Author: Carmen Mayer
Format: Paperback
Length: 130 pages with over 100 illustrations
Release Date: 2017
In this book, Carmen Mayer, a clicker training and canine freestyle enthusiast, provides us with targeted muscle training for dogs. She developed the concept of gymnastricks when her 12-year-old Beagle developed hip dysplasia. With the help of an experienced canine physiotherapist, Mayer put together this unique program that combines easy-to-train exercises to keep your dog healthy and strong with great tricks for you both to enjoy, stimulating both body and mind!
Gymnastrics is ideal as a warm-up for dog sports, mental and physical training for your older or retired dog, rehab from injury, or as general balance, stability or body awareness exercises. No special equipment is required, so it is inclusive to all.
Featuring clearly laid out, step-by-step guidance and color photos, this book provides a fun and easy way to improve your dog's muscle tone and fitness, and have fun along the way.
About the Author
Carmen Mayer owns two beagles and is actively involved in canine freestyle in Germany, be it as competitor, judge, or chaiperson for a European association of canine freestyle enthusiasts. She is a huge fan of clicker training and has completed CAP2 of Kay Laurence's clicker trainer programme. When her older dog Lou developed hip dysplasia, she had the idea to use some canine freestyle elements in order to build up more muscles. Together with intensive study of this field via seminars, books and DVDs, she developed further exercises in order to target special muscle groups individually.
Chapter One focuses on your dog’s core muscles. Mayer takes us step by step through the following exercises, providing both a beginner and more advanced version for some.
- Standing on all four paws
- Standing with stretched neck
- Down to stand
- Between your legs (with circular movement)
- Standing on your feet
- Balancing on two legs (sideways)
- Balancing on two legs (diagonally)
- Backwards Slalom
- Moving sideways
- Slalom (with variations)
- Sit-ups
- Hold
- Looking down
- Head down
- Looking through the feet
- Balancing a bowl
- Head to the side
Chapter Two moves on to the forelimb muscles, including back muscles. The exercises featured include:
- Digging
- Giving paws
- Lifting and holding a paw
- Pushing paws against you
- Down-sit and sit-down
- Straight sit
- Take a bow
Chapter Three then looks at the following hind limb muscles exercise, also including the back muscles:
- Sit-stand
- Lifting a hind leg
- Sitting pretty
- Standing upright with help
- Standing upright without help
- Walking backwards in a straight line
- Down-Take a bow
Chapter Four concentrates on exercises that target all the muscles groups and includes:
- Crawling
- Balancing a bowl on the back
- Going upstairs backwards
- Walking consciously
- Changing the pace
- Looking straight ahead while walking forward
- Stepping underneath
Chapter Five shows how to intensify the exercises by teaching your dog to hold something while doing them, or by using weighted bandages.
