Introduction
Getting your dog to have strong muscles is not something to be taken lightly. It requires careful planning, from diet, exercise to training methods, all aspects of the start, both scientific and safe, but also let the dog enjoy it. Here's how to help your furry child develop a good muscle!
Getting Your Dog to Eat A Sensible Diet
1. Protein
Protein is the core of muscle growth, without it, a dog's muscles are like building a house without bricks, empty ideas but can not stand up. So it's key to give your dog more protein-rich foods. Beef and chicken breasts, for example, are great choices that are both tasty and nutritious. When a cooked chicken breast is cut into small pieces and handed to your dog when the aroma hits your nose, you'll see its eyes light up and its tail wagging like a fan, as if it's shouting, “Give it to me, I want to be strong! This type of fulfillment not only makes your dog happy, but it also makes feeding more enjoyable for you.
If you like to be a little more adventurous, you can also try freezing raw beef after 72 hours to make sure it's safe and sterile before feeding it. However, don't forget to ask your veterinarian first to make sure your dog is a good candidate for this type of feeding. After all, every furry child is a unique little baby, and the diet has to be tailored to your dog.
2. Carbohydrates
While carbohydrates can provide your dog with daily energy, too much can be a bit of a help. If you eat too many carbohydrates, the energy will turn into fat, and your dog may go from being a muscle-bound dog to a round, chubby one. This is not what we want to see! Therefore, when feeding to slightly control the amount of rice, bread and these carbohydrates, the focus of the diet to the direction of high protein, low carbohydrate. In this way, the dog can really become sturdy in training, instead of just growing a cute body.
3. Nutritional supplements
In addition to the daily food, the appropriate nutritional supplements can also make the dog's muscle training to a higher level. For example, Liguoru, or some formulas designed specifically for muscle support, usually contain vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which can help your dog better absorb nutrients and accelerate muscle repair. Especially after intense play or training, these little helpers can give your dog less fatigue and more energy. However, more supplements are not better, the dosage and type have to be based on your dog's actual condition, and it's best to listen to your veterinarian's advice so that good intentions don't turn into overfeeding.
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When adjusting your dog's diet, safety and health always come first. Whether it's beef or chicken breast, make sure it's fresh and clean, so that your dog doesn't get sick because of the ingredients. It's also important to take your time with dietary changes, don't flip the switch all at once or your dog's gut may protest. Also, every dog's needs are different, age, weight, and activity level should all be taken into account to tailor a muscular meal plan that is right for it, in order to get twice the results with half the effort.
Adding Strength Training to Your Dog
Strength training for dogs gives them strong muscles and a healthier body. Here are a few practical and interesting strength training methods for you.
1. Pulling Chains and Springs
Tools like pulling chains or springs are great for building your dog's muscle strength. Imagine your dog's entire body working its muscles as it struggles to pull the chain or spring, just like an athlete doing a strength workout. However, here's an important caveat, never let your dog overtrain. Dogs are like our children, they may not understand moderation, and if we don't control them, it's easy to cause damage to their bodies. So, training time and intensity should be moderate so that your dog can build strength in a healthy way.
2. Standing on Hind Legs
To exercise your dog's hind leg muscles, it is a good way to make him stand on his hind legs. You can place your dog's favorite snack above his nose, and when he sees the tasty treat, he will naturally try to reach it by standing on his hind legs. At this point, your dog's back leg muscles will tighten up and get a good workout. In the process, you will see the dog's eyes that long for snacks, and the lovely appearance of trying to stand up, is not it particularly interesting?
3. Going Up the Stairs
Getting your dog to use his hind legs to walk up the stairs is an equally effective exercise for the hind leg muscles. When your dog walks up the stairs step by step on his hind legs, his hind legs need to bear the weight of his body, which is a very effective exercise for his muscles. However, when you first start training, choose stairs that are the right height and stay with your dog to prevent him from falling.
