Caring for Your Dog, Mindfully

While walking his german shepherd, my uncle got tangled up in his dog’s leash and fell down, as the dog decided to go a different direction.

Gail bent down to fill her dog’s food bowl and hurt her back.

Lori’s dog took off after another dog pulling Lori’s arm causing rotator cuff tendonitis.

I know; you all love your dogs and would do anything for them. However, you must always be mindful of how you use your body as you take care of your dog to prevent injuring yourself. The care of your dog takes a lot of bending, squatting, lifting, holding onto, and walking, which come with the possibility of injury. 

Here are 7 tips for taking care of your dogs without getting injured

Walking your dog

• Engage your abs. This will improve your stability and prepare you for sudden movements from your dog. Here’s a video on engaging your abs. 
• Use a good leash and collar. This will allow you to better control your dog.
• Be mindful. When you’re aware or mindful to what is going on around you, it’s easier to anticipate anything that might cause your dog to suddenly jolt or move fast.  

Filling food and water bowls, picking up waste, washing their feet, connecting the leash to their collar

• Hip hinge by keeping your back straight and bending or hinging at your hips allowing you to use your glutes and hamstrings, not your back muscles.
• Squat by using the same hip hinging technique above, but allow your knees to bend.

Lifting your dog

• Use your legs to lift, keep your back in neutral and abs engaged then hinge at your hips by sticking your backside back and bending at your knees. Here is a video on how to squat properly.

Carrying your dog

• When carrying your dog, hold him or her close to your body.

Giving your dog a bath 

• Kneel on a soft pad to protect your knees and hinge at your hips, just like you would in standing, in order to reach your dog.

Walking around the house 

• Walk around your dog instead of stepping over your dog to avoid losing your balance.

Do exercises

• Try these balance exercises to improve your balance and prevent falls.

Do you have any dog stories that may have led to an injury?  Do you have any other tips how to take care of your dog? Drop me an email at denise@themanualtouch.com and let me know.