Clean Run - June 2013 - 47

rhythm but not overextending
your puppy. This will allow your
puppy time to alter head and neck
position (contract and relax diff erent
muscles) and to move naturally
at a gait that is comfortable with a
good change of pace.
l Teach your puppy to walk backward,
not by pushing his head
back into his shoulders, but by
naturally and gently encouraging
backward movement. Only a
couple of steps are required. This
exercise encourages your puppy
to use his back end.
l Teach your pup to walk over a small
obstacle like a pole on the ground.
Allow him to walk with his head in
a natural position, without use of
the leash. Then progress to an activity
such as getting him to sit on a
small log. This will help with spatial
awareness and balance. Walking
with his head down will encourage
hindquarter engagement.
l While exercising or in the yard,
your puppy running, without
encouragement, at full
stretch is fine on
grass (time should
still be limited).
But he should
not be running
with
adult dogs.
If he is being
chased or
chasing after
adult dogs,
the puppy can
easily overextend
which can cause excess
stress on both joints
and muscles Also, there is a risk of
the puppy getting bowled over
by the adult or unbalanced when
turning sharply.
l When your puppy is a little older,
let him walk in a natural position
and then trot. Then extend the trot
for a few seconds, go back to an
ambling walk, and then walk
out (like you would when
exercising a horse). This
exercise can help start
to develop good
strong paces.
l When you’re out
walking, don’t
always walk in
straight lines.
Find a piece of
open ground
and walk in the
shape of an “s”
(perhaps once or
twice a week).
l While walking let
your puppy walk in
a natural position and
then encourage him to
walk with his head higher
for 30 seconds. Use your voice
to get his head up, not the lead.
This exercise starts to strengthen
the neck, a vital asset for any dog
due to the concussion received
when he’s running and jumping.
l Encourage your puppy
to turn in a circle
around your body,
slowly under control.
Once clockwise
and once
counterclockwise
is enough.
l Encourage
your puppy to
walk a fi gure-8
with him on your
right and then repeat
on your left. Again, only
do this a couple of times.
l Add scenting exercises/games regularly
into your routine.
Important!
l Warm your puppy/dog up before
any form of exercise and warm him
down after any form of exercise
with a 30-meter (33 yards) walk. Repeat
at a trot and then a walk again.
l Restrict jumping down, especially
from cars, furniture, stairs, etc. This
type of activity has major implications
on shoulder stability. Jumping
into a car does not have such
a great implication.
l Ball/toy throwing is best to avoid
with your puppy. It is better to occasionally
place a toy and then
send your puppy to it so that you
avoid him chasing after a moving
object. When you place the ball/
toy and it is stationary, a young dog
can see when and where the object
has stopped.
l Regularly lay your hands on your
puppy to get to know his natural
temperature. D
Liz Pope and Julia Robertson of Galen Natural Progression are authors of a new book Gentle Exercise for your Puppy. For more details on courses and talks given
by Liz and Julia, please call 0845 3751767. For more information on Galen Myotherapy and treatments, please contact Lead Consultant Julia Robertson of the
Galen Therapy Centre® by calling 0845 3751767 or by making contact through the website at www.caninetherapy.co.uk. Galen Therapy Centre and Galen Natural
Progression are dedicated to muscular health and fitness of all dogs.
June 13 | Clean Run
47

http://www.caninetherapy.co.uk

Clean Run - June 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - June 2013