This exercise works on core strengthening and overall stability. Select a platform that is just slightly wider than the natural stance of the dog. This will allow the dog to stand squarely with his feet underneath him. The narrower platform increases the difficulty for the dog.

Use your treats to lure the dog onto the platform until all four feet are on. Reward the dog when his feet are still. Build up to the dog standing still for 30 seconds with a 15 second break in between sets. Repeat 3 times. Once the dog can hold the stance, walk around the dog in each direction. Aim for 5 circles each direction with a 10 second rest in between. Repeat 2 times.

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This exercise works on core strengthening and overall strength and stability. Select two platforms that are the same height. With your treats at the dog’s head height, lure him forward until his front feet are on one platform and his hind feet are on the second platform. Reward the dog for standing still on the two platforms. If the dog moves any of his feet off a platform, stay quiet with your hands still, and allow him to try and correct himself by moving his feet back onto the platforms.

To begin a new repetition, lure your dog with treats off the platforms, turn the dog back towards the platforms to begin again. Build up to the dog standing still for 30 seconds with a 15 second break in between sets. Repeat 3 times. Once the dog can hold the stance, walk around the dog in each direction. Aim for 5 circles each direction with a 10 second rest in between. Repeat 2 times.

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This exercise works on overall strength, stability and balance. Add some instability by replacing one of the platforms with a FitPAWS Disc. Start with front feet on the disc and back feet on the platform (this is generally easier for the dog). Follow the same instructions as for four feet on two platforms. Reward when the dog’s feet are still.

If the dog moves any of his feet off a platform or disc, stay quiet with your hands still, and allow him to try and correct himself by moving his feet back onto the disc or platform. Slowly increase the length of time the dog stands on the two objects. Once he has mastered front feet on the disc, try the exercise with front feet on platform and back feet on the disc.

It is generally harder for dogs to recognize where to put their hind feet, especially on an object that may be smaller or unstable. In the video, you will notice that George has a hard time keeping his left hind leg on the disc, showing us that he is weaker in his left hind. Build up to the dog standing still for 30 seconds with a 15 second break in between sets. Repeat 3 times. Once the dog can hold the stance, walk around the dog in each direction. Aim for 5 circles each direction with a 10 second rest in between. Repeat 2 times.

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This exercise works on overall strength, stability and balance. Add more instability by using FitPAWS Discs or FITbones in place of the two platforms. Follow the same instructions as for four feet on two platforms. Reward when the dog’s feet are still. If the dog moves any of his feet off a platform or disc, stay quiet with your hands still, and allow him to try and correct himself by moving his feet back onto the disc or bone.

Slowly increase the length of time the dog stands on the two objects. Build up to the dog standing still for 30 seconds with a 15 second break in between sets. Repeat 3 times. Once the dog can hold the stance, walk around the dog in each direction. Aim for 5 circles each direction with a 10 second rest in between. Repeat 2 times.

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 These exercises work on strengthening the core and overall stability of the dog. Have the dog stand on a non-slick surface. Start with the first exercise listed below. As the dog gains stability, you can progress to more challenging exercises listed.

With the dog standing, place a bowl with some treats in front of the dog to give him a forward focus. The dog will need some impulse control to stay still. Always place your hands under the carpus on the forelimb and at the hock on the hindlimb. If the dog tries to put its weight on your hands that are holding the legs, just drop your hands briefly to show the dog that you will not hold up his weight. Once these exercises become easy for the dog, try rocking the dog with your body while holding up his legs to get him to further engage the core. Start with 5 seconds for each lift, then build to 30 seconds for each lift. Do 3 sets of repetitions with a 5 second rest in between reps.  

3 Legged Stand

Center yourself sideways to the dog’s ribcage. Lift one foot at a time, starting with the front foot. Periodically feed a treat from the bowl to reward.

Hemistand

Center yourself sideways to the dog’s ribcage. Lift one front foot, then lift the opposing hind foot (ex- left front and right hind), while still holding up the front foot. Switch sides. Periodically feed a treat from the bowl to reward.

Diagonal Leg Lifts

Center yourself sideways to the dog’s ribcage. Lift one front foot, then lift the hind foot on the same side (ex- left front and left hind), while still holding up the front foot. Switch sides. Periodically feed a treat from the bowl to reward.

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This exercise works on core, hind-end and shoulder strengthening. The goal is to have the dog keep his hind feet stationary, rock his hind-end into a sit, then push from his hind legs to walk his front feet forward into a stand, and repeat that pattern. You can use a mat and have the dog’s hind feet on a flat target to help him keep the correct form. Have treats ready to reward with in your hands.

