Strengthening the Performance Dog DVD by Debbie Gross Saunders

Strengthening the Performance Dog by Debbie Gross Saunders DVD
Clean Run Productions LLC

Author: Debbie Gross Saunders
Format: DVD, NTSC format
Running Time: 37 minutes
Release Date: 2006

Agility and other dog sports are wonderful for your dog, but training for those sports by itself is not enough to ensure your dog’s long-term health and wellness or to keep him at his peak performance. Dogs participating in performance sports require crosstraining activities, including both a conditioning program and strengthening exercises. Doing a variety of strengthening exercises will improve your dog’s performance and, even more important, will protect him against injuries.

This DVD demonstrates and explains a variety of strengthening exercises that should be part of your crosstraining program outside of agility (or any other sport-specific training). It includes exercises to improve jumping strength and power, improve collection and turning ability, increase forelimb and hind limb strength, improve balance, and increase hind-end awareness. Many of the hind-end awareness and balance exercises are appropriate even for puppies.

About the Author
Debbie Gross Saunders began her physical therapy career with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in physical therapy from Boston University. It was during her education that she began to think about combining her love for animals with the principles of physical therapy. She holds a Master of Science degree from Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut in Orthopedic Physical Therapy with distinction and became board certified in orthopedic physical therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She will also be pursuing her doctorate degree within the next year. Debbie has been working with small animals for over 14 years. During the past seven years, she has become passionate about the recognition and treatment of injuries in athletic dogs. She currently runs a facility on her 23 acre farm that can accommodate lengthy stays for the rehabilitation of dogs, and in particular athletic dogs. She is one of the founders of the first, and only, university-based program in canine rehabilitation, University of Tennessee’s Certificate Program in Canine Physical Rehabilitation. She remains actively involved in this program and teaches throughout the year.