Muscle disparity

[SAujla]

I need ideas on how to strengthen Clovers muscles along her left side. She's always been right side dominant but she is putting too much of her weight through her right side.

One idea I have is walking her on my right side instead of left. We have had one amusing walk trying this and its just so automatic for her to be on my left side. Our garden is off limits due to renovation work but any other ideas are welcome

 

[CorvusCorax]

Look up proprioceptive training exercises.

It's a good idea to walk her on the other side, this sort of thing is not actually unusual in humans, horses and dogs, when we teach competition heeling we hold the food and therefore the dog, out from the body to teach them to hold and balance themselves independently, using the comparison of a riding school horse 'leaning' on the wall of the arena. A lot of people teach heeling on both sides for the same reason.
A lot of us would do things like ask the dog to heel on both sides, pop between the legs, go through legs in a figure of eight, spin left and right etc as a warm-up.
I had a massage once where I was asked if I had any idea why my left shoulder was twice the size and strength of my right, and I said YEP, sure do, that's the side I do all my handling on.

 

[SAujla]

Look up proprioceptive training exercises.

It's a good idea to walk her on the other side, this sort of thing is not actually unusual in humans, horses and dogs, when we teach competition heeling we hold the food and therefore the dog, out from the body to teach them to hold and balance themselves independently, using the comparison of a riding school horse 'leaning' on the wall of the arena. A lot of people teach heeling on both sides for the same reason.
A lot of us would do things like ask the dog to heel on both sides, pop between the legs, go through legs in a figure of eight, spin left and right etc as a warm-up.
I had a massage once where I was asked if I had any idea why my left shoulder was twice the size and strength of my right, and I said YEP, sure do, that's the side I do all my handling on.

She is just adamant she wants to be on the left side, two years of being walked that way will take some undoing. Rather lazy on my part to have let it become such a habit but I'll work on it. Thanks for the other ideas as well. I think she is physically well built but I imagine being so dominant on one side can lead to issues later in life.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Swimming is good too!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Swimming is good too!

You might be able to find a dog swimming pool with physio input

 

[SAujla]

You might be able to find a dog swimming pool with physio input

She goes to an indoor hydrotherapy centre every 3 weeks and that's where they analysed her stance to show her muscles on the left aren't as good as those on her right.

She will NOT go in open water, and I include puddles in this, it will not ever happen. When we went to Devon she'd just chase the tide in and out, she is a Labrador but a quirky one ?. Its why I take her to the centre because its the only place she will swim, she loves going there.

We had a better walk on the right side now, but its so natural for us both to have her on the left.

 

[skinnydipper]

When I took my GSD for hydrotherapy, the physio recommended the treadmill over the pool.

Extension of joints is greater in treadmill than swimming and they use their hind limbs more, swimming is primarily fore limbs.

I was taking him because he had hip dysplasia but if she is swimming for fun then I don't suppose it matters.

 

[SAujla]

When I took my GSD for hydrotherapy, the physio recommended the treadmill over the pool.

Extension of joints is greater in treadmill than swimming and they use their hind limbs more, swimming is primarily fore limbs.

Thats interesting I might mention that, Clover goes for fun and fitness. The hydrotherapist said its not a concern and she is well balanced but her muscles are stronger on the right side so seems stupid to not do something with that information. I'm trying to prevent problems in the future now rather than deal with them when we get there. A quick treadmill session after a swim sounds like a great idea

 

[skinnydipper]

Thats interesting I might mention that, Clover goes for fun and fitness. The hydrotherapist said its not a concern and she is well balanced but her muscles are stronger on the right side so seems stupid to not do something with that information. I'm trying to prevent problems in the future now rather than deal with them when we get there. A quick treadmill session after a swim sounds like a great idea

She might not manage both on the same day. The treadmill is very tiring and they build the time up gradually.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

She goes to an indoor hydrotherapy centre every 3 weeks and that's where they analysed her stance to show her muscles on the left aren't as good as those on her right.

She will NOT go in open water, and I include puddles in this, it will not ever happen. When we went to Devon she'd just chase the tide in and out, she is a Labrador but a quirky one ?. Its why I take her to the centre because its the only place she will swim, she loves going there.

We had a better walk on the right side now, but its so natural for us both to have her on the left.

Then I suggest that you ask the therapist for suggestions for effective exercises.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

We have left and right dogs, Bear was always my right hand dog, so when my knee went during lockdown and my OH was in isolation, off I hobbled, Bear persistently trying to walk in the way of the crutch on the right. Fun times.

 

[skinnydipper]

In addition to spin in both directions mentioned by CC -

Cavaletti poles, walk backwards, lift one paw at a time - start with 5 to 10 seconds, sit to stand, down to stand, roll over, balance cushion.

 

[BBP]

Balance pads might help, so effectively asking her to stand on an unstable surface. I have them for the horses so I assume they do them for dogs? She will have to distribute her weight evenly to avoid wobbling about. You just stand them on the balance pad/s for a few seconds at a time and build up.

 

[SAujla]

These ideas are great, I have no idea on treadmill sessions so will take the advice above not to do both on the same day. I like the balance pads idea I will try and find something like that. When she runs back to me her right side does overtake slightly so I can assess over time if things are improving