activity is great for them, and one reason I think they have lived such long, full lives, hiking doesn’t necessarily target specific muscles. In contrast, during a training session, we can very purposely work specific areas. In the future, I plan to make training a priority for the life of my pets (cats can train, too!), not just when they’re young.
So, what are some training exercises you can do at home to help your dog maintain muscle mass and strength, prevent an arched back, and retain (or gain) awareness of their limbs? It should be noted that I am not an expert on this subject; I’m simply sharing what I’ve learned over the years from veterinarians and canine physical therapists who have helped support my pups. Find a positive reinforcement trainer in your area for greater detail on ways you can work with your dog.
While these activities below should be appropriate for most senior dogs, it’s always a good idea to talk with your vet before trying any new training techniques, especially if your pup has age-related or other health concerns. Start very slowly and gradually increase the amount of time spent training. It’s more effective and less harmful to practice a small amount each day (start out every two to three days) rather than trying to do a lot only once a week. Every pup’s abilities are different, and you know your dog best. Keep an eye on them after you begin to incorporate these training exercises, looking for signs that they might be sore or inflamed. Be patient and have fun! If possible, start with a short walk to warm up the muscles before training.
Hindleg Awareness & Strengthening
Ladder walking – Lay a “ladder” on the ground and have your pup step through each rung slowly. By moving slowly, they are encouraged to focus on the use of their hindlegs, gaining strength, flexibility and awareness. Hold a treat in your hand and slowly lure them from one end of the ladder to the other. If you find that your pup always wants to step outside the ladder, place it next to a wall to create a barrier on one side, and use your body on the other side to keep them within the confines of the ladder. You can use an actual ladder if you want, though it might be too tall for your senior pup. I taped together the foam that is used to cover pipes (something I already had on hand) to create a soft ladder, but the tape came off a lot so it’s not something I’d recommend. You can also purchase an agility ladder or come up with some other ladder-like obstacle. If I was going to spend money, I’d compare the cost of purchasing a pre-made agility ladder with PVC pipes and fittings so I could make my own. The benefit to building your own is that you can modify the height as needed. The higher the ladder rungs are from the ground, the more challenging the exercise will be for your dog. Start at the lowest level and work up from there, depending on your dog’s ability.
Walking backwards – Dogs don’t naturally walk backwards, but doing so can help them gain better awareness of their hindlegs. I have found that the easiest way to introduce walking backwards is to create a chute for your dog to walk through. In my case, it’s the space between the couch and coffee table. The chute should be short when you’re just beginning. Use a treat to lure your pup into the chute. Then, you’ll essentially want to step into their space, forcing them to take a step backwards. Reward the backward movement with a treat, then try for another backwards step. Ideally, you’ll want to do this on a non-slick surface. If you have hardwood floors, place a yoga mat or other non-slip surface on the floor.
Sit to stand – Humans do squats in the gym to build leg strength, and going from sit to stand is a similar workout for dogs. Simply ask your dog to sit, then stand, then sit – reward with a treat. I like to incorporate stay and come into my training to get my dog moving a bit. I ask her to sit, then I tell her to stay and I walk away. Then I allow her to come to me to receive her treat. If your pup is able to lie down, you can also add this into your rotation – sit, down, stand, reward. For a young dog with no mobility issues, this might seem like an easy and worthless exercise; however, as my dogs have gotten older, I have been surprised at how difficult it is for them to sit, much less return to a standing position. I wish I had maintained this training throughout their lives rather than starting again after their bodies have lost such strength and agility.
Check out At-home Massage, Acupressure & Stretching for some things you can add to your exercise and training routine.
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