Friday, September 27, 2013

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 LoveSlimDoggy 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.


21 comments:

  1. He doesn't seem to care too much. He was a little nervous when we rode an elevator for the first time but he got over it.

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    1. That's great! Some dogs don't like the feeling of movement underfoot.

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  2. Good job Rocco - you are going to be a superstar agility dog!

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    1. Thanks pal! As you can see, it's all fun and games for Rocco... as it should be!

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  3. PAWsome way to learn how to "touch" just the back paws. Woof to you Rocco. Happy FitDogFriday. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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    1. Thanks pal! Rocco loves this game! Happy FitDog Friday to you!

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  4. Cool idea...maybe my little sister would like one of those, I will have to check them out online.

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    1. They come in two sizes. We got the smallest one (this 20-inch one) when Rocco was about three months old and he'll never get too big for it!

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  5. You are such a talented dog Rocco! I don't like anything that moves under my feet! Love Dolly

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    1. Don't feel bad Dolly. Lots of doggies don't like things that move!

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  6. Great job Rocco! We love FitPAWS for balance workouts.

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  7. Rita's afraid of a lot of things - including elevators and other unstable things. I don't know if she would like the wobbleboard, but I know a lot of folks with 3 legged dogs (I used to have one myself) who use the wobbleboards and love them for developing good core strength!

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  8. Cool! I've never seen such a thing. I wonder if I should get one for Pierson.

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  9. I've heard of those but never seen them is action! Thanks for the little intro.

    Dina Mom

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  10. Would this board be big enough for my 23 lb. Boston Terrier?

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