Activities For Dogs With Owners Who Like Martial Arts

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Activities For Dogs With Owners Who Like Martial Arts

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Introduction

At one point, we all probably dreamed of being able to do martial arts and being prepared for anything at any time. Some of us succeeded in that dream and pursued the beautiful martial arts skill, and are now proficient athletes who perform amazing stunts and can fight off a grizzly bear. For the lucky ones who do martial arts, and also happen to own a dog, combining the two loves can be a challenge at times, but it is not impossible. The only thing you need is a bit of imagination and creativity, and of course, love for everything you do.

Martial Paws

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Any Day

Expensive

Normal

1 hr

Items needed

Leash

Treats

Activity description

If you are an accomplished martial artist, you’d want your dog to be able to follow your tough training schedule, right? Well, you’re in luck, since there are so many dog gyms out there that offer many courses that can help you get closer to your dog and teach them to love what you do. One of the courses your dog can take is an agility course, which will teach them, well, agility, which can help in your everyday life when you train hard and want your dog to join you on your exercises. Your dog will learn accuracy and discipline, both of which are essential for any martial art you partake in.

Step

Find a suitable trainer and sign your dog up for a class. Depending on the type of the course, your dog may spend a few hours alone with the instructor, learning the basics, however, it is always best if you could be there by their side so your pup can learn to listen to your commands and learn how to recognize them.

Step

Train hard

When you have the basics covered, you can start training for the Olympics. The trainer will show you best how to encourage your pup to master the obstacles. Some owners will encourage from the sidelines while others will jump right in and go over obstacles themselves to demonstrate how it is done! Increase the difficulty of the agility course if possible, and challenge your dog’s abilities slowly. Never jump into the hard course before you cover the easier ones to avoid confusion and sadness when the dog fails to complete it.

Step

Be a winner!

As you move on through the stages of the agility course, praise your dog every time they do a good job, and show them that they are doing what you want them to do. Then you can train together! Remember, agility training helps eliminate the fear and hesitation in dogs, and helps them be more balanced, just like you are as a martial artist.

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Krav Dogg-A

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Any Day

Cheap

Hard

30 min

Items needed

treats

Activity description

Being a martial artist means having control over your body and your mind. You have probably gone through the discipline training where you learned to keep calm, focus, and control your movements. A serene mind leads to the serene body, which allows you to perform all the challenging activities your sport requires. The same is for your dog, the calmer and more focused they are, the better they will perform in anything they do. So, teaching them how to focus and compose themselves will be essential to their growth as a martial pawtist.

Step

Focus

The word of the day is – focus. Focus on the breathing, your voice, the inner self. Teaching your dog to focus will eliminate the possibility of them being distracted by outside things such as food, other dogs, other people, and various noises around them. In return, they will be able to stay calm even in the most heated of situations, which can help them immensely.

Step

Look at me!

You can start by teaching your dog to look at you and keep their gaze on your eyes. Every day, spend 30 minutes or so teaching them to just look at you and do nothing. Come close to your dog to make it easier for them to focus on you, and whenever they manage to keep calm, give them a treat to reward that behavior.

Step

Level up

Once you have the verbal command done right, you can up the game and teach your dog to look for a hand signal that will tell them that they have to calm down and focus on you. Come up with a unique hand signal that will only signify that command, and once your dog gets the hang of it, start removing the treats gradually. You can give them a treat every other time they do well, and slowly phase them out to show your dog that this behavior is expected, and does not have to be rewarded every time.

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Paw-Chi

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0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Hard

30 min

Items needed

Treats

Activity description

Tai chi is a Chinese martial art which can be practice both for the health benefits and self defense. However, it is mostly famous for its benefits for the mind. Tai chi is maybe not as challenging as some other forms of martial arts, however, it does not make it any easier, as it also requires focus, calmness of the mind, and control over the body. So, because it is so good, why not include your dog in the activity? We know that dogs can sometimes get overly excited, and we love them for it, but in some moments you need them to be able to calm down, collect themselves, and not overreact to outside stimulations. This is where Paw Chi can help!

Step

Get an instructor

If you are new to this, it might be best to seek the help of a professional, at least in the beginning. A good instructor can show you exactly what to do and what steps to take to teach your dog Tai Chi. There are many centers that can help with this, so finding the suitable one should not be too hard.

Step

Loosen up

Since Tai Chi is a low impact exercise, it is suitable for all dogs, regardless of their age and size. The unique movements and body twists can help loosen up the stiff muscles, hips, shoulders, and spine. Have your dog stand still and slowly move the upper part of their body to one side. Let them stay in that position for a few seconds and then let them get back to normal. Make sure that you are going slow if you are helping them to avoid dislocation of the joints and other injuries.

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More Fun Ideas...

Stretch

As all good athletes do, so do their dogs – you need to stretch. Start with light stretching before and after each exercise, and slowly ease your dog into doing more challenging positions. This will help with their blood flow and muscle tone, and will make them more agile and ready for the next exercise.

Chest Relief

To help your dog release some pent up stress in their chest area, the area which is often under a lot of strain, have them lay on their back, take their front leg wrists in your hands, and gently stretch them to the side. Be gentle and careful and do this every other day to help them relax the muscles and alleviate stress.

Conclusion

Martial arts and dog ownership go hand in hand. Just because you have a passion that you are pursuing does not mean that your best friend cannot accompany you in your daily exercises. As you can see, dogs can benefit greatly from martial arts, as they can teach them to be more calm, more relaxed, and more aware of their surroundings without the need to jump or get upset when there is commotion around. Martial arts will also help them stay healthy for longer and will allow them to lead an active life with their best of friends, you.