00:00 Strength Program – Side Stepping
00:35 Tell us about your progress so far
02:00 Slow is Fast
09:47 Why Posture
16:49 Progression
22:07 Ipsilateral Side Stepping
24:49 Side Stepping in Sport
29:14 Considerations for turning with speed
32:31 Lesson summation<\/p>\n
Many movements in life and in sport involve the use of muscles working across the body, diagonally from left to right or vice versa. Training the muscle to respond quickly and in a coordinated manner to these types of movements is important. We see dogs having to move like this in agility and especially when fighting a helper during protection work. <\/p>\n
Teaching an Ipsilateral Step Up and simply stepping sideways is an easy and effective way to help your dog with this along with improving his proprioceptive ability or body awareness.<\/p>\n
Foot targeting where both feet on the same side (ipsilateral) are targeting a platform is awesome to strengthen the muscles both on the inside and outside of the hips and shoulders (adductors and abductors) all while weight shifting the body to one side and controlling that balance.<\/p>\n
These exercises form part of a set of Side-Step Shuffles.<\/p>\n
Many trainers in IGP train their dog to pivot with front feet still and rear feet moving around a stationary point that the front feet are standing on. This helps with their flip finishes and left turns.<\/p>\n
However, side stepping with all four feet works the front shoulders as well to strengthen the inside and outside (adductor\/abductor) of the shoulder muscles which will helps with holding the helper while fighting him in an escape, landing a jump and turning tightly around binds or on the return of a retrieve. It also helps dogs who sometimes struggle to sidestep while pivoting on a platform.<\/p>\n
The inside and outside muscles of the hips and shoulders are often overlooked when people consider exercising programs. Most dogs simply move forwards for most of their activities, so these muscles tend to be under-utilized. This leads to the under development of strength in these areas. You may see that dogs will display a rather “flatter” thigh muscle in these cases.<\/p>\n
However, these inside and outside muscles are needed and get into action every time your dog turns (even slightly), changes direction or even when he is required to fight a Helper in protection sport. The faster your dog is running forward and then must turn or change direction, the harder these muscles have to work.<\/p>\n
Iliopsoas (core) and gracilis (inside thigh) muscle strains and shoulder injuries (especially the inside muscles of the shoulder) often occur when the turns are sharp, and the dog is fast. This combination places too much force and torque on these muscles in order to contract and control the dogs safely as they turn in the movement, resulting in tears, strains and injuries of the muscles and tendons.<\/p>\n
These accidents and injuries can happen regardless of whether a powerful or fast dog is changing direction quickly, or even if your dog simply slips at home on a slippery floor that may be wet, tiled or laminated.<\/p>\n
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One or two long platforms no more than 2 – 5cm (1 – 2 inches) from the ground.<\/p>\n
For progressions or variations: One or two boxes, shorter platforms and even a longer, low patio step or pavement along the road.<\/p>\n
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Starting on the floor, encourage your dog to step sideways onto the platform, moving his front and back legs together evenly. Try to avoid the back legs from dragging behind and to keep the spine in a straight line in front of you as the dog steps to the side.<\/p>\n
Remember, if your dog is following your hand or food, he cannot see where he is stepping and he will be feeling for the platform, so be patient and kind with your dog.<\/p>\n
Once he has stepped onto the platform situated at the side of him, ensure you have a nice square stand with neutral top line, praise and treat and then continue off the other side while remaining with the exercise of side-stepping.<\/p>\n
Once you are off the platform, remain facing in the same direction and simply start side-stepping towards your platform again. This way you can work both the left and right sides of your dog\u2019s body.<\/p>\n
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Place the 2 platforms approximately one meter (one yard) apart.<\/p>\n
Start by asking your dog to stand in a nice square stand on top of the one platform.<\/p>\n
Gently encourage him to step off to the side with both one front and one back leg at a time.<\/p>\n
Continue side-stepping onto the second platform and reward as you go. Once your dog has stepped onto the second platform, reward and change direction to return to the first platform and start side-stepping towards the first platform again.<\/p>\n
