Why These Exercises Help

• Why You Should Incorporate At-Home Exercises
• Beneficial for These Pets
• Why We Target These Muscles

Forelimb Exercises You Can Do At Home

• Shoulder Flexor Stretch
• Sideways Walking
• Front Paw Targeting
• Gentle Digging
• Slow Leash Walking
• Cavaletti Rails (Precision Stepping)
• Download These Exercises & Simple Instructions: WDOW Rehab Exercises for Forelimbs

A Few Notes About These Exercises

All of these exercises can be done with the addition of a sling if needed to help keep your pet stable. If using a sling, only keep it taut enough to prevent your pet from falling. They must be allowed and able to bear some weight on all limbs for these exercises to be effective.

If your pet is not able to bear any weight on one or more limbs these exercises are not appropriate and your pet should not do any exercises until cleared by your veterinarian.

Note, dogs and cats put approximately 60% of their body weight on their front limbs. If your pet is a “tri-pod” please consult with your veterinarian prior to asking your pet to perform these exercises. All exercises should be conducted on a non-slip surface to provide adequate traction to reduce the risk of falling.

Why You Should Incorporate At-Home Exercises

Incorporating at-home exercises into your dog’s routine is an essential part of maintaining their strength, mobility, and overall well-being. These exercises are practical and accessible, often requiring no fancy or expensive equipment—just items you likely already have at home or even just your time and effort. The beauty of at-home exercises is their convenience, allowing for consistent practice, which is critical for seeing long-term benefits. Frequent exercise sessions help build muscle memory, improve joint function, and enhance your dog’s comfort and quality of life. For areas where specialized canine physical therapists are unavailable or too costly, at-home exercises provide a cost-effective and feasible alternative. They are also a lifesaver for dogs who don’t travel well, have mobility challenges, or are difficult to load into a car, especially senior pets. Additionally, at-home routines strengthen the bond between you and your dog, as they rely on your guidance and encouragement. By making these exercises a regular habit, you’re empowering your dog to live a healthier, more active life, even in the face of age or mobility challenges.

Beneficial for These Pets

Strengthening your dog’s shoulders and forelimbs through home exercises is essential for their overall mobility, stability, and quality of life. These exercises are particularly important for:

1. Injury Recovery: After an injury or surgery, targeted exercises can rebuild strength, restore muscle mass, and improve range of motion, helping your dog return to normal activity faster.
2. Senior Dogs: Aging dogs often experience muscle loss and joint stiffness. Regular strengthening exercises can slow muscle atrophy, improve balance, and make everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs easier.
3. Arthritis Management: Dogs with arthritis benefit from stronger forelimbs, as improved muscle support reduces stress on joints, alleviates pain, and enhances their ability to move comfortably.
4. Arthritis Prevention: For dogs at risk of arthritis, maintaining strong forelimbs can delay its onset by supporting joint health and overall physical fitness.

Always consult your veterinarian before starting a new exercise regimen.

Why We Target These Muscles

Muscles of action in the front legs. Image obtained here.

Focusing on forelimb muscle strength improves your dog’s ability to move efficiently while reducing joint strain and injury risk. The key muscles targeted include the Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Major, and Brachialis. Each plays a critical role in stabilizing and moving the shoulder joint.

This is important not only for canine athletes but also for senior dogs, those recovering from injuries, dogs with arthritis, and all pets needing better mobility and strength.

• The front limbs bear 60% of a dog’s body weight. Every step, turn, and stop relies on these muscles.
• Unlike the hindlimbs, the front limbs are attached by muscle rather than a joint, making them more prone to injury.
• Canine athletes experience a high injury rate, with 32% of agility dogs sustaining injuries (Cullin et al., BMC Veterinary Research, 2017).

Supraspinatus

The supraspinatus muscle is located on the top of the shoulder blade and extends to the upper humerus. It plays a key role in stabilizing the shoulder joint and assisting with shoulder extension, which is necessary for forward movement. This muscle is vital for weight-bearing and ensuring smooth, controlled strides.

• Stability: The supraspinatus reinforces the shoulder joint, reducing the risk of dislocations and excessive movement that could lead to injury.
• Mobility: It enables efficient shoulder extension, which is essential for propulsion and forward momentum during activities like walking, running, and jumping.

Infraspinatus

Positioned on the outer part of the shoulder blade, the infraspinatus connects to the upper humerus and functions as a key stabilizer and rotator of the shoulder joint. It is particularly important for lateral movements and maintaining proper joint alignment.

