Breakout Session 1 B: Topics in Canine Wellness and Training

The dog’s nose is an incredible tool to assist in a variety of tasks; however if the dog is unable to effectively move toward or reach the target odor, there is a risk of missing the target. In addition, dogs that lack the physical strength and body awareness are at greater risk of injury. Many training programs focus on odor detection, but overlook the physical fitness of the whole dog. A foundational fitness plan targets the strength, endurance, mobility, flexibility and body awareness of the dog. Exercise should start with a warm-up to help prepare the muscles and reduce the risk of injury. A targeted plan should include muscular strength and endurance of the power muscles in the limbs and the stabilizing muscles of the core. A fitness plan needs to balance strength exercises and cardiovascular endurance, while maintaining flexibility through active stretching. The plan should incorporate quantitative measures to evaluate performance and direct progress.

An example of such a program can be found at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00470/full.