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Cavalettis Training with your Puppy!

10/4/2019

10 Comments

 
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Looking for a way to start some early conditioning training that compliments future agility moves? Cavaletti work is an excellent way to strengthen the hind end, increase flexibility, and improve body awareness and coordination! Best of all!! It’s a simple set up and will get your dog into great shape and familiar with grid work!  
 
Let’s break down cavaletti training and how you can incorporate this conditioning work into your training.  

Benefits of Cavalettis

  • Increases your dog's stride length 
  • Increases proprioception awareness 
  • Allows your dog to trot (when other options aren’t available e.g. dog treadmill, biking/running with your dog) 
  • Improves shoulder and hip flexibility 
  • Improves core activation and strengthening ​

How to Use Cavalettis

First, you’ll want an even number of poles to work with (6-12), and your pole height should be no higher than the height of your dog’s hock (~1.5 - 2.5 inches). The distance between the poles should start at the height of your dog’s withers and once your dog begins to understand the proper striding through the poles you can increase the distance by ~0.5 - 1 inch (depending on the size of your dog).  Have your dog do 20-30 passes through 6 cavalettis or 10 – 15 passes through 12 cavalettis. Aim for 3 –4 sets. This will vary based on the current fitness level of your dog and experience with this exercise. When you are working with your dog, always monitor for signs of fatigue – panting, knocking/ticking poles, or showing signs of poor form/posture. With puppies, keep it to 10-15 passes; 1 set. At this stage, you are teaching them the exercise and do not want to complete too many repetitions and sets. I generally put 10-15 cookies in my hand and stop the exercise when I have run out.  

Training Tips

  • To keep your dog focused forward you can have them go through the cavalettis to a mat or some type of target (e.g. remote treat dispenser, food lid)  
  • If your dog tries to jump through the poles, training an "easy cue" or walking next to the cavalettis will help to slow your dog's pace 
  • If your dog is really bouncing through the poles or knocking over the bars try doing the exercise on leash.  

How to make your own set of cavalettis

There are a number of ways to design your own set of cavalettis. All you need are some poles (e.g. PVC piping, broom's, jump bars) and something to raise them off the ground (e.g. cones, pop cans).  

For the poles you can purchase PVC pipe or wooden dowel from your local hardware store. You'll want to cut the polls 3-4 feet in length. Many people choose to use small traffic cones to hold their poles up. These can usually be found at a dollar store. 
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If you're lucky, you may be able to find traffic cones with pre-made holes in them. These are great and allow you to move the polls with ease.
If you can't find traffic cones with pre-fabricated holes you can add adhesive velcro to your cones and the end of you polls to make another easy to adjust set-up. You can also use spare soda cans you may have laying around and place the poles on top of the cans for a really quick and easy build! 
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This is an excellent DIY set up using Velcro on the cones and poles! To view the FidoFit video please click the picture (Screenshot from FidoFit "Canine Cavaletti Games")
With a little creativity you can build your own set of cavalettis easily and can get started working with your dog to strengthen their hind end, increase flexibility, and improve body awareness and coordination. It's one of my favourite conditioning exercises and is a great way to get your young dog thinking about their feet while packing in a lot conditioning work that will benefit them in the future. 

Happy Training! 
​Carolyn


10 Comments
Mark Powell link
7/9/2022 06:45:41 am

This looks like a great idea to try as my 5 3/4 month old Rottie Bitch is pacing like crazy at the moment so fingers crossed it works.

Reply
Carter link
6/2/2023 01:11:16 am

I remember when I first introduced cavalettis to my puppy, the look of excitement and curiosity on his face was priceless. Watching him increase his stride length and improve his coordination was a truly heartwarming experience. This blog post has definitely brought back those joyful memories, and I can't wait to incorporate cavalettis into our training sessions again!

Reply
Lindsay link
6/7/2023 07:54:30 pm

Wow, this blog post on cavaletti training for puppies is fantastic! I remember when I first tried it with my energetic Labrador puppy, and it was such a joy to watch him increase his stride length and improve his coordination. The best part was seeing his excitement as he trotted through the poles, and I used a mat as a target to keep him focused. I highly recommend this exercise to any puppy owner looking to strengthen their pup's hind end and enhance their overall fitness. Happy training, everyone!

Reply
Caroline Parker link
6/20/2023 07:50:06 pm

I've been looking for new ways to condition my puppy, and cavaletti training seems perfect. The author's emphasis on increasing stride length and proprioception awareness resonated with me, as my previous dog struggled with those. I can't wait to create my own set of cavalettis using PVC piping and traffic cones; it's fantastic that they provided such detailed instructions. Thanks to this post, I'm feeling inspired and excited to start this conditioning journey with my furry companion!

Reply
Caleb Coleman link
6/26/2023 10:00:40 pm

I recently started incorporating cavalettis into my puppy's conditioning routine, and the results have been amazing. Not only has it increased my puppy's stride length and proprioception awareness, but it has also improved their core strength and hip flexibility. Seeing them confidently trotting through the poles, focusing on a target mat, has been such a joyous experience for both of us. I'm grateful for this training tip and the DIY instructions on creating cavalettis. Happy training indeed!

Reply
Tree Stump Grinders link
11/6/2023 07:35:37 pm

Carolyn, thanks for sharing this informative post about Cavaletti training for puppies! It's amazing how this simple setup can have such positive effects on a dog's physical fitness and coordination. I've actually tried a similar exercise with my own puppy, and it's been a rewarding experience watching them improve over time. Your DIY tips for making the Cavaletti set are quite helpful for those looking to get started. Happy training to all the dog owners out there!

Reply
tree pruning link
11/15/2023 07:45:18 pm

This post by Carolyn is a game-changer for any dog owner! I tried incorporating cavaletti training with my energetic puppy, and the results were amazing. Not only did it enhance his stride length and flexibility, but it also brought a new level of focus to our training sessions. The DIY setup tips were a lifesaver, making this conditioning exercise a fun and accessible addition to our routine. Kudos to Carolyn for sharing this valuable insight!

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2/15/2024 06:41:24 pm

Carolyn on Cavalettis training for puppies is a gem! I've recently started incorporating it into my pup's routine, and the results are impressive. Watching my furry friend navigate the poles with increased stride length and improved coordination brings a sense of accomplishment, making our training sessions truly enjoyable. Carolyn's DIY tips for creating cavalettis are a lifesaver, adding a touch of creativity to our bonding time.

Reply
link link
2/22/2024 06:45:21 pm

This post by Carolyn on Cavalettis training is a game-changer! I recently tried incorporating it into my puppy's routine, and the results have been impressive. Watching my furry friend confidently navigate through the poles, improving stride length and overall coordination, has been a rewarding experience. Carolyn's DIY tips for making the cavalettis set were incredibly helpful, making this conditioning exercise an enjoyable and budget-friendly addition to our training sessions.

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  • Home
  • What is Canine Rehabilitation?
  • About us
  • Services
    • MCR Online Training
    • Elite Coaching Program
    • In-Person Canine Rehabilitation
    • Fitness evaluations
    • Warm up and Cool down of the Canine Athlete - E-book
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    • Online Consultations
    • Seminars and Workshops >
      • Sporting Dog Baseline Assessments
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