The question I get asked most frequently from dog owners and friends alike is "What do you do with the exercise ball?" So, in response to that question, I will tell you. Exercise balls come in a variety of shapes and colors for dogs.
And while a few of my exercise balls in my rehab room were made for human use, mostly I use FitPaws brand exercise equipment that's specifically designed for dogs.
Fitpaws brand balls are made of durable material to help prevent tears from dog nails. The surfaces also help provide traction for dog paws. They come in different shapes: peanut, egg and donut shaped - all designed for the way a dog uses them. A common use for the peanut ball is to lay the peanut longwise on the ground and drape the dog over the center of it so that the peanut supports some of the dog's body weight. This is great for dogs that are too weak to stand for very long. For the very athletic dog you may stand the dog on top of the peanut ball. Standing on it is an exercise in balance and forces the dog to use his stabilizer and core muscles.
I also use their balance pad, giant rocker board, wobble board and hurdle set. Applying an unstable surface to nearly any activity or exercise increases the difficulty and uses those core muscles. Strong core muscles help protect against
back injury and back pain, which is all too common in dogs. Interested in giving it a try? Check out this video from Fitpaws on the use of their canine exercise equipment, then give me a holler.
And while a few of my exercise balls in my rehab room were made for human use, mostly I use FitPaws brand exercise equipment that's specifically designed for dogs.
Fitpaws brand balls are made of durable material to help prevent tears from dog nails. The surfaces also help provide traction for dog paws. They come in different shapes: peanut, egg and donut shaped - all designed for the way a dog uses them. A common use for the peanut ball is to lay the peanut longwise on the ground and drape the dog over the center of it so that the peanut supports some of the dog's body weight. This is great for dogs that are too weak to stand for very long. For the very athletic dog you may stand the dog on top of the peanut ball. Standing on it is an exercise in balance and forces the dog to use his stabilizer and core muscles.
I also use their balance pad, giant rocker board, wobble board and hurdle set. Applying an unstable surface to nearly any activity or exercise increases the difficulty and uses those core muscles. Strong core muscles help protect against
back injury and back pain, which is all too common in dogs. Interested in giving it a try? Check out this video from Fitpaws on the use of their canine exercise equipment, then give me a holler.
RSS Feed