Canine cross training : building balance, strength, and endurance in your dog

Condition Your Dog to be a Top Canine Competitor What are the four conditioning components of top athletes? Most physical therapists agree that they include balance, strength, endurance and flexibility. The same characteristics apply to canine athletes as well and form the basis of this new book by Sasha Foster, co-author of the award winning The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog. When the four conditioning components are executed in a systematic approach using the key exercise principles of frequency, intensity and duration, you can train your dog to reach his fullest potential in whatever canine sport or activity you choose to participate in and help keep him fitter and more injury-free over a longer period of time. You will learn: How to test your dog to determine what level of exercise difficulty he should begin with when starting out a cross training program. The role of core stabilization and whole-body awareness exercise during balance training. The use of positive training and shaping techniques to help your dog acclimate himself to the training equipment used in the various exercises. Recommended conditioning programs for various types of activities ranging from dock diving to agility to flyball to therapy dog work. What experts are saying about Canine Cross Training Sasha Foster combines science and real-life experience to provide the reader with practical guidelines for canine cross training. The book includes many illustrations, pictures and case examples making it an easy, enjoyable read. Canine exercises and science will likely continue to evolve quickly over the coming years, in the meantime this book offers a solid outline of current concepts of canine conditioning. Felix Duerr, DVM and Diplomate, American and European College of Veterinary Surgeons Canine Cross Training is a tremendous resource rooted in the science of training and conditioning and executed through positive techniques to develop the brain as well as the body. The program is easy to follow and the steps for progression are well defined. We look forward to implementing and evaluating the age appropriate exercises in our puppies at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center and working dogs in the field. Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD and Executive Director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center