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Having to step-up onto the platform or elevation with the leading leg, helps build more shoulder and hip strength in the abductors (outside leg muscles) by having to lift the legs up and the inside muscles (adductors) through the dog having to pull his body onto the platform (stepping up onto the platform).<\/p>\n
The leg following afterward gets worked through the weight-shift onto that leg as the leading leg rises onto the platform. The standing legs must use the stabilizer muscles to keep balance while the leading leg lifts onto the platform. <\/p>\n
Once the leading leg hits the platform there is another weight shift as the leading leg must lift and then support the dog on the platform while the lagging legs catch up.<\/p>\n
You can see that there is a lot going on, so take it slowly. Taking it slowly makes the muscles work longer while executing the exercise too.<\/p>\n
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Progressions involve two areas<\/p>\n
First increase the distance of side-stepping before increasing the height of the boards<\/em>.<\/p>\n Beginner:<\/strong> <\/p>\n Side stepping for 1 – 2 meters (yards) and platform is at beginner height i.e. on the floor. This helps your dog gain muscle memory and fluidity of movement.<\/p>\n Intermediate: <\/strong> <\/p>\n Increase the distance of side stepping while keeping the platforms at the same height for 2 – 3 weeks.<\/p>\n Thereafter, bring the distance back to 1 meter and increase the target platform height by 3 – 5 cm (1 – 2 inches)<\/p>\n Advanced:<\/strong><\/p>\n Increase the distance to 2 – 3 meters with the same raised platform for intermediate level for 2 – 3 weeks.<\/p>\n Thereafter, move your dog sideways up along stairs or a pavement with front legs elevated onto the step and rear legs on the ground – placing more weight on the rear legs. Remember to take your dog’s size and height into consideration when working on stairs. The stair height should not be more than mid-forearm height.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Too much elevation too quickly will leave the shoulder and hip open to injury and strains of the smaller stabilizer muscles on the inside of the hip and shoulders. <\/p>\n Controlled movements are especially important<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 particularly when stepping down off the platform.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Signs of fatigue (both mental and physical) along with progressing too quickly may have your dog offering different behaviors, showing increased “butt wobble” in the movement or being unable to target the platform accurately and falling off the sides in the direction of the movement.<\/p>\n This exercise requires quite a bit of mental focus and concentration for foot placement from your dog as it is not a natural movement.<\/p>\n So be patient and give your dog the time and space to figure out what you want him to do with his body in order for him to gain those cookie rewards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Watch that your dog maintains a straight top line and try to aim for maintaining perpendicular hocks while side stepping. This may be achieved by having your dog sidestep along two platforms on the ground – front feet on one platform and rear feet on another platform ensuring optimal posture where the back feet should not be allowed to tuck underneath the pelvis. This requires much more core strength and control.<\/p>\n Avoid roaching of the spine or having the rear feet tucked under the pelvis.<\/p>\n Ensure that when working with the front feet elevated, there is no dipping\/arching of the spine.<\/p>\n Everyone starts somewhere! The two videos below show Attica and Artemis when they started these exercises.<\/p>\n Side stepping longways on the two boards as seen below requires balance, coordination and helps use basic inside and outside (abductor\/adductor) thigh muscles, proprioception (finding where her feet are) and body awareness.<\/p>\n As you start out with your dog, you may notice that their back may roach as they try to stabilise themselves by doing a sideways movement. Keeping the front feet on one board and the back feet on the other board will help your dog understand that they need to move with the correct posture. <\/p>\n The strength part of this exercise is holding posture along the dog’s core and spine, holding the shoulders steady in the correct posture, AND holding the pelvis, lower spine and hips in the proper postural position while weight-shifting from left to right.<\/p>\n This exercise will use a lot of both mental and physical focus and energy. You will also easily determine which side is easier for your dog to move toward.