Labrador Retreiver
AGE 4.5 (2018)
Concerns/Goals/What Brings You in Today?:
- preventative health
- trouble stepping up
- weak core, weight loss
- early spondylosis T5-T6, early spondylosis and sclerosis lumbosacral
- mild caudal lumbar kyphosis- slight reactivity to palpation LS region
- Under Care with Back on Track: Back on Track Phoebe’s Program
- monthly massage appts.
- chiro periodically
Initial report
Background
Supplements: joint & omega oil
Food:
Activities/sports: scentwork, tracking, freestyle dance
Injuries: early spondylosis & sclerosis
Equipment access: peanuts, foam pads, catos, klimbs, calvallettis, buckets
Short term goals – work on backing up straight and with more purpose, side stepping both directions,
Checkpoint Posture Assessment
hold a stand for ten seconds without sitting or lying down? Yes
shifting more weight onto their forelimbs? no
shifting more weight onto their hindlimbs? no
Are they avoiding putting a good deal of weight on one of their limbs? No
What does their topline look like? Straight
Checkpoint Exercise Assessment
Standing Still: yes, good minute
Stand with Head Tilt Up: nose touch targeting, about 1pm
Backing Up: knows how, but gets crooked, leads with b left?
side stepping: needs work
Sit to Stands: yes, slight back r leg delay
Elevated Sit: full minute, slight arch in back
Plank (duration & Equipment): used buckets, held about 30 seconds thtee times
Walk/Gait/Endurance:
Down: 1 minute hold, didn’t roll to side, slight tightness in hips
SUMMARY
OVERACTIVE MUSCLES: thighs, shoulders
UNDERACTIVE MUSCLES: core & back
NOTES: Primary core work, secondary even up thighs and build strength
Below are the progress photos
Measurement Tracking
| Date | 3/3/23 | 5/3-23 | |
| Weight | 69lbs | 68lbs | |
| Chest | 31″ | 31″ | |
| Waist | 25″ | 24.5″ | |
| Thigh R/L | 12″ R/12.5 L | 12″ R/12.25 L |
Warm Up & Cool Down Routine
Warm Up does walking/shadow handling, figure 8s, spins and turns
Cool Down nothing currently
Session 1 Homework 3/3/23:
working on building up core strength and foundation work
warm up with a walk outdoors or after freestyle, scent work, figure 8s for a minute or 2, etc.
Goal is 20 of each exercise, break it into 2 sets of 10 with cookie throw releases in between for physical and mental break. Try to do 3x/week:
- Side Step, cha cha chas back and forth, 2 sets of 10. Nubby mat or mat is good for reference focal point https://vimeo.com/804526522
- One step back ups to target, 2 sets of 10. Nubby mat is good, foam pad or wedge. https://vimeo.com/804526522
- Plank Head Nods Up, 2 sets of 10. Buckets, or foam pads. https://vimeo.com/804521685/c4bf11a71b
Cool down with massage focusing on shoulders, chest, hips or slow figure 8s for a minute or 2
Session 2 Homework 3/15/23:
working on building up core strength and foundation work
warm up with a walk outdoors or after freestyle, scent work, figure 8s for a minute or 2, etc.
Try to do 3x/week, 2-4 rounds:
- Backing Off of Cato, about 8 times or a minute worth,
- Plank Head Nods Right, 5-10 reps
- Plank Head Nods Left, 5-10 reps
- Plank to Pivot with bucket and cato, 1/side
- Homework examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XciuVSsZcF0
Do cookie throw searches or toy in between for physical and mental break
Cool down with massage 2-10 minutes focusing on neck, shoulders and quads.
Notes: did very well today especially with pivoting! Some tightness in neck. Might be a couple weeks depending on housework, try to add on another round if needed.
Also it’s up to you if you like to work on each exercise completely before moving on or thru the list then repeat. Example: 3rds planks, 3 rds pivots or 1 rd planks, 1 rd pivots, then repeat from top.
Session 3 Homework 3/27/23:
Try to fit in when you can, ideally 3x/week, but otherwise enjoy vacation!
Warm up with walk, spins/turns, figure 8s, etc
1 round, aim for 5 minutes
- Dynamic paws up and downs with head nods left and right. (focus on releasing off cato to get more steps in)
3 rounds
- Paws up Plank with back leg raises alt. 2-3/side. (Pay attention to treat placement)
- Lateral side hold, 10 seconds/side
- Homework examples: https://vimeo.com/812286893
Cool down with massage, spins/turns, bow, etc.
Notes: modify rounds as needed to add more or less since it will be a couple of weeks for next visit.
Session 4 Homework 4/14/23:
Did really well with previous hw. Neck holds better, longer and wider, seems stiffer on right side just a little. Modified the raised paws up plank back leg raises to not raised.
Warm up with walk, spins/turns, figure 8s, etc
Try for 3x/week, 2-3 rounds:
- Wrap Around Cone, 1-2 minutes (keep equal/side/alternate)
- Kickbacks, Long Cato to Bucket, about 6-10 reps
- Elevated Front Paws Side Steps, about 2-4/side
- Elevated Back Paws Side Steps (peacock), 2-4/side
Cool down with massage, spins/turns, bow, etc. or wrap around the cone slow
Notes: play around with the elevated back paws side steps (peacock) with both pieces of equipment and see what you like better.
Keep the gap small for buckets for kickbacks and side steps.
Session 5 Homework 4/21/23:
Going left harder on last visit’s ele. back side steps, nothing abnormal. Owner saw her stretch back legs, first time in a long time 
Warm up with walk, spins/turns, figure 8s, etc
Try for 3x/week, 2-3 rounds:
- side step cato to cato (about 2/3 feet spaced apart), 4x
- Stand to Bow, 5x
- 5-10 quick kickbacks, last one 10 second hold
- Paws Up Tri (one back leg on bucket/death by buckets), 15-30 second hold/side
Cool down with massage, spins/turns, bow, etc. or wrap around the cone slow or if she starts showing signs of fatigue
Notes: do the stand to bow in short sessions like 5 to give break in between as it’s hard exercise, but also so she understands not to hold the bow
Session 6 Homework 5/3/23:
Warm up with walk, spins/turns, figure 8s, etc
Try for 3x/week:
2 rounds:
- Figure 8s with Cato and cones, 2 minutes
- laying side ab crunches, 5-10 reps/side
- double paws up head nods (left, up, right, up)
- wackamole buckets 3.0 (back leg touch back, center, left/right) 2-3 reps, rest before other side… have fun and breathe! lol
Cool down with massage, spins/turns, bow, etc. or wrap around the cone slow or if she starts showing signs of fatigue
Notes: let me know if wackamole buckets is too hard, but I think you all will get it!
Progress Check-In
Looks like she lost .25″ in the waist and in the Left thigh and one pound. She accomplished all her short term goals!
Short term goals – work on backing up straight and with more purpose, side stepping both directions, even up thighs .25″ difference now
Here’s her progress video, I think most noticeable is the side stepping. Wish I had a video of that from the first week, but just the last 2 sessions you can tell the mobility improvement!
Disclaimer: Fitness with Fido only offers canine conditioning. Rehabilitation programs and the diagnosis and treatment of illness and disease are not provided. All participants of canine conditioning activities and programs should be cleared by their veterinarian before beginning. When/if concerns are noted during the course of conditioning, clients will be directed to seek care from the appropriate certified professional (Veterinarian, chiropractor, etc.) Results may vary.
