Building Hind end strength and awarenes

taught Toffee to walk backward and also that other one to step up and rotate with hind feet...
He really doesn't have great conformation, so every bit helps Strider (as we call Toffee lovingly in class.. that or Demon Dog, depending on if he wants to take out his enemy the hated Vizsla, lol)

My NEXT dog will be more suitable for jumping, lol, but then I know a little more what to look for hehehehehe.. u guys know I will get ur help when I am ready for dog number 2 (if it isn't Scotty the Poodle)
 
The physio gave me an exercise to strengthen Deska's stomach muscles as he is also pretty long.

I lift his back leg and the front leg on the opposite side, hold it for ten seconds and repeat 5 times on each side. I started with just lifting his back leg and front leg seperately as he was a little wobbly doing both at the same time. Did that for about a week before switching to holding both opposing legs up.
 
Caro, thanks! how perfect an exercise for my boy! Helping with his balance very well too!

I happened onto a canine chiropractor at the seminar she gave me several things (the one you mentioned was one of them) to do.

We are going to have him do the scoot sits between my feet, crawling, from sit to stand (pop up - keeping those front feet still)

for stretches she has me on his side taking his muzzle to his side, his hip and then his hock (lured with cookie) I do this on each side

then I have him "stand on his head" - which is not literally. I push a cookie into him and under his feet front.

more later, gotta work...
 
*Caro said:
The physio gave me an exercise to strengthen Deska's stomach muscles as he is also pretty long.

I lift his back leg and the front leg on the opposite side, hold it for ten seconds and repeat 5 times on each side. I started with just lifting his back leg and front leg seperately as he was a little wobbly doing both at the same time. Did that for about a week before switching to holding both opposing legs up.
Click to expand...

oh oh oh... :fl that looks like something I could do with MrMr...
Thanks for that tip, I am gonna try that starting tonight!!!
 
*Caro said:
The physio gave me an exercise to strengthen Deska's stomach muscles as he is also pretty long.

I lift his back leg and the front leg on the opposite side, hold it for ten seconds and repeat 5 times on each side. I started with just lifting his back leg and front leg seperately as he was a little wobbly doing both at the same time. Did that for about a week before switching to holding both opposing legs up.
Click to expand...

I do this during my exercise video. Great for the core and balance!
 
*Caro, thanks for the tip! I seriously need to strengthen my long 18inches tall Kyara as well and this will help. She can't even sit pretty but a week ago I decided I will get her to do it no matter what. Today she holds it for 1 second if she is not clawing ferociously to hang on to my arm :lol:. So still needs lots of work.

As for rear end awareness, I've done a few things:

- Mentioned earlier the 2 front paws on an object (for me it's a round baking pan) and doing circles (see heeling is just another trick by Silvia Trkman).

- Putting all four paws in a small box. To do this you start with a larger box that fits their whole length and once they get it, switch to a similar yet smaller box. Eventually they can do it in something tiny!

- Mentioned earlier teach back up. (Kyara is used to shaping so I get something yummy in my hand and wait for her to offer a behavior. So as I wait, she eventually does one step back and I click/give a treat, and slowly keep on clicking any behavior leading to backing up, making the criteria stricter as they understand better what you want.)

- Once you have back up, you can start teaching them to get on an object with only their hind feet. To do this, I put a pillow on the floor about 10 feet from me and sat in front of Kyara with treats. She eventually offered her backing up trick and when she accidentally hits that pillow with a back leg, I click and treat. I'm 4 days in of training 15 minutes a day and she can now understand to get both feet on the pillow but is still clumsy about it. You can work this up to a hand stand eventually which is what I am trying to do.

- I want to try to teach her the pee trick of lifting one hind leg at a time but I think she lacks of core strength to do it for now. We'll get there!

Good luck!
 
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