Just like us, dogs can benefit from a stretching and strengthening program. It can build and maintain muscle mass, improve body awareness and balance, Alpha Surge Male testosterone support and provide a physical and mental workout. Canine athletes definitely gain an advantage from this type of conditioning, Alpha Surge Male testosterone support but senior dogs also need to stay limber. Couch potatoes and bored dogs can reap rewards, too, since the activity is mentally stimulating. Plus, some of these exercises can even be tailored to puppies as part of their training and Alpha Surge Male testosterone support socialization. While you can hire a professional trainer or enroll in a class, you can also provide your dog with simple conditioning exercises at home. All it takes are a few basic props and some motivating treats. Before you begin any canine conditioning program, make sure your vet approves. For example, although senior dogs need to stay limber, a case of severe arthritis might make certain movements inappropriate.
Puppies also shouldn’t engage in a variety of actions, like jumping or extended balancing, until their bones have finished developing. Although commonly called “puppy push-ups,” this exercise is a great warm-up and muscle builder for Alpha Surge Male testosterone support dogs of any age. Plus, it has the benefit of honing basic obedience behaviors. A simple puppy push-up is having your dog move from a sit position to a down position, then back into a sit. To increase the difficulty, Alpha Surge Male testosterone support teach your dog to stand on cue, which can be done using the lure-and-reward method. Hold a treat to your sitting dog’s nose, then slowly pull forward to lure your dog into a standing position. Once your dog understands all three positions-sit, stand, and down-you can combine them into a more complex puppy push-up. Or, to increase the muscle-building, have your dog go from a stand to a down and then back to a stand again without the sit in the middle.
Stretching is great for keeping your dog limber. It’s also useful for warming up before exercise and cooling down after. But how do you tell your dog to do it? One way is to teach your dog to stretch on cue. This can be done by capturing behavior your dog does naturally. As soon as you see your dog stretching, like after a nap, mark the movement with a clicker or marker word, then immediately praise and reward them. Pretty soon your dog will be offering the behavior to earn a treat. At that point, you can add a verbal cue. Now, you can ask your dog to stretch as part of your exercise sessions. Another method involves the use of a target stick. You can buy a target stick or make your own by coloring one end of a dowel rod. First, teach your dog to touch the end of the stick with their nose.
Most dogs will do this naturally when first presented with the stick because they want to smell it. As soon as your dog’s nose touches the end of the stick, mark the action with a clicker or marker word, then reward. Once your dog understands the value of touching the end of the stick, alpha surge male supplement alpha surge male vitality formula male vitality formula you can use the stick to lure them into various stretching positions. For example, for a neck stretch, hold the stick above your dog’s head to get a neck extension or place it on a shoulder to get a side stretch. Walking in a figure-eight pattern is a great way to stretch your dog’s back and improve spinal flexibility. All you need are two props-cones, garbage cans, or even food tins. Simply place the two objects several feet apart and lead your dog around and through them by luring with a treat. To tighten the turn and therefore the stretch, move the objects closer together. You can even have your dog weave between your legs as you stand with your feet apart.
Teaching your dog to balance on various surfaces helps build muscle and increase body awareness. Start with a steady surface and simply teach your dog to place all four paws on it. A good starter prop would be an upside-down shallow plastic storage bin. The goal isn’t height but to get your dog to stand on the object. Once your dog understands the game, you can introduce the element of balance. Choose objects that are safe but will require some core work on your dog’s part. For alpha surge male supplement alpha surge male reviews best male enhancement supplement muscle builder example, large sofa cushions will work for large dogs and smaller pillows for smaller dogs. You can even use an inflatable canine exercise disc. As long as the surface is a bit unsteady underfoot, your dog will have to work to stand on top. As your dog gains confidence, you can even encourage balancing with their front paws on one object and Alpha Surge Male testosterone support back paws on another. Another way to build strength and body awareness is with a wobble board.