Train with a plan.
At vetdogfit you don't just get well-thought-out, high-quality equipment. We also show you how to get started with it, what's important for proper execution, and how to logically develop your training step by step.
Good exercises begin with good prerequisites.
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Non-slip surface
The equipment should be placed securely and your dog should not be able to slip.
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Safely placed
Ensure the equipment is stable and there is sufficient space for each exercise.
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Quiet environment
Few distractions make it easier for your dog to focus on the task.
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Ready for training
Your dog should be attentive and motivated and perform the task voluntarily.
Position over difficulty.
Before you incorporate movement, instability, or additional tasks, your dog should be able to assume the desired starting position in a controlled manner.
Observe your dog from different perspectives.
This makes it easier to see whether the position is balanced or whether your dog is evading, shifting its weight, or changing its posture.
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From the front
Ensure an even stance.
Are the legs and paws positioned as symmetrically and evenly as possible? -
From the side
Maintain a neutral posture.
Is your dog standing calmly and balanced, without shifting noticeably forward or backward?
If the desired position is lost, a more difficult exercise is not automatically the better exercise.
Quality over duration.
Do not train for as long as possible. The crucial factor is that your dog can perform the task calmly and in a controlled manner.
If the quality drops significantly, the exercise should be simplified, paused, or ended.
Execution
Can the position be held securely?
Concentration
Can your dog stay focused on the task?
Posture
Is the posture changing?
Movement quality
Is the movement becoming more frantic, uncertain, or imprecise?
Step by step instead of all at once.
A good exercise begins from a controlled starting position and is only then expanded step by step.
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POSITION
Is the starting position correct? -
CHECK
Can your dog hold the position steadily? -
MOVEMENT
Can your dog perform the movement in a controlled manner? -
VARIATION
Only after that do you change, for example, the surface, height, position, or exercise.
How does it become more challenging?
More instability is just one possibility. Position, range of motion, height, duration, or the combination of several training surfaces also change the requirement.
Important:
Change only one factor at a time if possible. This way, you can better identify which change challenges your dog and whether the execution remains controlled.
BASIC EXERCISES
Time to train.
Start with simple exercises where your dog consciously assumes positions and performs movements in a controlled manner. What matters is not the difficulty, but clean execution.
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Front paws elevated
Goal
Body control & positioningEquipment
VETBASE., VETPAD. STABLE or VETPAD.How to do it
Your dog places both front paws on the training surface in a controlled manner while the hind paws remain on the floor.Pay attention to
Position both front paws completely on the surface and maintain a calm body posture. -
Front and hind paws elevated
Goal
Body control & calm standingEquipment
2 VETBASE., VETPAD. STABLE or VETPAD.Instructions
The front paws are placed on one training surface, the hind paws on a second. Your dog assumes a calm and controlled position.Note
Choose the position and distance of the training surfaces so that your dog can stand as naturally and controlled as possible. All paws should be placed securely on their respective surfaces.
FURTHER EXERCISES
Once the basics are mastered
New exercises can be specifically developed from the basic positions. Change only one parameter at a time while continuing to focus on controlled execution.
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WEIGHT SHIFTS
Goal
Body awareness & controlled weight distributionStarting position
Front and/or hind paws elevatedHow to do it
From a calm starting position, slowly shift the body weight forwards, backwards, or sideways without your dog losing its position.Watch out for
Small movements are enough. The paws should remain in their starting position as much as possible, and the movement should be controlled. -
TRIPOD STAND
Goal
Stability, body control & weight distribution
Starting position
Front and/or hind paws elevatedHow to do it
One paw is lifted briefly and in a controlled manner while your dog keeps the remaining three paws steadily weighted.Things to watch for
Only begin once your dog can safely maintain the starting position. Short holding times are sufficient at first. Ensure that the position remains as stable as possible and that your dog does not sway to the side. -
DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE
Goal
Body control, weight shifting & adaptation to different heightsStarting position
Front paws raised on 2 elements (rear paws optional on 1 element)How to do it
The training surface under the front paws is positioned higher than the surface under the rear paws.
Your dog holds the position steadily and adjusts their posture to the height difference.Pay attention to
Choose a height difference that allows your dog to stand evenly and in a controlled manner. The position should not be compensated for by leaning forward significantly, dodging, or repositioning the paws.
Not every exercise is suitable for every dog.
In cases of pain, significant lameness, neurological abnormalities, following surgery, or with known medical conditions, training should be individually adapted by a veterinarian or physiotherapist.
When in doubt:
It is better to simplify a task than to risk imprecise execution.
Your equipment is capable of a lot. What matters is what you do with it.
Start with the basics and develop your training step by step – tailored to your dog, your training goal, and your current training level.