4. Sit and Stand
Utilizing rewards such as treats to induce your dog to return from a standing position to a sitting position, this simple action works your dog's legs and core muscles. Reward your dog every time he successfully completes the movement so he will be more motivated. During the training process, the interaction between you and your dog will also become more intimate, and he will become more trusting of you and more willing to cooperate with the training. Through these strength training, your dog will definitely have enviable strong muscles.
Adding Balance Training to Your Dog
Balance training has a lot of benefits for dogs, not only in terms of getting them in shape, but also in terms of strengthening their core muscles. Here are two fun and effective ways to train your dog for balance.
1. Standing on A Board
Prepare an appropriately sized board that will become your dog's balancing arena. Gently guide your dog to stand on the plank. At first, your dog may be a little overwhelmed, moving his little paws around on the plank in an effort to find his balance. At this point, you need to be there to gently encourage him, as if you were cheering on a child. When the dog successfully stands on the board and maintains its balance, the core muscles of its entire body are silently working to keep its body stable. As you can imagine, the dog is like a brave little acrobat, showing off his balancing skills on the tiny stage of the board. Every time your dog sticks around for a while, remember to give him some small rewards, such as rubbing his head or giving him a tasty snack to let him know that he's doing great, so he'll be even more motivated to continue training.
2 Yoga Ball or Wobble Board
A yoga ball or wobble board is a more challenging training prop. Place your dog carefully on a yoga ball or wobble board, and your dog will probably have a nervous and curious look on his face. Don't worry, you need to be patient with him and encourage him with a gentle voice. As your dog struggles to maintain its balance on the yoga ball or wobble board, its core strength gets a great workout. Its little body adjusts its posture as the ball or board wobbles, and with every subtle movement, it's the core muscles at work. In the process, you will see the dog's effort and growth. As the number of training sessions increases, the dog will become more and more skillful and its posture on the yoga ball or wobble board will become more and more confident. With this kind of training, your dog will not only have a stronger core, but will also enjoy the challenge of playing and the relationship with you will become closer because of these interactions. Let's help your dog start their balance training journey together and witness them become stronger and more flexible.
Getting Your Dog to Do Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise for dogs is like injecting their bodies with a source of vitality, which not only improves cardiorespiratory fitness, but also aids in muscle toning. Next, we will provide you with a detailed introduction to the aerobic exercise methods suitable for dogs.
1. Walking and Jogging
Every day, set aside an exclusive time for your dog to walk for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Imagine walking your dog on a sunny morning or a breezy evening along a neighborhood boulevard or a park trail. Your dog sniffs the flowers and grasses on the side of the road and pulls excitedly on the leash from time to time, his little steps full of energy. Jogging, on the other hand, is a great way to further improve your dog's physical fitness. When you jog, the dog follows beside you, its leg muscles contract and diastole rhythmically, and its heart beats vigorously, so the cardiopulmonary function is gradually enhanced. However, when jogging with your dog, you must pay extra attention and never overwork it. Dogs' joints are relatively fragile, and if the intensity of the exercise is too great, it is easy to cause damage to the joints. Just as we love to take care of our own bodies, take care of your dog's joints, so that they can enjoy the joy of exercise under the premise of health.
2. Swimming
Swimming is a great exercise for dogs, and it's a full-body workout. When the dog jumps into the water, limbs paddling, the body in the water undulation, the whole body muscles are mobilized, while the cardiopulmonary function also got a good exercise. However, when taking your dog swimming, safety issues should never be ignored. First, choose safe waters for your dog, such as lakes that are clear and clean, free of undercurrents and dangerous debris, or swimming pools designed for pets. Second, always make sure that your dog knows how to swim. If your dog has not been exposed to swimming before, at first you can put a suitable life jacket on it and let it slowly adapt in shallow water, and you can also guide it with its favorite toys on the side and encourage it to try paddling. Watching your dog swimming happily in the water, splashing a splash, its happy look, is not it also make you feel immensely gratified? Through these aerobic exercises, your dog will become healthier, stronger and more energetic, and its relationship with you will grow closer with each accompanying exercise.
Adding Trick Training to Your Dog
Trick training is not only a fun and interactive game for your dog, it's a great way to build muscle. Next, take a look at how you can give your dog stronger muscles through trick training.
