You’ll often hear me talk about spinal mobility work as part of both rehab and conditioning programmes. These simple movements are incredibly powerful when done consistently and correctly. In horses, these are known as Dynamic Mobilisation Exercises (DME’s) (often called carrot stretches). In dogs, we use “cookie stretches” guiding the nose to follow a treat into specific positions. These exercises typically include: 📸 Lateral flexion (left & right) - https://youtu.be/pUKaTC1l34k 📸 Flexion (nose to chest / between front legs) - https://youtu.be/zI3ulq4oCMw 📸 Extension (forward and upwards reach) - https://youtu.be/neb1HUPNsgA These movements help to: ✔ Improve spinal mobility and segmental control ✔ Activate deep core stabilisers ✔ Support balanced muscle development ✔ Reduce stiffness and compensatory patterns ✔ Improve body awareness and coordination ⚠️ Key point: These are not forceful stretches. The goal is slow, controlled, and active movement; the animal should be doing the work, not being pulled into position. 5 quality reps, 3 times per week, with a 5 second hold can make a huge difference over time.

Did you know that leash walking on a flat, even surface is a great low-impact exercises for a dog recovering from surgery or managing arthritis. Keep walks short and slow, 5 to 10 minutes is plenty in early recovery. It's not about distance, it's about controlled, consistent movement. Little and often beats long and occasional every time. 💚