{"id":6597,"date":"2022-01-04T17:15:10","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T15:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogsolutions.co.za\/?post_type=tva_lesson&p=6597"},"modified":"2023-04-26T01:53:25","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T23:53:25","slug":"front-foot-targeting","status":"publish","type":"tva_lesson","link":"https:\/\/dogsolutions.co.za\/biokinetic-k9\/course\/front-foot-targeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Staggered Push-Ups"},"content":{"rendered":"

View our live Discussion on this Exercise in the Push-Ups Lesson<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

Equipment required<\/h3>\n

1 x Low stable box for the front feet that is no more than wrist height<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ensure your equipment is a good size for your dog – the box should not be too small and comfortable for both front feet to stand on. The box should be stable on the ground (non-slip) and on the top surface where the paws are placed.  Ensure that it is sturdy enough, so it won’t flip over when your dog steps onto it from the side.<\/p>\n

1 x plank\/platform on the ground for the back feet<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your platform should be low, stable, and non-slip so that your dog is comfortable standing on it with his back feet.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Muscles worked<\/h3>\n

This is a front-end strengthening exercise engaging biceps, triceps, pectoral muscles along with the latissimus dorsi, trapezius and rhomboideus and neck muscles. Due to the lateral stepping of one front leg, the core, pelvis, hips are also engaged to provide stability.<\/p>\n

This is an important exercise for dogs engaging in agility, flyball and competitive obedience and protection sport as it addresses each side of the shoulder assembly, one side at a time.  Trainers can address muscle imbalances brought to the front assembly through the competitive training of these sports.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Performing the Exercise<\/h3>\n

Start with your dog in a square stand with front feet elevated on the low box.  Make sure your dog’s posture is correct with front legs directly under the shoulders and back leg hocks perpendicular to the floor.<\/p>\n

Ask your dog to step off the box with one front leg while keeping his back legs stationary on the rear platform with minimal movement. Do this by simply placing your treat on the floor next to the box where your dog’s front paws are on.<\/p>\n

Your dog will naturally step off the box with one foot (laterally sidestep off the box) and lower his head to get to the treat.<\/p>\n

Reward when your dog steps back up onto the box with the front paw that was on the ground, always striving for neutral head and spine positions. Repeat the exercise on the same side at least 5 – 10 times and then move to the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

Wait for your dog to be balanced before asking to sidestep in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

Do not move too quickly through your repetitions – you are looking for purposeful, controlled stepping which is accomplished when performing the exercise slowly.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Watchpoints:<\/h3>\n

Don’t rush from side to side without allowing your dog to establish balance first.<\/p>\n

Watch your reward\/treat placement positions!!  Try to ensure that your reward is placed at a neutral head position once both front feet are on the elevated box (not too high or so low that the head is in line with the spine).  To lower the head, simply place the treat on the floor next to the elevated box.<\/p>\n

Treat placement on the floor provides 3 positions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. directly next to the box in line with the front paw placements<\/li>\n
  2. slightly to the back of the box so that the dog must lean slightly backward to reach the treat<\/li>\n
  3. slightly to the front of the box so that the dog needs to reach forward with his front foot to reach the treat – this is the more difficult of the three positions as the dog needs to reach forward from the back legs without leaving the back platform and still maintain balance. For this position you may simply hold the treat low and forward (in front of the dog and lightly to one side), rather than placing it on the ground to encourage the forward stretch in the neck and withers while incorporating balance and control in the core in an almost “planked” position in the rear end. To return to the starting position, the dog needs to “pull back” on the leg that is still on the box and on the core and hamstrings, thereby engaging much of the muscles used in deceleration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

    Progressions<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Increase repetitions 10 – 12 each side<\/li>\n
    2. Change equipment set up:<\/li>\n
    3. Slightly elevate the front elevation (no more than midway between the elbow and wrist) so that posture remains uncompromised.<\/li>\n
    4. Elevate the rear platform slightly – placing more weightbearing on the shoulders<\/li>\n
    5. Switch to an unstable surface for front and\/or rear feet (such as an exercise foam pad)<\/li>\n
    6. Create a 3-tier front step surface with each step being no higher than pastern height e.g. ground level is tier 1, the low box height is tier 2 and a slightly higher tier for tier 3 (tier 3 height would be similar to the height of the 2 low boxes stacked on top of one another) – VERY IMPORTANT<\/span><\/strong> – this is slightly more advanced and you would need to make sure your dog is very comfortable with the one elevated box as the extra height is more dangerous should your dog slip. It is also VERY important that these levels are sturdy and stable and will not fall over or tip over if stood on from the side.  Always use controlled slow steps when moving up and down the levels.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \n

      Videos for this exercise<\/h3>\n

      Video 1 – Artemis showing the Staggered Push Up<\/h4>\n

      This video shows how important it is to ensure that your dog is in a balanced stand before you start the exercise.  Movements should be slow and purposeful to ensure that the muscles are properly engaged in each movement.  <\/p>\n

      Feedback to myself from this video: I should ensure that Artemis is standing more in a square stacked stand with his rear feet.  This will ensure that he has more core engagement when executing the exercise.<\/p>\n

      Video 2: Attica performing the Staggered Push Up – Treat directly to the side<\/h4>\n

      In this video Attica is very pushy and “insistent” at getting her treats. You will see that it compromises her posture somewhat and I need to watch and guard against this in the future.<\/p>\n

      Video 3: Attica performing Staggered Push Up with treat placement to the rear<\/h4>\n

      In this video you will see Attica performing the staggered push-ups alternately with each front leg. Treat placement is toward the rear of the dog. Notice that each movement is rewarded (stepping off the box, there is a reward on the floor and stepping up onto the box, there is a reward for a good posture stand with head facing forward) and I am not moving too quickly from the left to right side – we stop on the box each time before moving over to the alternate side, ensuring balance first before proceeding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-6597","tva_lesson","type-tva_lesson","status-publish","hentry","tva_courses-bk-9-foundational-strength-program","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Biokinetic K-9<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dogsolutions.co.za\/biokinetic-k9\/course\/front-foot-targeting\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Staggered Push-Ups - 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