Morning all!

Yesterday evening I decided to try out one of Racquette's favorite's games from "BTD" (Before Tripawd Days).  She had a VERY large (think dodgeball size) tennis ball that I would kick and she would run after it and "herd" it or push it along the ground more using her front legs.  She could play this for a LONG time...barking constantly!  Well...I decided I take out the ball and use kicks that were at head level (just above the nose though) and see what she would do. She LOVED it....and I saw that it was doing a great job at strengthening her back legs since they required her to push off the ground to reach the ball....and in the process...her front leg had to push off too.  Mind you...I never made her go more than 6-8" off the ground....but it was a very good strength exercise...and took very little room.  She is 7 weeks post op (I believe she could have done this MUCH earlier though) and had absolutely no problem with it.  So...the name of the game is now THE BALLIE NOSE GAME....  Once it cools down we'll get it going more like a volley....so as soon as she hits it back to me I loft it back to her.  Still VERY warm in Phoenix, AZ....so we limit our outdoor playing time.   Anyway....it's a very good supplement to the FitPaws activities which work on core.

Racquette's Mom Wendy