Clean Run Magazine - July 2008 - 23

To Improve Reach and Drive If improving reach and drive is your goal, leave the rails on the ground, but increase the distance between the cavalettis by 1" per week. For example, if you started with the cavalettis placed 22" apart in week one, increase the spacing to 23" in week two. Do 5 to 10 repetitions up to 5 times per week. In week three, increase the distance by another 1". Continue increasing the distance by 1" per week and doing 5 to 10 repetitions up to 5 times per week. You will get to a point where the dog cannot reach any farther and she will put in an extra stride between cavalettis. Decrease the distance between the cavalettis to the last point where the dog was successful and leave them at that spacing. Do not push the dog if she is having difficulty with the exercise or hitting the rails. If either is happening, shorten the distance between the cavalettis. The goal is to foster confidence and distance in a dog’s stride, not to frustrate or overface her. Once the optimal distance has been reached, continue to do 5 to 10 repetitions once or twice a week. Gradually moving the cavalettis farther apart allows you to work on improving your dog’s reach and drive. To Improve Balance, Range of Motion, and Coordination To work on increased balance, range of motion, placement of the forelimbs and hind limbs, and coordination, raise the rails of the cavalettis off the ground. To determine the starting height, measure your dog’s hock (the distance from the ground to the point of the hock) and divide that number in half. So, if the length of your dog’s hock is 4", the rails should be raised to 2". The distance between the cavalettis remains the same (equal to the height of the dog at the withers). Increasing the height of the cavalettis forces the dog to do three things: concentrate further on the position of her limbs; increase range of motion in her wrists, elbows, hocks, and knees; and bear weight on all limbs equally as she goes over the cavalettis. Do 5 to 10 repetitions at a walk, up to 5 times per week. You can increase the intensity of the exercise by raising the cavalettis to two-thirds the length of the hock, and then to the level of the point of the hock. However, the cavalettis should never be raised above the hock, because doing so will place a significant amount of repetitive stress on the joints. When you increase the intensity by raising the height of the cavalettis, you should initially walk the dog over them. Then you can attempt trotting. The dog should be encouraged to trot over the cavalettis and not to bounce jump them. Sometimes, if the rails are set too high, the dog perceives them as jumps and is ready to bound over them. Having the dog on leash will help discourage this. Do 5 to 10 repetitions, up to 5 times per week. D This dog’s hock length is 6" so the cavalettis are set at 3" high. Increasing the height of cavalettis works on balance, range of motion, and coordination. Debbie Gross Saunders is a licensed physical therapist and a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner with over 13 years of experience in the field. She and her husband have a rehabilitation and training center on their farm in Connecticut where they specialize in the rehabilitation, nutrition, and conditioning of dogs. Her book Canine Physical Therapy is available from www.wizardofpaws.net as is her quarterly newsletter, Wizard of Paws, which features the latest in exercise and rehabilitation. Contact Debbie at wizofpaws@aol.com. July 08 | Clean Run 23

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Clean Run Magazine - July 2008

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