Activities For A Cheerleader With Dogs
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Introduction
As a cheerleader, you spend a lot of time getting others excited and putting time and energy into your sport. However, when you get home after a long day of cheering, you still need to have a lot of energy left to play with your dog. Wouldn't it be great if you could combine your love of cheerleading with your love for your pup? That is definitely possible with these fun activities for you and your dog to cheer about!
Stretch
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Free
Easy
30 min
Items needed
Treats
Activity description
As a cheerleader, you know how important it is to stretch on a daily basis. You want to make sure your muscles are loose and your body is limber. Stretching will help you gain flexibility and help with the acrobatics you need to perform. Why not bring your dog along to stretch too? Not only will dogs also benefit from stretching their muscles but they will also just love spending some quality time with you, their favorite person! This activity is totally free (other than the cost of a few dog treats!) and you can do it any time of day, rain or shine!
Step
1
Sit and reach
Have your dog sit and stay and then sit on the ground across from them with your legs straight out in front of you - your dog should be at your feet. Grab a dog treat and stretch forward, keeping your legs straight and see if you can reach past your toes to hand your anxiously waiting pup the treat. Hold the stretch for a few seconds and then sit back, grab another treat and do it again!
Step
2
Back and forth
While sitting on the ground, open your legs into a straddle V position. Hold a few dog treats in your hand and, keeping your legs straight, reach over to one foot and put a dog treat just past your foot, reaching as far as you can. Your dog will run to grab the treat. Then, reach to the other side and drop a treat by your opposite foot. Go back and forth, stretching from side to side as your dog runs from one side to the other to gather their treats.
Step
3
Jump up
Stand with your feet together and call your dog over to sit in front of you. Reach up with both hands as high as you can and go up on your toes, elongating your body as much as possible. Hold a treat in one hand, high up above your head and see how high your dog can jump to grab the treat. You will get a nice stretch and they will get to jump up, up, up and get a nice reward.
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Strength Workout
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Free
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
Treats
Activity description
Strength workouts are not something a lot of cheerleaders get excited about. It is exhausting, difficult and not always that fun. However, strength exercises are necessary to helping you become a better, stronger cheerleader. The best way to make these workouts better is to do them with your dog by your side! When you work your muscles with your best friend (your dog), the workout will be much more fun and exciting as you will be spending time with your pup and be able to watch their happy face as they participate in your workout. You can do strength exercises anytime and anywhere with your pup and as a very inexpensive activity, you can do it all the time!
Step
1
Plank hold
Get yourself situated in the plank position with a small pile of treats under your stomach. Call your dog and have them sit and stay nearby as you get ready to work out. Hold the plank position for ten seconds, never letting your stomach touch the pile of dog treats, then, staying in the plank position, grab a treat with one hand and reach it forward toward your dog. Place your arm back on the ground, returning to plank for another ten seconds. Repeat your treat reach with the other hand. Continue this until all the dog treats are gone and you have a very happy pup.
Step
2
Handstand stay
Grab your dog's favorite treat and call them over to a wall that is flat and sturdy enough to hold you in a handstand. Tell your dog to sit and stay and place the treat on the ground in front of them. Kick up to a handstand and hold it. See who can 'stay' the longest - you in a handstand or your dog drooling over a treat. Give the winner a bonus treat (let's hope it's your dog!)
Step
3
Tunnel game
Grab a friend and your dog and get ready for some bridge strength exercises. Push yourself up into a bridge and have your friend coax your dog through the 'tunnel' you create by using treats. How many times can your pup go through the tunnel before your arms get tired? Do this activity every day and track your progress. Can you hold a bridge for 5 dog tunnel trips? 10? Maybe 20? See how quickly your arm strength increases!
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Balance
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Normal
20 min
Items needed
Balance Ball
Treats
Balance Beam
Activity description
While the balance beam is typically thought of as a piece of equipment only used in gymnastics, it is a great tool for cheerleaders as well. Balance, after all, is essential to cheerleading. You can easily utilize a balance beam, a balance ball and other simple things found around the house to help improve your balance. Of course, you need your dog as well! Dogs are actually naturals when it comes to balancing and you could learn a thing or two from your pup. Grab a few treats and get ready to practice your balance in any weather (most of these skills can be done inside!)
Step
1
Balance and walk
Set up a balance beam inside or outside depending on the weather. Set the beam to be only about a foot off the ground as you don't want to fall and get hurt on your first trip across and you also don't want your pup to get hurt. Help your dog stand on the beam and get comfortable. If your pup seems content, take a few steps backward, balancing yourself, and coax your dog forward with a few treats. You will be working on your balanced backward walk while your dog gives basic beam walking a try.
Step
2
Balance ball
Borrow a balance ball from your gym or invest in one to have at home (they are super versatile and useful in cheerleading). Take a turn standing on the balance ball on one leg for 30 seconds then switch legs and do another 30 seconds. Hop off and have your dog climb on top. See if your dog can stand on the balance ball in the center or if they can sit and give their paw. It may seem simple but for a pup, it is quite the challenge! Have another turn once your dog is done. Balance balls help increase ankle strength in cheerleaders and are fun to play with for your dog, too!
Step
3
Balance board
If you want to take your balance to a whole new level while practicing at home, a balance board is the perfect tool to use. Balance boards are small platforms that are set on an arch so they rock back and forth just as a person's hands may as they hold you high up in the air. Put one foot on the balance board and lift your back leg into a scale. As you lean forward to hand your pup a treat. Don't fall off and make sure the treat goes right int your dog's mouth! A great way to build balance for cheering alongside your dog.
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More Fun Ideas...
Cheer Commands
Practice your cheer voice by cheering commands to your dog. Tell your dog to "sit" with a cheerful song or make up a cheer to help teach your dog a new trick. Your pup is the perfect audience to help you learn to cheer.
Who's Louder?
Cheering is all about being able to project your voice. You don't want to sound like you are angrily yelling but you want to be loud enough to be heard. Practice your volume with your dog, you cheer, your pup barks, cheer again, bark again. Who will be the loudest?
Conclusion
When you want to be the best cheerleader you can be and also the best pet owner you can possibly be, you need to find activities perfect for your cheer career and your dog as well. These great activities are all super easy and things you can do right away with your dog. Maybe your squad will even let your cheer-pup into the group as an honorary cheerleader! Their bark would surely get the crowd's attention!