Preparing your dog to “play on the dock” can mean different things to different individuals. However, every competitor wants to be able to have fun and do it safely. Incorporating three or four warm-up exercises to prepare your dog’s body to compete is a fantastic way to prevent some of the commonly observed setbacks discussed in earlier articles.
Make them move!
According to John Nielsen, “Warm-up routines don’t necessarily need to be complicated. Incorporating simple movements like how the dog is moving when it competes, can be easy to perform. Walking is always the best way to start a warm-up routine. If your dog is performing a jumping sport, such as dock diving, movements such as rock back sit-to-stands, or down to stands can be an uncomplicated way to warm up the shoulder and hip musculature. If the dog understands a nose touch, you can ask them to start in a seated position and then ‘pop up’ to touch your hand (or other object) directly above their head. You want the target high enough so that their front feet need to leave the ground, but their back feet stay put. To engage their core musculature, you can ask the dog to roll over, perform a cookie stretch, or walk in a figure 8 pattern.”
Nielsen added, “Just as important to the warm-up routine is the cool down routine after competing. You don’t necessarily need to complete this after every splash, but rather you can wait and perform this at the end of their competition day. Working through a cool down routine, which can merely be the warm-up routine in reverse order of exercises, allows the dog’s body to return to its resting state in a more natural way. If possible, you really want to avoid putting your dog back into a kennel space immediately after competing without at least encouraging them to walk around for around five minutes or so.”
John Nielsen, CVT, VTS (ECC, Physical Rehabilitation), CVPP, CCRP, CCFT, is the Co-Owner and Lead Practitioner of K-9 In Motion. His 25+ years of veterinary experience includes practicing and teaching at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Teaching Hospital, working in small animal and exotic general practice, working in emergency and specialty medicine, and working in the sports medicine field. John is a double-boarded veterinary technician specialist in Emergency and Critical Care and Physical Rehabilitation.
K-9 In Motion, LLC.
Cottage Grove, Minn.
612-240-8640