Core strength

[Clodagh]

Red had no exercise for the first four years of her life. And lots of pregnancies. I assume this has contributed to when she runs, her legs flap all over the place. Her hinds look unattached! It doesn’t bother her and she worked well all season, although obviously doesn’t have the stamina of my others.
She doesn’t swim much (she’s deeply incompetent) but last week she was poffling about in a pool and swam across it to investigate something. When she turned in the water her whole hind end floated up to the surface, I could see the side of her hocks.
Any exercises (other than swimming, which isn’t always doable) that could help?

 

[raegank]

Lots of work doing repetitive movements like Bow to Stand to Down is great for core strength, also teaching backup is great and gives good hind end awareness.
Also Cavaletti's has helped my lab as she needed to get more core strength for box turns for flyball

 

[skinnydipper]

Sit to stand
Spin both directions
Stand, lift one paw at a time
Roll over, both directions
Balance cushion
Beg, this is tough initially so start with only a second or two and build up slowly.

Someone else may be able to add to those

 

[sbloom]

The Canine Conditioning Academy might be OTT but worth a look.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Walking backwards, plant front feet on a low platform or visual marker (I have used a frisbee or an upturned mail crate in the past) and get her to pivot around with rear end, work on a balance ball, feed things like chicken feet, weighted wraps, weight pulling, work on sand or in shallow water,

 

[maisie06]

what about poles like we do with horses? just a thought...I also saw an intersting TTouch canine demo on youtube some time back.

 

[Teaselmeg]

I would have her assessed by a good physio. There are lots of conditioning exercises you can do, but if you don't know the issue you are dealing with, then they are a waste of time. A professional will assess the dog and give the appropriate ones. My young lurcher was assessed for an issue with his hind leg and it wasn't until we went to a chiropractor and physio that we discovered he had a hip shear from when he was attacked a year previously, then we started on a conditioning programme for his specific issue. He had been doing conditioning exercises from a puppy, but some were no longer appropriate with that issue.

 

[Clodagh]

Thank you all. It took her weeks to learn to sit so the thought of fancy stuff doesn’t fill me with confidence, but I will try. Roll over we’ve got but only when she feels any pressure.
We’ve just been to the river and her swimming is (slowly) improving, in that if she is carrying something she doesn’t do the puppy splash.

 

[Clodagh]

Double post

 

[MurphysMinder]

I would have her assessed by a good physio. There are lots of conditioning exercises you can do, but if you don't know the issue you are dealing with, then they are a waste of time. A professional will assess the dog and give the appropriate ones. My young lurcher was assessed for an issue with his hind leg and it wasn't until we went to a chiropractor and physio that we discovered he had a hip shear from when he was attacked a year previously, then we started on a conditioning programme for his specific issue. He had been doing conditioning exercises from a puppy, but some were no longer appropriate with that issue.

This. A good physio will give you loads of exercises to do. Ziggy started physio after leg surgery 18 months ago, he still has monthly sessions for overall fitness and conditioning (leg is fine) and his core strength is amazing. I took Pickle when he reached 11 years old just for a one off pre season check, he had never shown any issues but the difference in him afterwards was amazing, he had several wins in his retirement season and is now doing veteran and winning, he too has monthly sessions.

 

[Chucho]

Careful posture work like kick back stands from sit (rather than stepping forward), standing up from a down without moving any feet. They're (particularly the latter) really hard to do properly and should only be done a few times in a row at a time.