• Stability: This muscle helps secure the shoulder joint, preventing excessive inward or outward movement that can cause strain or injury.
• Mobility: It allows controlled external rotation of the shoulder, enabling flexibility and a full range of motion, especially during quick turns and agility-based movements.

Teres Major

Located on the underside of the shoulder blade, the teres major connects to the humerus and assists in shoulder flexion and adduction. This muscle plays a crucial role in ensuring proper stride mechanics and overall limb coordination.

• Stability: The teres major helps maintain proper shoulder positioning, supporting balanced and controlled movements.
• Mobility: It aids in shoulder adduction and extension, which contribute to a longer, more efficient stride and enhanced flexibility.

Brachialis

The brachialis muscle runs along the upper forelimb, connecting the humerus to the ulna. It is a primary elbow flexor, playing a crucial role in weight-bearing and forelimb movement.

• Stability: The brachialis supports the elbow joint during weight-bearing activities, ensuring stability and reducing stress on the joint to prevent overuse injuries.
• Mobility: This muscle enables smooth and controlled forelimb flexion, allowing dogs to step, climb, and maneuver obstacles with ease, which is especially important for dogs engaging in active play or performance sports.

Why Stability & Mobility Matter

By maintaining strong and healthy forelimb muscles, dogs can enjoy better joint health, reduced injury risk, and an active, pain-free life.

• Stability: These muscles protect the joints from excessive strain, minimize the risk of injury, and allow your dog to remain steady during standing, walking, or quick directional changes.
• Mobility: Well-functioning muscles ensure smooth, efficient movement, allowing your dog to engage in activities like running, climbing, and playing without pain or difficulty.

Continue reading to learn how to target these muscles with your pet at home.

Shoulder Flexor Stretch

Stretching is an important part of maintaining and improving your dog’s mobility and comfort, especially when it comes to their forelimbs. This gentle stretch helps increase flexibility in the shoulder area, which is essential for your dog’s overall front limb health. The shoulder joint plays a crucial role in your dog’s ability to move, run, and perform everyday activities. By targeting this area, you can help prevent stiffness, improve range of motion, and support your dog in their daily movements. Regular stretching can also help alleviate discomfort, improve muscle elasticity, and enhance overall posture.

How to Perform the Stretch:

1. Have your dog stand comfortably on a non-slip surface to provide stability during the stretch.
2. Gently wrap your hand around their front leg, just above the elbow, ensuring you’re not applying too much pressure.
3. With a slow, smooth motion, guide the leg forward, extending it gently in front of your dog’s body.
4. Once you feel a slight resistance (this means the muscles are being stretched but not overextended), pause and hold the position for 15-30 seconds.
5. Slowly and carefully return the leg to its normal position.
6. Repeat this stretch 2-3 times for each front leg, focusing on maintaining a calm, controlled pace.

Sidelying Variation: If your dog is uncomfortable or struggles to hold the standing position, you can perform this stretch while they’re lying on their side. This position allows for a more relaxed experience, and you can focus on gently stretching the leg without worrying about balancing your dog.

Important Notes:

• Always prioritize gentleness when stretching your dog’s limbs. Never force a stretch if your dog shows signs of discomfort, such as pulling away or whining.
• Take your time with each stretch to avoid overstretching or causing any strain.
• As your dog becomes more accustomed to the stretch, you may gradually extend the hold time or the number of repetitions.

Watch our patients Shimmy and Charlie demonstrate both variations. Or, check out these other videos for more tips:

Sideways Walking

This exercise might look a bit silly, but it’s a fantastic way to strengthen the muscles that support your dog’s shoulder joints and improve overall forelimb stability. By encouraging lateral movement, you’re helping your dog engage muscles that are essential for balance, coordination, and mobility, particularly in the shoulder and chest areas. Strengthening these muscles helps protect the shoulder joints from strain, improves posture, and enhances your dog’s ability to move fluidly in all directions. This exercise is especially beneficial for dogs that may be recovering from an injury or who are at risk for joint issues such as arthritis.

How to Perform the Exercise:

1. Stand beside your dog, facing the same direction, with a relaxed and calm demeanor.
2. Place your hand on the side of your dog’s body, opposite to you.
3. Apply gentle pressure to encourage your dog to step sideways toward you. Keep the movement slow and controlled.
4. Take a few steps together in this sideways motion, ensuring that your dog’s front legs are actively engaging.
5. Once you’ve completed the steps in one direction, turn around and repeat the movement in the opposite direction.

