Has anyone used any of the core strength piece of equipment at all? I've found the UK seller of their products.

My girl is very rough with playing and running about and keeps knocking her pelvis out of sync and was thinking that some of these products might actually help build up more core strength to lessen the chances of it keep happening.

The canine Chiro I visit has said there is nothing wrong with her conformation but she doesn't easily put herself out as she's so boisterous. I'm waiting for another appt and will ask her then to see of she would think they are a good idea but wondered if anyone had any results from any of them, as in positive results.

http://www.camddwrcanine.co.uk/shop/index.php?catname=Fitpaws&id=328

Was primarily looking at the donut or wobble board, might even use them myself if I do pay out for them.

Thanks

I know of a few people who swear by them, not sure it's the same brand though.

Look for human versions! I bought a wobble board for my last litter of pups, they had it in the whelping box from an early age and therefore got used to wobbly surfaces naturally. (Useful for those going on to do agility, and general confidence building.) It cost me £20 as opposed to the £56 for the dog one!

Is the wobble board the same for humans as it is for dogs then?

What about the donut? Any versions of the human ones out there at all do you know which are less expensive?
I do like the idea of putting the wobble board in with pups Marianne, good idea :-)

Yes I am pretty sure all or most of the FitPaws products can be found as human versions -just Google and pay particular attention to Amazon and Ebay. :) I bought brand new on Ebay, not used.

Looked on eBay and Amazon, the human ones are a lot smaller in diameter, the largest human on is 50cm and the large dog one is 91.5cm..
Looks like I'm going to have to plurge

Sue you don't need a huge wobble board even with a large dog. They help to build up core strength and you will be amazed at how the largest of dogs can fit all four feet on a smallish board. I made my own wobble board using a piece of marine ply. On the underside I made a small frame in the middle of the board to hold a tennis ball/small football with the sides of the frame being half the height of the ball and it works really well.

A cheap plastic lilo that is blown up to about three quarters of it's air capacity also works well - it's the balancing on a wobbly surface that helps strengthen the muscles. There are  lots of different things that can be used - you just have to have your creative thinking hat on :-)

I know several people who have bought wobble boards from Aldis when they are on offer and use them for all sizes of dogs.

I couldn't see how they would fit all 4 paws on a smaller human one though. What size have you got yours and does Harley fit all 4 paws on?

The one I made is about 20 inches square and yes he can fit all four paws on it - and he isn't a small dog :-) After mastering a sit on the board I started  clicking for a paw on it - front paws first of all - and progressed to all four paws on. We also do rear paws on the board and then walk front paws round it in a circle - you can also do that on a static  item and an upside down washing up bowl is great for this and  then progress to the same action on the wobble board.

You can then turn the bowl up the right way and teach "in it" - and you will be amazed at how a large dog can stand inside a washing up bowl :-)

Small strong plastic beakers can be used for teaching your dog to put it's feet on top of them and gradually learn to be able to balance on all four beakers at once - it doesn't have to be beakers it can be anything you have that is stable and won't tip - four small blocks of wood would work well.

I was looking at these too and took a bit of advice from the people who assessed my dog last year.  I was told that to put all four feet on this sort of equipment is quite challenging for a lot of dogs and that you have to be careful you are exercising the right set of muscles - they only sold the small balance cushion themselves - I do think that you have to be quite experienced with using these things if your dog has had problems.  There are useful videos on using this sort of thing though.  I have the set of fit paws and have hardly used them - I can get my dog to put her front feet on them but not her back ones. 

Hi,

My dog doesn't have problems I just would like to strengthen her core and thought these were a good idea, so are you saying they aren't a good idea?

No - they can certainly do that - it is just what is the best to use.  I was looking at them at a show and was told that the large balance cushion was best for collie - size dogs - but I wasn't confident I could use it properly - nor sure that it was worth forking out so much,  so asked at Smart Clinic who were also there and were selling the smaller ones.  I was told they may be best for my dog if I want to strengthen her lower back  - (you can also use 2 balance cushions for front and back - and it was suggested I could just use a cushion!)  I thought you said that your dog had pelvis problems so that is why I mentioned it - I am still considering getting the balance cushion - I think that might be the easiest to teach a dog to use.  I would like to see it demonstrated first though.  It would be nice to know how other people get on with them - I have only heard people say that they have used the smaller cushion - like the ones sold for humans - and that has helped their dogs. 

No she twists herself when playing and has knocked herself, easily
Sorted by Chiro. I was thinking by strengthening the core it might happen less or not at all.