Just like humans, the concept of canine physical fitness has often been ambiguous - tied to specific activities like running or agility. Fit to Work isn’t just a training program - it’s a formalised standard for what constitutes fitness for dogs.
Drawing inspiration from human fitness standards, Fit to Work defines canine fitness across measurable health and skill-related attributes. From cardiorespiratory endurance to agility and coordination, the program offers a comprehensive and holistic approach to measure and enhance a working dog's physical capabilities.
Just like humans, the concept of canine physical fitness has often been ambiguous - tied to specific activities like running or agility.
Basic canine fitness relies on a program that enhances mobility, stability, strength, and proprioception, focusing on the core and limbs to support physical tasks like running and jumping. This approach, grounded in science, aims to correct the natural weight distribution in dogs, potentially reducing injury risks and aiding in recovery, especially for working dogs facing rigorous activities.
The canine foundational fitness program complements existing working dog training routines by enhancing cardiovascular endurance and specific skills for improved career performance. It offers straightforward, progressive exercises suitable for various working dog roles, requiring minimal new training and low-cost, accessible equipment.
The challenge in canine fitness is creating a formalized, repeatable assessment method without existing systematic studies. This method should generate valid, reliable fitness data, using clear variables like exercise duration and distance. It must account for variability and learning effects among dogs, ensuring comparability to a broader population without needing highly experienced assessors. Minimizing human-dog interaction during assessment is crucial to maintain data integrity, with skills assessed reflecting real-world working dog requirements.
💡 Healthy dogs are more likely to be eligible for donating blood and helping other dogs!
Fit to Work isn’t just a training program - it’s a formalised standard for what constitutes fitness for dogs. Drawing inspiration from human fitness standards, Fit to Work defines canine fitness across measurable health and skill-related attributes. From cardiorespiratory endurance to agility and coordination, the program offers a comprehensive and holistic approach to measure and enhance a working dog's physical capabilities.
For our (unemployed and unfit 👀) pets, the application of Fit to Work could help foster better health outcomes because a fit dog is a healthy dog!
At the heart of Fit to Work lies a foundational fitness program meticulously crafted to address mobility, stability, strength, and proprioception - among other attributes. These components are crucial for performing basic physical tasks and for our pets to live happily.
By targeting core muscle groups and supporting soft tissues, Fit to Work aims to reduce the risk of injury and enhance overall performance. Whether it's navigating unstable surfaces or swiftly changing direction, a strong foundation is key for every canine.
Assessing canine fitness is paramount, yet establishing a formalised method has been a challenge. Fit to Work introduces a scientifically valid, reliable, and reproducible assessment process tailored specifically for working dogs. By focusing on clear outcome variables and minimizing human interaction, this assessment method yields objective data crucial for monitoring progress and identifying areas for improvement. With Fit to Work, we're not just guessing—we're quantifying the fitness levels of our working dogs with precision.
Moreover, Fit to Work is designed to be adaptable to various environments, ensuring that dogs can maintain their fitness routines whether they're at home, in the park, or on the go. This flexibility is crucial for owners with busy schedules, allowing them to integrate their pet's fitness activities into daily life seamlessly.
The program also emphasises the importance of mental stimulation and emotional well-being as integral components of canine fitness. Activities that challenge a dog's problem-solving skills, such as interactive toys and games, are incorporated to ensure a well-rounded approach to health and happiness.
Community support plays a vital role in the success of Fit to Work, with a dedicated online forum and local meet-up groups providing a space for owners to share experiences, tips, and encouragement. This sense of community not only fosters a supportive environment but also helps to spread awareness about the importance of canine fitness.
Never heard of these exercises, or how a dog should do them? Fret not, and look out for our next article deep-diving into each of these exercises!
References:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00470/full
Travis Ling
