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| Canine Massage and Stretching |
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How To Improve the Quality Of Your Dogs Life! |
By Jenny Peacocke
Many dog owners invest considerable time with their dogs in obedience
training, seeking activities, agility, tracking and protection exercises at
training grounds, out in the countryside or in the forest. These
activities allow us to spend time with our dogs while also keeping them
physically and mentally alert. A lot of time and money is spent on
training a clever and efficient dog. There is considerable research and
many opinions on the topics of what food and exercise is best for our
dogs. We all have the animals' best at heart. Good care and healthy
food is thought to be essential.
No matter how well we take care of our dogs, disease and injuries do
still occur. If the injury is related to the muscles, tendons, joints or
ligaments a vet or physiotherapist can help. If there is a defect in the
hip or elbow joints and in cases caused by unhealthy breeding, the only
treatment available is pain relief. As dog owners there is nothing we
can do to repair problems related to unhealthy breeding nor can we
prevent all accidents. However we can prevent muscle related problems
and strain injuries by massaging and stretching our dogs regularly. This
keeps the dog well-balanced physically and psychologically, allowing it
to retain the agility of the young dog to an advanced age. A
well-functioning dog has retained its natural elasticity and suppleness.
Massage and stretching are effective in prevention of muscle related
problems and strain injuries and improve the quality of your dog's life.
Massage and stretching are a complement to daily exercise, obedience
training and diet and build contact between you and your dog in a
natural way. Massage is an enjoyable way of strengthening the bond
with your family dog and your canine friend will love it.
Warming up before activity has a preventative effect and stretching is
just as effective after the dog has used its muscles. The dog should have
warmed up and exercised before you start to stretch the muscles and I
recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after physical
exertion. Let the dog walk for a while on the lead in the same way a
race horse runs an extra lap at half the pace to round off the race. This
helps to remove lactic acid and waste products. As with massage it is
important that the dog is relaxed before you start this treatment.
Warming up can involve walking with the dog on the lead for 15 to 20
minutes before allowing it to run freely. In this way the muscles soften
up and are ready for physical activity. Competitive or working dogs
should warm up in a more goal-oriented way.
Below you can find a check list that might come in handy when
warming up.
First remember that the dog should have warmed up and exercised
before starting a competition or an active session. I also strongly
recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after a competition
or an active session before any stretching activities.
Here is a check list that could be used before a competition or active
session.
Many dog owners invest considerable time with their dogs in obedience
training, seeking activities, agility, tracking and protection exercises at
training grounds, out in the countryside or in the forest. These
activities allow us to spend time with our dogs while also keeping them
physically and mentally alert. A lot of time and money is spent on
training a clever and efficient dog. There is considerable research and
many opinions on the topics of what food and exercise is best for our
dogs. We all have the animals' best at heart. Good care and healthy
food is thought to be essential.
No matter how well we take care of our dogs, disease and injuries do
still occur. If the injury is related to the muscles, tendons, joints or
ligaments a vet or physiotherapist can help. If there is a defect in the
hip or elbow joints and in cases caused by unhealthy breeding, the only
treatment available is pain relief. As dog owners there is nothing we
can do to repair problems related to unhealthy breeding nor can we
prevent all accidents. However we can prevent muscle related problems
and strain injuries by massaging and stretching our dogs regularly. This
keeps the dog well-balanced physically and psychologically, allowing it
to retain the agility of the young dog to an advanced age. A
well-functioning dog has retained its natural elasticity and suppleness.
Massage and stretching are effective in prevention of muscle related
problems and strain injuries and improve the quality of your dog's life.
Massage and stretching are a complement to daily exercise, obedience
training and diet and build contact between you and your dog in a
natural way. Massage is an enjoyable way of strengthening the bond
with your family dog and your canine friend will love it.
Warming up before activity has a preventative effect and stretching is
just as effective after the dog has used its muscles. The dog should have
warmed up and exercised before you start to stretch the muscles and I
recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after physical
exertion. Let the dog walk for a while on the lead in the same way a
race horse runs an extra lap at half the pace to round off the race. This
helps to remove lactic acid and waste products. As with massage it is
important that the dog is relaxed before you start this treatment.
Warming up can involve walking with the dog on the lead for 15 to 20
minutes before allowing it to run freely. In this way the muscles soften
up and are ready for physical activity. Competitive or working dogs
should warm up in a more goal-oriented way.
Below you can find a check list that might come in handy when
warming up.
First remember that the dog should have warmed up and exercised
before starting a competition or an active session. I also strongly
recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after a competition
or an active session before any stretching activities.
Here is a check list that could be used before a competition or active
session.
“Place one hand directly above the knee joint and the other hand on the lower
part of the leg around the hock joint. Lift the leg upwards so that the knee is
bent. Push gently upwards and backwards with the hand positioned above the
knee joint.”
After completing a competition or an active session let the dog wind
down and then carefully do some stretching exercises. And when you
come home reward the dog with massage and you will get a happy
peforming dog ready for new challenges.
Massage and stretching is an essential and a low cost investment in
your dog's health and improves the quality of your dog's life.
part of the leg around the hock joint. Lift the leg upwards so that the knee is
bent. Push gently upwards and backwards with the hand positioned above the
knee joint.”
After completing a competition or an active session let the dog wind
down and then carefully do some stretching exercises. And when you
come home reward the dog with massage and you will get a happy
peforming dog ready for new challenges.
Massage and stretching is an essential and a low cost investment in
your dog's health and improves the quality of your dog's life.
- Let the dog walk slowly for a while and then increase the tempo for 2-3 minutes.
- Let the dog trot for 2-3 minutes.
- Let the dog gallop for one minute.
- Then let the dog make some short explosive moves.
- Let the dog wind down a little by going back to trotting and then walking.
- Let the dog trot for 2-3 minutes.
- Let the dog gallop for one minute.
- Then let the dog make some short explosive moves.
- Let the dog wind down a little by going back to trotting and then walking.
Warming up does not tire the dog but rather increases blood
circulation and warms up the muscles ensuring that the joints are
lubricated and more supple. The dog is now ready to perform. After
the warm up you could also easily test your dog's mobility using the
eight most common stretching techniques. You should be sensitive to
your dog's signals. The dog should not experience any discomfort. If it
does, don't hesitate to contact the vet.
circulation and warms up the muscles ensuring that the joints are
lubricated and more supple. The dog is now ready to perform. After
the warm up you could also easily test your dog's mobility using the
eight most common stretching techniques. You should be sensitive to
your dog's signals. The dog should not experience any discomfort. If it
does, don't hesitate to contact the vet.
Click to go: Articles > Canine Massage and Stretching
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