Use a mixture of “sit”, “down” and “stand” commands to mobilise your dogs pelvis, hips & hindlimbs as a preparatory exercise. This is great before any exercise such as walks, training sessions or agility.
Tips to perform a correct sit:
- Work on smaller surfaces: Sitting on a reasonably smaller surface itself usually promotes better sitting position and thus helps strengthen correct muscle groups. We can use a slightly raised platform or balance pad to start with.
- Use a narrow path: Work with your dog on a narrow plank, just wide enough to promote good position of limbs, but narrow enough to prevent turning the feet out. It also helps to improve body awareness skills, and at the same time helps strengthen the limb adductors (muscles responsible for bringing/keeping the limbs closer to the body).
We also pay a lot of attention to the dog’s ability to maintain a correct sitting position during fitness exercises, because only working out with proper form (for a particular exercise) can give us the desired strengthening outcomes and great results! Therefore it is extremely important that we teach or help the dog achieve a proper sitting position first before we work out.