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Have you ever wondered which is the best anti-slip surface for your DIY canine gym equipment? 🤔 If you're anything like most of us, you've built at least one piece of DIY equipment for the canine gym — probably more. And why not? It's cost-effective, easy to make, and you can customize it to exactly what you and your dog need 🛠️ But once you've built it, you're faced with a question that's harder than the build itself — what do you put on the surface? Here's the thing — traction isn't just a nice-to-have. It's essential. Your dog needs to feel confident on the equipment, but more importantly they need proper grip to achieve the right posture and positioning. If they don't have adequate traction, they can't properly load into the position required for the exercise. They start compensating, shifting their weight differently, adjusting their stance — and now the form you're trying to achieve is compromised before you've even started. Slipping = compensating = not getting the right position = defeating the entire purpose of the exercise 🙅♀️ So the surface you put on your equipment? It matters more than you think. Over the years I've tried just about everything when it comes to traction surfaces for canine fitness equipment. 
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 Do you know what you're actually trying to target when working with your dog in the canine gym? Are you building strength, improving balance, or something else entirely? If you're not sure, you're not alone! One of the most common questions I get asked is whether to use stable or unstable equipment - and more importantly, when to use each type of equipment.
Here's a truth that might surprise you: unstable equipment is NOT a progression from stable surfaces. This misconception leads to ineffective training and missed opportunities to condition our dogs for strength, balance, and injury prevention. Let's clear this up once and for all. The Foundation Matters: Why Stable Equipment is Non-Negotiable Stable equipment - platforms, blocks, planks - these all provide a fixed, predictable surface that doesn't move or compress. This isn't "beginner" equipment; it's foundational. Stable surfaces allow your dog to generate maximum force through the ground, by engaging large muscle groups like quadriceps and hamstrings for true strength and power development. Think about it: you can't push effectively against something that's moving away from you. Imagine trying to do a box jump from a stable surface versus an unstable one - which would allow you to jump higher? The stable surface, of course! Why? Because you can push into the solid, fixed ground to generate power. The same principle applies to our dogs.  The MCR Pack in Alberta!! Remember that trip that didn't go according to plan? 🚐
Well, 52 hours of driving gives you a lot of time to think. ⏰ And somewhere between Alberta and home, I found myself breaking down my lead up to Nationals and the weekend itself - what went well, what I would have changed and everything in between! My post-competition analysis is just as important as my pre-competition analysis and planning! 📊 We Talk About Change, But We Don't Actually Plan for It 🎯 "My dog's contacts need improvement" 😰 "We really struggle with confidence at trials" 🤔 "My handling could be more consistent" 😬 "I wish we were more prepared for challenges" 💪 "We should have focused more on fitness this year" We recognize the problems. We talk about wanting change. But how often do we actually sit down and create a real game plan? A systematic approach to get from where we are to where we want to be? 🎯 |
AuthorCarolyn McIntyre Archives
December 2025
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