Paws to Performance Part 1: How to Start a Fitness Routine for Dogs

Platforms, inflatables, cavalettis and cones used for canine conditioning

If you're interested in starting a fitness program for your dog, you're in the right place!

Here's my step by step guide for a complete newbie to start a fitness routine for your dog.

Step 1: Check with your vet

Before starting any exercise program, it's important to ask your vet if it's safe for your dog. Some dogs have health conditions, like hip or elbow problems, that can make certain exercises dangerous.

If your dog has a chronic condition or an injury, ask your vet about working with a canine physiotherapist or rehab vet. If your dog is sick or pregnant, wait until your vet says it's safe to exercise.

Step 2: Choose a Training Space

You don’t need anything fancy! Just make sure you have a safe, non-slip surface, like a yoga mat or non-slip rug, to prevent your dog from slipping. You only need enough room for your dog to move around comfortably.

Make sure you work your dog on a non-slip surface. If you have hardwood floors, use a non-slip mat or yoga mat. This yoga mat folds for easy storage and can be used for foot targeting too. Never condition a dog on a slick surface, your dog can slip and get injured.

Step 3: Find a Fitness Trainer

Get a support system to help and motivate you. Most fitness trainers work remotely, and you'll want to make sure they are certified, as the canine fitness industry is unregulated. Your fitness trainer should have at least ONE of the following certifications:

1. CCAS: Certified Canine Athlete Specialist

2. CCSC: Canine Conditioning and Strength Coach

3. CPCFT: Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer

4. CCFT: Certified Canine Fitness Trainer

These trainers are skilled in helping dogs exercise safely and designing balanced fitness programs. They can guide you through exercises and let you know when to make them more challenging for your dog.

Paragon Pups' Free Intro Program or AKC Fit Dog Level 1 are good choices for beginner dogs.

Step 4: Training Tools and Props

For beginners, you’ll need a few simple props, like foot targets (something your dog can stand on) and platforms for sit, down, and stand exercises. You can also use everyday items like 2x4s, yoga mats, or small stools.

Like your work out environment, your props need to be non-slip too. Cover them with skateboard or grip tape, kitchen shelf lining, rubber matting scraps, carpet squares or anything else easy for you. I also like Velcro on the bottom of my targets, so they don't move when the dogs put their paws on them. There are tons of small businesses who make and sell conditioning equipment online. There's also a ton of DIY tutorials out there.

folding stool

Start small with a couple platforms and foot targets. Add things as you need/want them.

Novice Props:

The first two items you'll want to get right away. The others you can add in the next few weeks.

1. Foot targets: something for your dog to put their paws on. 2x4's with grip tape or yoga balance pads work well for this. This folding stool is a favorite, it's easy to transfer and you can pick which legs to fold down, so you can get some height variation too. There are lots of other options.

The folding stool is a perfect platform for a Heeler

Same folding stool with two legs extended

Adjustable aerobic bench

2. Sit, Down, Stand platforms: a plank of some sort for your dog to move from a sit to a stand to a down. Klimbs, Cato boards, and aerobic benches are popular. The aerobic bench has adjustable height, which will come in handy for advanced incline/decline exercises later.

Make sure your dog has enough room to sit, stand and down on the platform. Getting something too big will let your dog cheat, and getting something too small will cause imbalances. We want a "goldilocks" platform that's just right. The platform should be 1-1.5" wider than your dog and 2-2.5x longer than your dog. (More info and instructions on how to measure your dog coming soon)

3. Mirror: This is optional, but helpful. I use a mirror so I can check rear end alignment when sitting in front of my dog.

4. Cavalettis: a set of at least 5-6 PVC pipes, agility jump bars, dowel rods or something similar for your dog to trot over. You'll need something to hold your rails in place, like yoga blocks, cones with holes in them, or creased aluminum cans.

Cavaletti Set

Pool Noodles

Pool noodles (optional): you can use a noodle to wrap around your cavaletti rails. Recommended if your dog is likely to injure a foot or nail from hitting their paws on the rails. These already have a slit cut down the long end, so they are super easy to put around your poles.

5. Pivot Pod: Something small for your dog to rotate around. Rubber feed bowls and cement pavers from the hardware store are popular choices. If you get a rubber bowl, the Fortex brand will not crush with the dog's weight.

Agility Ladder

6. Ladder: You can connect a bunch of PVC or dowel rods together to make your ladder. The one I use came with my cavaletti set and I wrapped the outside fabric in pool noodles to make it dog friendly. There's tons of DIY tutorials online for this.

Here's a video of a cute cattle dog puppy using the ladder. (I may be biased)

Target Stick

7. Target stick: (optional) Target sticks act like an extension of your arm. Very helpful for handlers with small dogs, handlers who have trouble sitting on the floor with their dog, and for a rear foot to hand (or target stick) target. You can start with a spatula, but this one is telescoping so you can change the length.

Here's my hound showing your how it's done:

8. Wobble Board: This board has a large base, for dogs of all sizes, and 3 different size fulcrums so it's very easy to change height and difficulty.

Here's that cute cattle dog again showing you how it's done:

9.Klimb Table:

Klimb platforms are very versatile for behavior, trick and fitness training. They also stack and store easily. You can use a Klimb:

1. Stationing behaviors and stays

2. Foot targeting and confidence building

3. Platform training

4. In obstacle courses and movement puzzles

5. As a wobble board (put the short legs on diagonal corners)

6. Use your imagination!

KLIMB Table

Buy Now

*I would NOT use a Klimb table for precision training. For example, a Klimb table is too wide to train a square sit. Once your dog knows a square sit, you can use the Klimb for other exercises and tricks. My favorite trick on a Klimb is a high five in a square sit, after your dog already knows both skills.

10. Plyo box: optional. This is the same thing people jump on at the gym. It's a great elevated solid surface for advanced exercises for our dogs too. Tons of DIY tutorials and options to buy pre-made. The tallest side of the plyo box should be the same height as your dog's point of the shoulder (where the dog's upper arm connects to the shoulder blade in the front of the chest).

Here's a short video of what some of this stuff looks like:

*Some links include affiliate links, which I may make a small commission if you use the link to purchase an item.

Let's review your checklist:

Blessing from your dog's vet? check

Found a credentialed fitness trainer? check

Enrolled in a program? check

Have some stable fitness equipment? check

Now what?

Now it's time to start working your dog!

Click Here for Pt 2