Strength & Conditioning Class

Purpose: Educate dog owners on safe and effective strengthening techniques to optimize health and prevent injuries.

Exercises: Core Stabilization, Eccentric and Concentric Spinal Extension, Eccentric and Concentric Limb Flexion and Extension, Coordination, Proprioceptive Awareness, Endurance.

Methods: All strengthening exercises are taught slowly with control allowing all levels of dogs to participate. Conditioning exercises will increase heart rate and teach owners how to put fun into fitness with their pets.

Contraindications: Acute injuries, ligament spraings/strains/tears, function limiting arthritis, unstable cardiac conditions, behavioral issues.

Stretch the Dog! Class

Based on the patent-pending Foster Canine Stretch Method, this class with each dog owners how to safely and effectively stretch their dogs to optimize movement and prevent injuries.

The Five-Step Stretching Technique

1. Warm-up: In order for a stretch to be safe and effective the tissues must be warm (1,2). Warm-up is recommended for all dogs but is required for geriatric animals due to tissue frailty and the increased likelihood of injuries (3).

2. Relaxation: The definition of a passive stretch is lengthening of muscle and connective tissues (4). In order to ensure relaxation of muscle tissue in dogs, they must be lying down prior to beginning a stretch.

3. Joint Stabilization: To keep the muscle tissues relaxed during a stretch, the joint must be stabilized. Stabilization is defined as manually supporting the joint which prevents reflex responses and allows the muscle to remain relaxed throughout the stretch (5,6).

4. Straight Plane Movement: To ensure the correct muscles are being stretched and to prevent incorrectly stretching supporting ligamentous structures (especially in the stifle joint), the limb is lifted into a straight plane in relation to the joint is being stretched.

5. Stretch: The stretch is held for at least 30 seconds.