By Moira van der Heijden
Dobo is a sport that combines exercise and having fun. Some exercises are done on an egg-shaped Dobo ball, some on balance discs, and some on half balls.
Dobo is a sport that combines exercise and having fun. Some exercises are done on an egg-shaped Dobo ball, some on balance discs, and some on half balls.
Dobo exercises are
suitable for healthy dogs aged 5 months and over and can be practised by dogs of any size. The dog should never be forced, but all exercises are done at the dog’s pace and will. Dobo should always be enjoyable for both the dog and the handler. It include moves for both the dog and the handler, and some are done together. The aim is to improve balance, body coordination skills, muscle strength and encourage stretching. Most Dobo exercises include several muscle groups working together. Even seemingly static movements are designed to make the muscles work hard. In this article I concentrate on the dog’s part of Dobo, but by doing these exercises, humans get the benefits, too. Even something as simple as standing on a balance disc improves a large muscle group and your balance. Dobo exercises are particularly good for midriff, and they improve balance and posture.
Why Dobo for Dogs?
Dobo exercises improve a dog’s concentration skills. You can not balance on wobbly things if you don’t concentrate! The exercises are also fun to do, so the dog learns to follow your lead. The exercises improve a dog’s agility, balance and coordination skills; they strengthen the muscles – strong muscles support the sporting dogs, and tone the show dogs. The exercises also help the dog to stretch itself and help reduce muscle tension, and, doing these together supports and improves the dog-owner relationship.
How to Get Started?
Remember, the aim of Dobo is not only to exercise, but to have a good time with your dog. This is not serious training; it’s meant to be light-hearted and fun. Dogs enjoy exercise, and they enjoy doing things together with their humans. Usually it only stops being fun if people get too serious. This is your time together, enjoy it!
There are a couple of basic rules: Dogs must be well and fit; any illnesses and injuries must heal before you can start. If the dog has structural flaws or problems, it’s best to consult the vet before starting. Never force the dog, the dog can always decide whether to do the exercise and stop if he chooses. Initially, about 15 minutes should be enough. The ball must always be supported either by holding it against the wall, or between the handler’s legs. Dobo is not a competition sport, there is no pressure for success. Please note, that even fit dogs will need to build up gradually, as they use a variety of muscle groups, and the deep muscles are not usually regularly exercised. Although dogs naturally like Dobo, use plenty of easy-to-swallow treats as rewards (please make sure the dog has access to water). Remember to warm up before training; a 15-minute walk and doing a figure of eight through the legs, twists and turns, gentle stretching (never forcing) are good ways to warm up.
The Ball
To start with, the dog should get familiar with the ball, learn to lift his front paws on the ball, and maybe jump over it. When the dog is ready, he can climb onto the ball and adopt any position he finds comfortable. We can only train dogs on the ball when they feel safe and secure on it.
Dobo exercises improve a dog’s concentration skills. You can not balance on wobbly things if you don’t concentrate! The exercises are also fun to do, so the dog learns to follow your lead. The exercises improve a dog’s agility, balance and coordination skills; they strengthen the muscles – strong muscles support the sporting dogs, and tone the show dogs. The exercises also help the dog to stretch itself and help reduce muscle tension, and, doing these together supports and improves the dog-owner relationship.
How to Get Started?
Remember, the aim of Dobo is not only to exercise, but to have a good time with your dog. This is not serious training; it’s meant to be light-hearted and fun. Dogs enjoy exercise, and they enjoy doing things together with their humans. Usually it only stops being fun if people get too serious. This is your time together, enjoy it!
There are a couple of basic rules: Dogs must be well and fit; any illnesses and injuries must heal before you can start. If the dog has structural flaws or problems, it’s best to consult the vet before starting. Never force the dog, the dog can always decide whether to do the exercise and stop if he chooses. Initially, about 15 minutes should be enough. The ball must always be supported either by holding it against the wall, or between the handler’s legs. Dobo is not a competition sport, there is no pressure for success. Please note, that even fit dogs will need to build up gradually, as they use a variety of muscle groups, and the deep muscles are not usually regularly exercised. Although dogs naturally like Dobo, use plenty of easy-to-swallow treats as rewards (please make sure the dog has access to water). Remember to warm up before training; a 15-minute walk and doing a figure of eight through the legs, twists and turns, gentle stretching (never forcing) are good ways to warm up.
The Ball
To start with, the dog should get familiar with the ball, learn to lift his front paws on the ball, and maybe jump over it. When the dog is ready, he can climb onto the ball and adopt any position he finds comfortable. We can only train dogs on the ball when they feel safe and secure on it.
The Balance Discs and Half Balls
First, we teach the dog to place his front paws on the disc, followed by placing his back paws on the disc. The discs we use at Dobo are slightly larger and wobblier than regular discs. A Yoga or pilates balance board can be used, too. They are firmer, and therefore allow some moves that could be difficult on a wobbly surface. The same exercises can be performed on the half balls. The dog can also be taught to have all feet on balance discs or half balls. Using the half balls on this exercise allows the handler to place them accurately to encourage a natural and balanced standing position. This is also good practice for show dogs to learn to hold the stacked position.
Whenever you do any of these exercises, please keep an eye on your dog ensuring not to tire him too much. Allow breaks between exercises, and don’t forget to cool down after training.
Tricks
Some tricks can be performed during Dobo training. Giving paws: front and back; in sitting and standing position; lying on the side; bowing; figure of eight through legs; walking backwards, etc. Tricks are also fun to teach and can provide entertainment on a rainy day.
Dobo at the AGM 2022
We are planning to provide you an opportunity to try Dobo at the AGM. If you want to give it a go, please bring a flat collar and normal lead (not a flexi) and plenty of easy-to-swallow titbits/treatos. Remember that this is all fun and not serious business; some dogs are naturals, others take more time to learn, there is no pressure to achieve… Simply enjoy your dog!
