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•Between events, check the muscular balance of your dog through professional therapy and by implementing appropriate exercise regimes, e.g. incorporating rest days with a blend of lead walking, free running, and, possibly, hydrotherapy. Ball throwing, Frisbee throwing, and other high-impact exercise should be minimized.

•Between activity seasons, develop the dog’s core strength and stability through correctly designed and assisted canine excercise physiology.

•Also, use massage and passive movement between competition/events and training days, to assist fibre direction and joint congruity.

•Incorporate scenting exercises to encourage a relaxation of the back muscles and gentle flexion of the neck and back vertebrae (see Chapter 5).

•Check your dog’s soft tissue, muscle function, and range of movement to minimize the risk of further injury and the development of future compensatory problems.

•Be aware that training sessions tend to be more intensive and have a higher impact than event days.

•Treat areas of heat appropriately, with ice and rest (see Chapter 7).

•Seek professional help for any injury – even if the dog seems to recover, the injury may remain.

•Target areas of stress for treatments.

Warm-up and warm-down for the handler

It is just as important for humans to warm up and warm down as it is for the dog.The body needs to be prepared for physical activity, whether it is a general warm-up or a more specific one for the activity. Especially in the case of agility, with sharp turns, acceleration, and deceleration, the dog and handler need to be well prepared for the stresses which will be placed upon

them. Stretching is always a subject that is open for debate and opinion. However, everyone finds a routine that suits them, and as long as the muscles are warmed dynamically before stretching, then the benefits should always be felt.

Warm-up increases:

•Cardiorespiratory efficiency.

•Blood flow to the active muscles.

•Oxygen transportation and exchange capacity.

•Muscle contraction and relaxation.

•Mental readiness.

Warm-down benefits include:

•Improves flexibility.

•It removes waste products by the bloodstream.

•It minimizes muscular soreness.

•It prevents dizziness or fainting due to blood pooling.

Format of the warm-up and warm-down

The cardiorespiratory portion of the warm-up should last up to 10 minutes at a low-to-moderate intensity, with the warm-down being active but not orientated towards the cardiorespiratory system. This is possibly what one would view as an adequate preparation. However, a complete warm-up and warm-down consists of appropriate stretches as well. The following basic static stretches can be applied.

The static gastrocnemius stretch (113)

•Stand, facing a wall or another stable object, with both arms extended against it.

•Extend one leg backwards about half a metre. The knee should be straight with the heel on the floor.

•Draw in the abdominal muscles (draw the navel inwards).

•Bend the arms and lean forward toward the wall, keeping the rear foot

flat and pointing forward.

•Contract the gluteals and the quadriceps tightly.

•Hold for 20–30 seconds.

•Repeat on the opposite side.

Static kneeling hip flexor stretch (114)

•Kneel with the front and back legs bent at 90° (the kneeling lunge position).

•Draw in the abdominals and place the hands on the hips.

•Slowly, move the body forward until a mild tension is felt in the front of the hip.

•Hold for 20–30 seconds.

•Repeat on the opposite side.

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Static standing adductor stretch (115)

•Stand in a straddled stance with hands on hips; the feet should be further apart than the shoulders.

•Stand with the toes of one foot in line with the arch of the other.

•Draw in the abdominal muscles.

•Slowly transfer weight in a sideways motion towards the leg that is slightly forward until a mild tension in the groin area is felt in the straight leg.

•Hold this stretch for 20−30 seconds.

•Repeat this stretch on the opposite leg.

Static upper trapezius stretch (116)

•Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart.

•Take one arm out to one side of the body in a 45° angle, with the palm facing forward.

•Tuck the chin in and keep the scapula retracted and depressed.

•Slowly move the head in a sideways motion away from the abducted arm (ear to shoulder motion).

•Hold this position for 20–30 seconds.

•Repeat on the opposite side.

Static gluteal stretch (117)

Lie on the back.

•Cross the chosen leg onto the other leg, with the ankle resting just above the knee joint.

•Loop the hands around the thigh of the stabilized leg.

•Pull towards the chest until stretch is felt in the gluteal muscle of the held leg.

•Keep the back and neck aligned (do not aid the stretch with head movement).

•Hold for 20−30 seconds.

•Repeat on the opposite side.

All the stretches shown can be done between events and training to assist muscular function, and can help with repetitive strain conditions. None of these exercises should cause any pain; if they do, stop, and seek medical advice.