Step 1: Start standing next to your dog, facing the same direction. Place your hand on the opposite side of your dog. Use a high-value treat to keep your dog’s attention

Step 2: Take a step sideways, away from your dog. Lure your dog to side step toward you by gently pulling them with your hand & luring with a treat.

Step 3: Move slowly & allow your dog time to stabilize. Continue for a few sidesteps in this direction, then turn around and repeat stepping the opposite way.

Variation: If your dog struggles to grasp the side-stepping motion in the first variation, try facing toward your dog instead of standing beside them:

1. Place your hand on the side of your dog’s body, opposite to you. This hand will help prevent your dog from turning away.
2. Gently step forward with your leg, nudging your dog slightly to encourage them to step sideways away from you.
3. Take a few steps together in this sideways motion, maintaining a slow, controlled pace.
4. Turn around and repeat in the opposite direction.

Step 1: Start standing at the side of your dog, perpendicular to them (i.e., facing your dog). Place your hand on the opposite side of your dog. Use a high-value treat to keep your dog’s attention

Step 2: Very gently step forward toward your dog, nudging your dog with your leg to encourage them to step sideways away from you. As you do this, gently use your hand to keep your dog from turning.

Step 3: Move slowly & allow your dog time to stabilize. Continue for a few sidesteps in this direction, then turn around and repeat stepping the opposite way.

Start with just a few steps in each direction, gradually increasing the distance as your dog becomes more comfortable with the movement. Over time, this exercise will help build strength, stability, and flexibility in your dog’s forelimbs, supporting their ability to perform daily activities with greater ease and comfort.

Watch our patient Charlie demonstrate both variations. Or, check out these videos for more tips:

Front Paw Targeting

Front paw targeting is a fun and engaging exercise that not only strengthens your dog’s front limbs but also provides valuable mental stimulation. This exercise helps develop coordination and controlled movement of your dog’s front limbs, enhancing muscle engagement and flexibility in the shoulders, elbows, and wrists. It encourages precise paw movements, which are essential for maintaining overall limb health, preventing stiffness, and improving your dog’s ability to move with greater ease. Additionally, it challenges your dog’s brain, promoting mental focus and problem-solving skills.

How to Perform the Exercise:

1. Choose a small, flat object as your target. A sticky note, jar opener, or silicone trivet works well, as these are easy for your dog to reach and tap with their paw.
2. Place the target on the floor in front of your dog, ensuring it’s easily within reach.
3. Encourage your dog to touch the target with their front paw. You may need to demonstrate by gently tapping the target with your hand to show them what you’re asking.
4. When your dog touches the target with their paw, immediately reward them with praise or a small treat to reinforce the behavior.
5. As your dog becomes more comfortable with the exercise, you can raise the target slightly off the ground to increase the challenge and encourage more precise paw movement.

Step 1: Grab a small, flat target object (we used a jar opener)

Step 2: Get your dog’s attention on the target. You can either point at it or hide a treat underneath it. Cue “paw”.

Step 3: Praise and reward your dog when they paw at the target.

Tip: If your dog already knows the “shake” or “high-five” command, you can use this to introduce front paw targeting. Hold the target object in your hand while giving the cue, then gradually transition to placing the target on the floor once your dog has mastered the motion. You can also introduce a new cue, such as “paw,” to further differentiate this exercise.

If your dog already knows shake or high-five, start by using that command.

After a few repetitions, place a target in your hand & cue “shake” or “high-five”. Eventually transition to a new command & place the target down.

This exercise is not only a great way to build strength in your dog’s forelimbs, but it also improves coordination and encourages controlled movement. By providing both physical and mental stimulation, it supports your dog’s overall well-being, making it a valuable addition to their exercise routine.

Watch our patient Shimmy perform all our recommended exercises. Or, check out this video to learn more about teaching shake/high-face:

Gentle Digging

Gentle digging is a fantastic exercise that mimics a natural behavior for dogs while providing a low-impact workout for the front limbs. Digging engages the muscles of the forelimbs, shoulders, and chest in a way that’s both fun and functional. It allows your dog to use their paws in a way that strengthens the muscles and increases joint mobility without putting too much strain on their body. This exercise also promotes mental stimulation as your dog uses problem-solving skills to find hidden treats or toys, making it both a physical and cognitive workout.

