FITNESSfor yourK9 ATHLETE

outline below shows where each measurement should be taken.

MONTHLY PROGRESS TRACKER

MEASUREMENT

R THIGH

L THIGH

R FOREARM

L FOREARM

CHEST

WAIST

NECK

MONTH 1 MONTH 2 MONTH 3 MONTH 4 MONTH 5 MONTH 6

CHEST

WAIST

NECK

FOREARM

THIGH

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FITNESS FOR YOUR K9 ATHLETE

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Canine fitness encompasses many different components that come together to createthe elite canine athlete.

The canine fitness pyramid showsus how the building blocks offitness build on each otherto create that top endathlete.

The fitness pyramid begins with the foundational building blocks: balance and stabilization, cardiorespiratory fitness, body awareness, and flexibility.

Balance and Stabilization refers to the ability to maintain balance on different surfaces as well as spinal stabilization and joint stabilization. These are key to injury prevention and to providing strong anchor points for the body to use to build muscle. Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to the dog’s body being able to effectively utilize and metabolize energy and oxygen. Body Awareness, or proprioception, refers to the dog’s awareness of its body relative to its environment and specifically each individual leg. Better body awareness means increased intentional and purposeful movement. Purposeful movement means fewer mistakes and the ability to use the body efficiently. Flexibility is the ability of the muscles to contract and elongate properly.

This foundational level allows us to proceed to the functional level of primary strengthening. Primary Strengthening is the base level of strength that is needed to be functional in day to day life and to enjoy good quality of life. From there, advanced strengthening and endurance become possible. Advanced strengthening is necessary for dogs that participate in one or more of the many K9 sports and activities available today. This includes recreational athletes and weekend warriors as well as competitive athletes and working dogs.

The upper levels include speed, quickness and finally power. Speed is the ability to go fast. Quickness is the dog’s ability to accelerate or decelerate and change position rapidly and efficiently. Power is the ability to generate large amounts of force as fast as possible.

Every Dog

Conformation

Flyball, Lure Coursing, Herding

Agility

Protection Sports

Carting, Weight Pulling

Dock Diving

Every Dog

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While each dog has its own unique genetic blueprint, fitness and exercise principles tell us that we can enhance those natural talents and gifts and improve weaknesses. This is what we mean when we say maximize your dog’s physical potential. We want to help you do well at your chosen sport.

Each K9 activity requires different elements of the fitness pyramid. While achieving higher levels on the pyramid is beneficial for peak performance, the levels identified in the diagram below indicate our recommended minimum level for each type of sport. ALL dogs should do exercises from the foundational level categories and from the primary strengthening category.

Dog’s Name _____________________________ Age___________ Date ___________________

Fitness Goal for this Period __________________________________________________________

WEEKLY CARDIO EXERCISE TRACKER

DATE ACTIVITY NOTESINTENSITYTIME

EXERCISE PERFORMANCE NOTES

DATE EXERCISE WHAT WENT WELL - WHAT NEEDS WORK

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Dog’s Name _____________________________ Age___________ Date ___________________

Fitness Goal for this Period __________________________________________________________

FLEXIBILTY AND STRETCHING TRACKER

DATE STRETCH HOLDDURATION

PASSIVE/ACTIVE

PRIMARYBODY PART

EXERCISE PERFORMANCE NOTES

DATE STRETCH WHAT WENT WELL - WHAT NEEDS WORK

# OFREPS

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Dog’s Name _____________________________ Age___________ Date ___________________

Fitness Goal for this Period __________________________________________________________

BALANCE AND STABILIZATION EXERCISE TRACKER

DATE EXERCISE # OFSETS

HOLD/DURATIONEQUIPMENT

EXERCISE PERFORMANCE NOTES

DATE EXERCISE WHAT WENT WELL - WHAT NEEDS WORK

# OFREPS

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Dog’s Name _____________________________ Age___________ Date ___________________

Fitness Goal for this Period __________________________________________________________

BODY AWARENESS EXERCISE TRACKER

DATE EXERCISE # OFSETS

HOLD/DURATIONEQUIPMENT

EXERCISE PERFORMANCE NOTES

DATE EXERCISE WHAT WENT WELL - WHAT NEEDS WORK

# OFREPS

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Dog’s Name _____________________________ Age___________ Date ___________________

Fitness Goal for this Period __________________________________________________________

STRENGTH TRAINING EXERCISE TRACKER

DATE EXERCISE # OFSETS

BODY PARTFOCUSEQUIPMENT

EXERCISE PERFORMANCE NOTES

DATE EXERCISE WHAT WENT WELL - WHAT NEEDS WORK

# OFREPS

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Dog’s Name _____________________________ Age___________ Date ___________________

Fitness Goal for this Period __________________________________________________________

ADVANCED TRAINING - SPEED AND QUICKNESS EXERCISE TRACKER

DATE EXERCISE # OFSETS

HOLD/DURATIONEQUIPMENT

EXERCISE PERFORMANCE NOTES

DATE EXERCISE WHAT WENT WELL - WHAT NEEDS WORK

# OFREPS

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Dog’s Name _____________________________ Age___________ Date ___________________

Fitness Goal for this Period __________________________________________________________

ADVANCED TRAINING - POWER EXERCISE TRACKER

DATE EXERCISE # OFSETS

BODY PARTFOCUSEQUIPMENT

EXERCISE PERFORMANCE NOTES

DATE EXERCISE WHAT WENT WELL - WHAT NEEDS WORK

# OFREPS

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