<\/p>\n Can you tell whether going left or going right is easier for your dog?<\/em><\/p>\n Below is a variation of the back leg pivot, while using the boards<\/p>\n Below is a video of Mr. Mouse’s first attempt. Note the BIG step to the side with the front paws as he is trying to feel for the board.<\/p>\n I placed the long platform on top of the skirting board on the wall so that it is at an angle and therefore a little easier to navigate for the dogs. If you don’t have a skirting board, simply use a brick or a book on one side of your boards so that they angle downwards. The board must still be stable, in case the dogs try to stand on it. The board against the wall helps by not allowing the dog to overstep the board.<\/p>\n The aim is to sidestep onto the board with only the left or right-side front and back paws<\/strong>. You may also ask for only front left\/right paw or only back left\/right paw if trying to isolate muscles that you are wanting to work should your dog have any muscle imbalances in the rear legs or front legs.<\/p>\n When working with placing only one side of body’s legs on a board, we are increasing the weight bearing<\/strong> (strength under control) and balancing<\/strong> muscles of the of the legs that are not<\/strong> stepping onto the board. At the same time, you are working the abductor muscles (outside muscles) of the thigh and shoulders of the legs that must reach and touch the board.<\/p>\n Great for proprioception<\/strong> too!<\/p>\n What I am enjoying in this video is how Artemis is placing his back foot in a more perpendicular position on his own more often than not. This shows me that he is getting stronger in his back muscles and in his core, which is important when we consider his hind-end angulation!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Attica found this exercise a great and fun one too. She got it really quickly – actually quicker than simply side stepping. So, if your dog is struggling with side stepping, this is a terrific way to start so that your dog gets understanding about moving their legs to the side deliberately.<\/p>\n Remember to work both sides!<\/p>\n In this video you will see some signs of fatigue mentioned above.<\/p>\n There is a bit of a butt wobble and difficulty targeting the platforms with her rear feet accurately.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Throughout all the movements we are looking for deliberate side stepping of the legs – a sort of “step-together-step” of the rear legs while maintaining a straight, flat topline, perpendicular rear hocks and forelegs directly under the shoulder. This good posture targets the core more directly while the dog must maintain balance between the front and the rear of the body through the core.<\/p>\n If your dog is roaching the back and keeping his back legs directly under his body, this may be an indication of a weaker core and a sign of fatigue that is setting in.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n This video forms part of your progression exercises. <\/p>\n The two platforms form targets for proprioceptive benefit along with small stepping, placing extra stabilizing load onto the back legs along with the extra weight distributed onto the back legs from the raided shoulders. <\/p>\n Targeting the platforms will help ensure that posture is maintained throughout the exercise if the rear platforms are placed in a position ensuring a perpendicular rear hock while the front legs are directly under the shoulders.<\/p>\n Always try to place the treat in a neutral position ensuring the head is not raised too high nor too low.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Watch the section shown in slow motion – you will notice what it looks like when the abductors and adductors are still weaker (after rehab). Notice the extra movement in the hocks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-12270","tva_lesson","type-tva_lesson","status-publish","hentry","tva_courses-power-and-precision","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"yoast_head":"\nCAUTION<\/h3>\n
Signs of Fatigue<\/h3>\n
Watchpoints<\/h3>\n
Videos<\/h3>\n
Videos of when we started this exercise<\/h4>\n
Ipsilateral Sidestep<\/h4>\n
Video – Artemis Ipsilateral Sidestep<\/h5>\n
A great way to introduce Side Stepping too!<\/h5>\n
Video – Attica Ipsilateral Side Step<\/h5>\n<\/p>\n
Video – lateral side stepping over one long platform<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
Video – Side stepping over two long platforms from the rear<\/h4>\n
Video – Pivoting on a slightly raised box<\/h4>\n
Video – Side Stepping using two smaller platforms and a raised box<\/h4>\n
Video – Side Stepping along an elevated long board<\/h4>\n