Cavaletti poles at home
Low poles on the floor for your dog to step over: careful, controlled movement for a day indoors.
What you need
- Broom handles or pool noodles
How to do it
- Walk your dog for a few minutes first to warm up.
- Lay four to six broom handles or pool noodles in a row on a floor with grip. Keep them flat on the floor, or no higher than your dog's ankle.
- Space them about as far apart as your dog is tall at the shoulder.
- Walk beside your dog down the row of poles and back: that is one round. Do a few rounds.
- As your dog gets steady, move the poles one inch further apart at a time. Finish with a few minutes of easy walking.
⚠️ Safety
Supervision: Stay with your pet the whole time.
Check the poles for jagged or sharp edges that could snag a paw. AKC recommends asking your vet before starting new exercise, and stopping and calling your vet if your dog shows discomfort.
👀 What to watch for
Knocking the poles, tripping or rushing means the spacing or height is wrong: make it easier and slow down.
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