How to Use a FitPaws Wobble Board for Agility Training

When Rocco was a wee pup -- not too long ago! -- I bought a couple of items from FitPaws to help him feel comfortable walking on a variety of surfaces as well as for balance and core strength training.

Today I'm going to show you how we've used the 20" FitPaws Wobble Board to help prepare Rocco for the agility teeter AND to teach a two-on, two off contact.

When Rocco was just a few months old, he practiced walking across the Wobble Board. He felt the motion of it tipping and also learned to balance in the middle. He learned that it was fun to hear the noise it made as it tipped back and forth -- getting him prepared for the motion and noise of the agility teeter.

The folks at FitPaws say that balance training can help dogs with body awareness and self-confidence as they learn to master a changing and unstable environment. Puppies can be started early with balance training, like Rocco did, giving him a good head-start on getting in top condition both physically and mentally!

Check out how some other pups use FitPaws Wobble Boards for balance and core strength training and then see how Rocco practices his two-on, two off contact technique in the video below!

Rocco knows that "feet" means that his two rear feet should be on the board while his front feet are off.  That translates to him learning that he should pause briefly in that position on the bottom of agility contact equipment -- the teeter, A-frame and dog walk. That technique is used to help dogs understand they need to drive all the way to the bottom to each piece of equipment and not fly off from potentially unsafe heights!

The Wobble Board adds the extra challenge of motion, and by starting early, Rocco gained lots of confidence on things that move. How does your pup feel about things that move underfoot? 

The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With Love, SlimDoggy and Peggy's Pet Place to promote a healthy active lifestyle for pets (and their people, too!) and to help combat pet obesity. Join in every Friday by linking up your FitDog story or visiting the blogs in the Hop.