The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog: A Physical Therapy Approach - Softcover

Foster, Sasha; Foster, Ashley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1929242549 ISBN 13: 9781929242542

Publisher: Dogwise Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

Stretch your dog to a longer and healthier life
Research on human athletes is changing what we know about stretching. For example, it is now recognized that aggressive stretching should only take place after muscles are warmed up and shortened from exertion. Authors Sasha and Ashley Foster have applied this latest research to dogs—many of whom compete in vigorous canine sporting events—so that you can learn how to safely and effectively stretch your dog to prevent injuries, maintain joint integrity, and improve you dog’s fitness whether he is an elite canine athlete or a lap dog.

Over 300 photos and diagrams demonstrate how to safely and effectively stretch each major muscle group. Teaches correct hand placement for joint stabilization and how to maintain good form. Stretching routines are presented for both large and small dogs, older dogs, and those that are involved in a variety of dog sports.

Learn more about:
-How to read your dog’s body language and behavior while stretching him.
-Techniques that keep you from injuring yourself while stretching your dog.
-20 minute daily maintenance stretching routines.
-Do’s and don’ts when stretching, and when you need to consult with a vet.
-Special considerations when stretching older dogs and small or toy dogs.

What experts say about The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog:
There are a lot of stretching books, videos and DVDs out there. This is the first one I've seen that definitively explains why stretching needs to be done in a relaxed, prone position with correct stabilization in order for the stretch to be effective. The descriptions of the various stretches are clearly written and anatomically correct. The photographs accurately depict what is to be done. The photographs of the incredibly handsome dogs luxuriating while being stretched are alone worth the price of the book and should be an inspiration to anyone who wants to do canine body work. All praise to the authors for a great book!
Sue Ann Lesser, DVM, ACAC, CVSMT

The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to improving your dog's physical health through proper stretching techniques. The book provides a wealth of information and photos to get you working with your dog right away, whether it's for strengthening your dog's performance in a variety of dog sports, or helping to properly maintain your senior dog's physical health.
Mychelle Blake, editor of The APDT Chronicle of the Dog

The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog contains a tremendous amount of information. Knowing the science behind successful stretching will be a valuable resource for all dog owners. Understanding dog behavior as is relates to therapeutic interventions and directing the reader to engage in proper body posture will allow users of this book to continue to stretch many dogs for many years to come!
Laurie M Edge-Hughes, BScPT, MAnimSt (Animal Physiotherapy), CAFCI, CCRT

About this title

About the Author

Sasha Foster is a physical therapist, yoga instructor, and writer whose passion is geriatric advocacy (in any species). She and her dog, Quin, have provided Animal-Assisted Therapy to geriatric rehabilitation populations throughout Colorado. Ashley Foster is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer with 13 years of experience whose passion is reward based training and canine advocacy. She handles multiple breeds in conformation for AKC events throughout the United States while being an owner/handler for her own Doberman Pinschers in conformation, obedience, and rally.

Review

With their combines experience in human physical therapy, yoga, zoology, and training and showing dogs, sisters Sasha and Ashley Foster are the ideal team to present a manual on stretching techniques for dogs. Despite recent interest in this topic, the Fosters realized that dog owners didn t have much access to emerging information... Rather than simply informing readers that dogs can benefit from these routines, the authors explain how and why muscle tissue becomes vulnerable to injury when it remains in a shortened, contracted position. The authors have designed therapeutic canine stretching routines for each major muscle group. Noting that dogs vary in flexibility based on breed, age, and physical condition, they include detailed information on proper techniques to ensure safety and effectiveness, and variations of their daily routine for small breeds and senior dogs. Every dog can benefit from stretching exercises, but they are especially valuable for canine athletes... The material is somewhat technical, but the text is generously supplemented with drawings, photos, and diagrams explaining each exercise. In addition to its primary message about stretching, this book provides excellent overview of canine anatomy and biomechanics, making it an interesting resource for any dog owner. --Amy Fernandez

There are a lot of stretching books, videos and DVDs out there. This is the first one I've seen that definitively explains why stretching needs to be done in a relaxed, prone position with correct stabilization in order for the stretch to be effective. The descriptions of the various stretches are clearly written and anatomically correct. The photographs accurately depict what is to be done. The photographs of the incredibly handsome dogs luxuriating while being stretched are alone worth the price of the book and should be an inspiration to anyone who wants to do canine body work. All praise to the authors for a great book! --Sue Ann Lesser, DVM, ACAC, CVSMT

The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to improving your dog's physical health through proper stretching techniques. The book provides a wealth of information and photos to get you working with your dog right away, whether it's for strengthening your dog's performance in a variety of dog sports, or helping to properly maintain your senior dog's physical health. --Mychelle Blake, editor of The APDT Chronicle of the Dog

Edition details

• Publisher: Dogwise Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1929242549
• ISBN 13: 9781929242542
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 220