How to Perform the Exercise:

1. Fill a shallow box or container with about 2 inches of play sand or soft potting soil. Make sure the materials are safe and non-toxic for your dog.
2. Bury a few of your dog’s favorite treats or toys in the sand, hiding them just beneath the surface.
3. Bring your dog to the box and encourage them to dig to uncover the hidden treasures. You can guide them by tapping gently on the surface or leading them to the spot where the treats are buried.
4. Keep each session short – around 2-5 minutes, 2-3 times a day is plenty. This will prevent your dog from getting overstimulated or tired out while still providing a beneficial workout.

Why It’s Helpful: This gentle digging activity helps strengthen your dog’s front limbs and shoulders in a way that mimics natural behaviors, which is especially helpful for dogs who may be recovering from an injury or need a low-impact exercise to maintain strength and mobility. It’s also a great way to tire out a high-energy dog while providing enrichment that encourages mental engagement.

Not only does gentle digging offer a safe, low-impact way to improve strength, but it’s also a fun, interactive activity that taps into your dog’s instinctive behavior, creating a satisfying and rewarding experience for them.

Slow Leash Walking

Slow leash walking is one of the most important exercises during the early stages of rehabilitation, and it remains a valuable form of exercise as your dog ages. Slow walks encourage the use of all limbs in a controlled, sequenced gait pattern, helping to restore function and strength to the affected limbs. Importantly, walking slowly allows your dog to place weight on each limb in a steady, measured way, which is crucial for promoting recovery and avoiding further strain or injury.

How to Perform the Exercise:

1. Use a comfortable chest harness instead of a collar to reduce strain on the neck and ensure your dog’s comfort during the walk.
2. Keep the pace slow and steady—this exercise is not about distance but rather about controlled movement. Make sure your dog is walking at a pace that allows them to place each limb on the ground fully.
3. Start with short walks of 5-10 minutes, especially if your dog is in the early stages of recovery.
4. Gradually increase the walk duration to 30-40 minutes as your dog’s condition improves and they regain strength in the affected limb.
5. During the walk, monitor your dog’s posture. If they are holding up the affected limb, slow down and encourage them to touch it to the ground. Praise them when they do, and avoid praise if the limb is held up. Some training may be necessary to reinforce this behavior.

Slow leash walks are essential for pets who are reluctant to use a limb due to pain or weakness. By walking at a slow pace, you encourage your dog to place each limb on the ground, increasing their stance time and weight-bearing capacity. This gradual weight-bearing process helps to improve muscle strength, joint mobility, and overall coordination.

For dogs recovering from orthopedic procedures, slow walks can often begin soon after the procedure, as long as there are no contraindications to weight-bearing. As your dog regains strength, you can slowly increase the intensity of the walks to challenge their balance, coordination, and endurance.

Watch our patients Shimmy perform all our recommended exercises. Or, check out this video to see another an example of slow leash walking:

Cavaletti Rails or Hurdles

Cavaletti rails, sometimes referred to incorrectly as “hurdles”, are poles that are spaced apart on the ground at a low height. This exercise, borrowed from horse training, helps improve your dog’s awareness of their limb movements, encourage greater active range of motion, and lengthen strides in all limbs. The goal is for your pet to lift all four limbs independently over each pole.

How to Perform the Exercise:

• Arrange 6-8 poles or low rails on the ground, spaced about your dog’s shoulder width apart.
• Lead your dog slowly through the rails, encouraging them to step over each one.
• Start with the rails on the ground. As your dog gets more comfortable, you can gradually raise them slightly. For an added challenge, you can also add different surfaces underneath (see Walking on Different Surfaces for more information).

This exercise promotes proper limb lifting and placement, which can be especially beneficial for dogs with arthritis or weakness in their front legs.

Don’t a set of rails at home? Check out these other methods to perform this exercise:

Shimmy is walking over these hurdles. We put a rug underneath them for added stability. We also prop up a hula hoop, for an added “rung”.

A propped up hula hoop can function like a hurdle. Just ensure you have it at the proper height for your dog.

If you don’t have hurdles or an appropriate sized ladder, sit on the floor with your legs extended out in front of you. Lure your dog to walk over your legs.

Make sure you have your legs separated enough that your dog will step each leg evenly over your legs.

Watch our patients Shimmy and Charlie demonstrate all our recommended forelimb exercises. Or, see Shimmy doing her Cavaletti Rails: