Try These Simple Starter Exercises for Tripawds

Our Tripawds Spokesdawg Wyatt Ray became quite the role model for three-legged dog fitness. But he didn’t get there overnight. After his amputation it took months for him to rebuild strength.

Wyatt had a long life as a fit amputee dog. It took us years to know how to keep him safe and injury free. How did we get there? Rehab therapy!

Our 3-legged wild boy Wyatt visited certified canine rehabilitation therapists throughout his life. They showed us the safest ways to help him do what he loved and not get injured.

We also interviewed many veterinary specialists over the years. Don’t miss our many orthopedic blog posts and videos or download Loving Life on Three Legs for fast links to lots of helpful tips we learned, too!

NEW: Get a 12-week At Home Exercise Program with Canine Rehab on Demand.

A rehab vet once told us something very important that you must remember: walks do not build strength, only endurance. More frequent much shorter walks are preferred at first. But core conditioning and weight bearing exercises are a must for improving strength and building muscle.

Here is a quick clip showing one of Wyatt’s fun rehab exercises. Look at that back leg!

In this video, Wyatt is balancing on a FitPAWS Donut. See how his weight is on that rear leg? He is using his core muscles to stay balanced while Rene is making him reach from side to side.

NOTE: The Donut is an advanced workout, but there are many other
ways to help your Tripawd get started building strength today…

We always recommend consulting with a certified rehab therapist for a professional evaluation and homework exercises you can do at home. And remember, Tripawds Foundation can reimburse you for your first rehab visit with your Tripawd!

Starter Exercises Exercises to Help Tripawd Dogs Get Strong

Once your Tripawd has healed and the stitches are out, you can start with some basic balance exercises and stretches for dogs. Here are a few simple ones you can do after checking with your veterinarian.

1. Puppy Push Ups

From a standing position, have your dog sit, then lay down, then sit, and then stand back up. Repeat this no more than five times at first. A couple times a day Is plenty.

Learn more ways to keep three legged dogs fit and strong in the Tripawds e-books.
Download immediately for fast answers!

2. Cookie Crunches

With your dog standing, use a tiny treat or toy to encourage them to stretch their body upward toward the tail. Do this for both sides and repeat.

Do this three to five times on each side, working up to 10 (but go slow!). You can also practice this while your dog is laying on a firm surface. Be sure to reward every effort.

3. Develop Proprioception

The term “proprioception” is the mind’s awareness of the body’s position in space. After the amputation, your dog will need better proprioception in order to adjust their stance and gait to compensate for the missing leg.

There are various PROM (Passive Range Of Motion) exercises you can do to help. Here’s how Kaiser’s human explains it:

Exercise #4 is called Hind Limb PROM where we hold the upper hind limb with one hand and with the other hand gently straighten and bend the limb.  Emphasis on extending the back limb behind the pelvis to help stretch the hip flexors and thigh.  10-15 reps with a 3 second hold for each leg done on a daily basis.  — Tripawd Doberman Kaiser Benefits from Rehab After Amputation Surgery

4. Weight Shifting

Get your dog to stand in place while gently pushing their hips, slowly from side to side. Do not force them completely off balance. You don’t want your Tripawd falling over!

You just want to notice the legs and core muscles tightening as they try to remain upright. Blocking your dogs path and walking forward can force them to hop backwards — another easy challenge to help improve balance and confidence.

5. Unstable Surface Work

FitPAWS makes some great canine fitness equipment, but you really don’t need to purchase anything for your first exercise routines. Just take the cushions of your couch and lay them on the floor!

Have your dog walk back and forth across the couch cushions a few times. As your dog gets stronger, you can stack a couple cushions and have her stand on them while stretching like Wyatt did in this video.

If you are handy, you can make your own Buja Board for doing some fun balance exercises with your dog. Simply by standing on a wobble board, your dog is developing core muscle strength. 

You can download free Buja Boad plans to make your own.

Watch the above video with canine physical therapist Dr. Laura Hady. She explains how the exercises help, and demonstrates the board with Wyatt and Max, a Rottweiler missing his front leg.

You will find much more helpful information about swimming, stretches, and exercises to keep your three legged dog fit and healthy in the Tripawds e-books.

Whatever you do to help your dog, please be sure to start slowly. Perform a few quick exercises a couple times a day and you may soon notice a remarkable improvement.

When it comes to rewarding your dog for putting up with your crazy exercises, use lots of praise, a favorite toy, or a low-fat treat. Fruit and vegetable pieces are much better than cookies — Wyatt loved green beans and carrots! Weight management is extremely important for keeping your Tripawd fit and strong.

Get Your Tripawd Fit with a Rehab Therapist!

When it comes to exercise, our best advice is to consult with a certified canine rehab vet tech for a professional evaluation and some fun exercises you can do at home. Thanks to the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab, you may even get reimbursed for your first visit from the Tripawds Foundation!

Download Loving Life on Three Legs for more helpful tips!