All elements of total fitness from true canine sports science are integrated into the CCA programs giving your dog an outstanding Core. Our unique programs are designed to develop:
Balance
It might not cross your mind, but our dogs need good balance in just about everything they do. Balance is the ability to control the body’s position whether moving or stationary and is a key component of fitness.
Balance improves:
- Posture
- Co-ordination
- Body awareness
- Proprioception
- Steadiness
- Increases joint stability
- Strengthens muscles
More efficient balanced, movement is the key to reducing injury in dogs.
Mental
Increased mental activity results in improved cognitive function, builds confidence, releases stress, and strengthens our mutual bond.
Did you know that mental activity increases the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain, provides stimulation and develops new neural pathways?
When learning new movement patterns, they need to be calm and relaxed as our dogs learn best when they are in a rest and digest state.
Our science-based exercises are slow, controlled, and targeted. Through the course, you will see visible physical and emotional changes with them being more focused on you.
Flexibility
The range of motion in a joint or group of joints. Dogs use only around 30% of their full range of movement and each has a different range of movement or different level of flexibility in direction and distance.
The flexibility exercises in our program improve the elasticity of your dog’s muscles, so increasing their range of movement, which in turn improves the health of your dog’s muscles and joint health.
Benefits:
- Joints can move more freely allowing for more functional movement
- Equal use of muscles
- Greater contractability
- Handle tasks easier, leading to improved performance
Cardio
We start all our Canine Core Conditioning sessions with a warm-up routine a critical element of our programs.
This gets your dog’s heart pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood around their organs, tissues and muscles ensuring their muscles are warmed up, they will not tire as quickly and are less likely to injure themselves.
Our aim is to ensure that muscles receive sufficient oxygenated blood to keep their muscles working at sustained levels
Oh, and there is also a cool down, which helps the heart to return to its normal resting state.
Strength
Developing strength from inside out…
The key to a fit, healthy, flexible, and balanced dog – reaching its full potential.
Our exercises are carried out slowly – slow movements amplify the impact of strengthening exercises that incorporate balance and proprioception and allow us to consider and evaluate signs of fatigue that we may otherwise miss.
The balance of muscle flexibility and strength has been shown to reduce the risk of muscle strain.
Strength with full flexibility is key to correct and safe movement.
Specific
Our dog’s whole body, their muscles, bones, tendons & ligaments adapts to the demands imposed on them – meaning their body is placed under some form of stress and they will make adaptations that allow the body to better withstand this.
So, if you train X you will improve X, this is not just applied to physical skills but also reflected in their motor skills. Allowing for the neurons to develop faster lines of communication, making the memory execute automatically without conscious effort or thought
Working with your dog’s individual, needs, I tailor their programs to their activities of daily living and/or their job or sport.