Ask the Expert: Strength training for dogs (Episode 47)

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Pickle's physio: registered veterinary nurse, and animal physiotherapist Sophie Sparrow about common canicross injuries, and how best to condition our dogs to help prevent these.

Sophie talks us through how to recognise injuries in our dogs (who are very good at hiding weaknesses from us!) and how we can best treat these.

We also talk about the kind of strength training our dogs should be doing. Top tip - walk VERY VERY slowly!

Sophie refers to two canicross specific papers in this episode which make for fascinating reading:

Internet-based survey evaluating the impact of ground substrate on injury and performance in canine agility athletes. 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1025331/full

PERFORMANCE CHANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF ADULT ONE DOG TEAM CANICROSS RUNNERS. Ashlyn Jendro 2018. https://commons.nmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1575&context=theses

The Jena study (2011) analysed locomotion of 32 different dog breeds.

Jena study

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAvOPCp6Itk

Book - Dogs in Motion Fischer and Lilje (2016)