1. Sit Properly
Getting your dog to learn to sit properly can be a fun and challenging process. Prepare some of your dog's favorite snacks, which are the key to success. Gently squat down in front of your dog, place the treat above his nose and slowly move it upwards while giving the command to sit. The dog's eyes are fixed on the snack, and in order to eat the delicious food, it will unconsciously sit down slowly with its hind legs, and its front paws will be raised. At this very moment, the dog's back, abdomen and hind leg muscles are all working together to get a good workout. When the dog succeeds in posing for a proper sit, immediately reward him with the snack, while gently petting him and giving him loads of compliments, such as “Baby, you're so good!” The dog feels your encouragement and love and will be more motivated to continue learning the maneuver. As the number of training times increases, the dog will become more and more skillful, and every time it sits down, it will be able to show a standard and handsome posture, and its muscle strength will continue to grow in the process.
2. Other Tips
In addition to sitting properly, simple and fun tricks like handshakes and high fives can also build your dog's muscles. For example, hold out your hand and gently touch your dog's paw while saying shake. The dog may not understand what you mean at first, but after a few attempts, it will gradually realize that it will be rewarded for lifting its paw. In the process, the muscles in your dog's front limbs will keep moving and become stronger. And paw training is similar. When you spread your palms out at your dog and encourage him to slap your hand with his paw, your dog's body coordination and muscle strength can be improved. Every successful interaction is a transmission of love between you and your dog. Through these trick training, your dog not only learns new skills, but his muscles are also exercised and he becomes healthier and more active, and your relationship will become closer and more fun. Start this marvelous trick training journey with your dog!
Some Helpful Precautions
In helping the dog muscle training, there are a number of places we need to pay extra attention to, these precautions are related to the dog's health and training effectiveness, to take a look together.
1. Step by Step
Dog muscle training can not be rushed, it is like a long marathon, not a sprint. Each dog has its own unique physical condition and adaptability, and we have to follow their rhythm like an attentive partner. In the beginning, the training intensity should be gentle and less difficult, so that the dog can slowly get used to the feeling of training. For example, start with a simple short walk, and over time, gradually increase the length and speed of the walk, or add some slightly more difficult movements. This process is just like learning to walk with a child, step by step, step by step, in order to let the dog in the premise of health, and gradually improve muscle strength. If we are in a hurry to get the job done, and all of a sudden arrange high difficulty and high intensity training for the dog, the dog is likely to be scared away, and may even be resistant to the training.
2. Avoid Over-training
Over-training can be a disaster for your dog. We all know that over-training is hard on the body, and so does the dog. Overtraining is very likely to put your dog into a state of fatigue, and it can also lead to accidental injuries. Therefore, in the training process, we have to always pay attention to the state of the dog, which is like taking care of a sick family member, not the slightest sloppy. If you notice that your dog is panting, his pace is getting heavy, or he looks depressed, it is likely that he is tired or not feeling well. Once these signs appear, we must decisively call a halt to the training and give the dog a chance to rest. Only by controlling the amount of training reasonably, the dog can reap the benefits of training in terms of health, not injury.
3. Ensure Rest
Muscle growth is like the growth of a sapling, it needs sufficient nutrients and time. For a dog, adequate rest is the nutrient for its muscle growth. When a dog rests, the body repairs and strengthens the minor injuries that occur during training, resulting in muscle growth. Therefore, never deprive your dog of the right to rest, and leave enough time for it to lie down in the nest and sleep comfortably. Only when rested will the dog have the energy for the next training session.
4. Professional Guidance
If conditions permit, it is definitely a wise move to consult a professional pet trainer or veterinarian. They are like experts in the field of training, and can give scientific and personalized training advice based on the dog's breed, age, and physical condition. Just like when we go to the doctor when we are sick, the guidance of professionals can help us take less detours and make the dog's muscle training safer and more effective. So, in order for your dog to exercise its muscles in a healthy and scientific way, why not take lessons from these professionals?
