How to warm up your dog before training

If you are planning a workout or just an active long walk, it would be nice to stretch the dog. A warm-up typically takes 5 to 15 minutes, but greatly improves your dog’s chances of avoiding injury, working more efficiently, and enjoying the workout. How to stretch the dog before training?

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Warming up a dog before training includes the following components:

1. Joint work. Flex and extend the dog’s joints, starting with the fingers and ending with the shoulders and hip joints. Five movements of each joint are enough. It is important that the amplitude is not too large – do not apply excessive force.
2. Tilts the dog’s head to the tips of her fingers. Five repetitions are enough. It is very important not to force the dog to stretch more than he can.
3. Turning the dog’s head to the shoulders and elbows, as well as to the hip joint (the dog stretches its nose for a treat). Five repetitions are enough. Don’t push your dog into bending over more than he can.
4. Walk your dog or jog for at least five minutes.

The best way to show your dog what to do is to use hover with your pet’s favorite treat (such as cookies). And, when the dog’s head is in the right position during the stretch, let him chew on the treat for 5 to 10 seconds.

There is also a special warm-up, which allows you to prepare the dog for a specific type of training.

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Remember that the older the dog and the colder it is outside, the longer the warm-up should be. But in any case, the warm-up should not tire the dog.

And do not forget that the cool-down is just as important as the warm-up – it allows the dog’s body to return to normal functioning.