Face the dog with the dog standing in front of you. Move your treat hand slightly above and to the top of the dog’s nose and ask for a sit. This should encourage your dog to rock his hind-end back into a sit. Mark and reward. To have the dog stand, hold your treat hand at the dog’s nose and lure him forward into a stand. Mark and reward.

Depending on the dog, your hands may need to be closer or farther away from his mouth when working on this exercise.  In the video, George has a difficult time keeping his hind feet stationary. Training the hind feet on a target first (see video and instructions) gave him the skill of keeping his hind feet on the target. In this new exercise, George needed to think about where his hind feet were. You see he improves with repetition. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

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This exercise works on core, hind-end and shoulder strengthening. Add a little bit more challenge by having the dog stand on a raised platform. The platform should only be slightly wider than the width of your dog’s feet when he stands square. By working the dog on a platform, it causes the dog to keep his feet squarely under him as he does the position changes. Work this exercise as you did the sit to stand on the flat. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

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This exercise works on core and hind-end strengthening. The goal is to have the dog keep his front feet stationary, tuck his hind feet under him into a sit, then kick back into a stand, and repeat that pattern. You can use a mat and have the dog’s front feet on a flat target to help him keep the correct form. Have treats ready to reward with in your hands.

Face the dog with the dog standing in front of you. With hands together, move them slightly above and in front of the dog’s nose and ask for a sit. This should encourage your dog to stretch forward and bring his hind legs under him (a tuck), instead of rocking back into the sit. Mark and reward. To have the dog stand, hold your hands together and place them just beneath the dog’s chin level. The dog should drop his head slightly down and towards his chest, causing him to kick his hind legs back into a stand.

Depending on the dog, your hands may need to be closer or farther away from his mouth when working on this exercise.  In the video, Pi moves his front feet quite a bit; so I steady him by holding the collar with one hand and using the other hand to lure him into the sit and the stand. With more practice, he should get better at holding his front feet still. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

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This exercise works on core and hind-end strengthening. Add a little bit more challenge by having the dog’s front feet on a low platform. Work this exercise as you did the sit to stand on the flat.

The goal is to have the dog keep his front feet stationary, tuck his hind feet under him into a sit, then kick back into a stand, and repeat that pattern. If needed, you can steady the dog with a hand on the collar if he moves his front feet too much. With more practice, he should get better at holding his front feet still, so the work is in the hind end. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

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This exercise works on core and hind-end strengthening. Replace the low platform with a more unstable object like a FitPAW disc. Adding instability with the disc will increase the difficulty of this exercise for the dog. Work this exercise as you did the sit to stand on the flat and the platform.

The goal is to have the dog keep his front feet stationary, tuck his hind feet under him into a sit, then kick back into a stand, and repeat the pattern. If needed, you can steady the dog with a hand on the collar if he moves his front feet too much. With more practice, he should get better at holding his front feet still, so the work is in the hind end. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

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This exercise works on core and hind-end strengthening. Add a little bit more challenge by having the dog stand on a raised platform. The platform should only be slightly wider than the width of your dog’s feet when he stands square. By working the dog on a platform, it causes the dog to keep his feet squarely under him as he does the position changes. Work this exercise as you did the sit to stand on the flat. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

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This exercise works on core, hind-end and shoulder strengthening. The goal is to have the dog keep all four feet stationary, fold his body back into a down, then push from his hind legs into a stand, and repeat that pattern. You can use a mat to help the dog stay straight and still, as he does this exercise. Have treats ready to reward with in your hands.

Face the dog with the dog standing in front of you. Hold your treats with your hands together and at the dog’s mouth level. Slightly move your hand at an angle down and towards the dog’s front legs and cue down. He should fold his body back into a down. Mark and reward. To have the dog stand, reverse your hand motion to guide the dog slightly forward and up into a stand. Mark and reward.

Depending on the dog, your hands may need to be closer or farther away from his mouth when working on this exercise. This exercise is more effective when the dog moves slowly and carefully. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

Link to video example

This exercise works on core, hind-end and shoulder strengthening. Add a little bit more challenge by having the dog on a raised platform. The platform should only be slightly wider than the width of your dog’s feet when he stands square. By working the dog on a platform, it causes the dog to keep his feet squarely under him as he does the position changes. Work this exercise as you did the sit to stand on the flat. Build up to 3 sets of 6 reps each with a 15 second break in between sets.

Link to video example