Clean Run - August 2010 - 65

Once Your Dog Is on the Ball Whatever position the dog initially takes on the ball is the position I start with. Some dogs prefer to lie down while others prefer to sit or stand. At this stage, let the dog choose the position he is most comfortable with. After a few sessions, you can begin to encourage different positions on the ball. Each dog is different and each dog takes to the ball at his own pace. Be patient and be confident with your dog. The more comfortable you feel, the more comfortable he will feel. Give him lots of treats and praise just for being on the ball. Bouncing the ball gently can help relax the dog. For some dogs, spreading peanut butter or Easy Cheese on the ball may be necessary initially to encourage them to stay on the ball. I have had dogs take three or four days to become comfortable on the ball and others that are immediately happy to stay on the ball all day. Your aim should be a 5-10 minute workout. Decrease the length of the session with older dogs or dogs with problems. During the initial phases of ball work, exercises should be performed every day for 10 to 14 days. It takes this long to make a difference in strength improvement. The areas that will be noticeable include the abdomen, the back of the legs, and the shoulders. In performance dogs, you will notice a difference in thigh girth and abdominal tone. After the initial period, the work can be reduced to three to four times a week. Because it may be strenuous for the dogs, I do not recommend doing the ball the day before or after a performance event. It should be saved for during the week.

The photos in this article show some of the exercises that can be done on the ball. For more exercises and more detailed information about different levels of programs, including puppy programs, please refer to my DVD, Get on the Ball Two. Note: While any exercise may be difficult for the dog to perform, at no time during or after the activity should the dog be in any discomfort. Some soreness is to be expected for up to 24 hours after the work, but nothing that should limit the dog’s lifestyle. Progression As the dog progresses, he will be able to do more difficult exercises on the ball. At all times, proper body position should be maintained and the dog should have his weight equally balanced. A common mistake is to push the dog to advanced exercises without insuring a proper base of strength has been established. I often see this with dogs recovering from iliopsoas injuries. Iliopsoas injuries involve a combination of the lower leg or groin region and the lower back. While core strength is imperative to return to performance, I have seen wellintentioned owners push their dogs on the ball without the dog bearing his weight equally on both hind limbs. In other words, the dog continues to favor the affected limb while on the ball. He may be completely sound standing on the ground and when walking or trotting. But the ball challenges the dog to place weight on the limb, so if he is not completely comfortable he will reduce the amount of weight on the affected limb. Ball exercises such as weight shifting and turning to the affected side should be performed until the dog is weight bearing fully. It may take up to two weeks of work to make a difference.

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Clean Run - August 2010

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