Pawsio

Building Better Movement: Pivots

Pivots are one of the best exercises for developing hind end awareness and teaching dogs how to intentionally move their hind feet.

In this exercise, the dog places their front feet on a stable object and side-steps with their rear feet around it, both clockwise and counter-clockwise. The goal is for the front feet to remain planted while the rear end does the work, helping the dog learn where those back feet are and how to move them with precision.

We typically begin standing beside the dog, using gentle body pressure and movement to encourage those first side-steps. As the dog gains understanding and confidence, we can progress to working from in front of the dog and asking for greater independence.

Once the pivot itself is solid, you can increase the challenge by incorporating a step, such as a Cato Board. This adds an extra layer of coordination, balance, and body awareness while continuing to strengthen movement skills.

Pivots help build rear end awareness, coordination, balance, core strength, and body control, making them a valuable foundation for sport dogs, active companions, seniors, and dogs participating in conditioning or rehabilitation programs.

Building Better Movement: Teaching the Backup

Backing up is more than a cool trick. It helps dogs develop rear end awareness, coordination, balance, and body control, all of which are important foundations for conditioning work and everyday movement.

In this clip, we start with the basics and gradually progress to controlled backup steps and ramp work to build confidence and precision along the way. Many dogs naturally lead with their front end, while the rear end trails behind like an unsupervised shopping cart. Exercises like this help dogs learn where all four feet are and how to move their bodies with intention.

Whether you have a sport dog, a senior dog, or simply want to improve your dog’s movement and confidence, this is a great foundational exercise to add to your routine.

Building Better Movement: Sphinx Downs & Accordion Stands

This exercise focuses on controlled transitions, body awareness, and full-body coordination.

For the sphinx down, we want the dog lowering into a square, tucked position with the front legs neatly aligned beneath them, like the Sphinx of Giza calmly supervising the desert

To return to standing, the goal is an accordion stand where the dog rises in one smooth motion instead of lifting the front end first or unfolding in pieces. The body compresses and expands together, creating a balanced, efficient movement pattern.

These exercises help build core strength, coordination, rear end awareness, and cleaner movement mechanics while encouraging dogs to stay thoughtful and controlled through transitions.

Foundational work like this can benefit sport dogs, active companions, seniors, and dogs participating in conditioning or rehabilitation programs.

Building Better Movement: Rock Back Sits & Pull Forward Stands

This exercise is all about controlled weight shifts and intentional movement.

In the rock back sit, the rear feet stay planted while the dog shifts their weight backward onto the hind end, with the front feet stepping back to guide the movement.

To return to standing, the front feet step forward and “pull” the dog back up, while the rear feet remain anchored in place. Think of the front end as the engine and the rear end as the brakes.

These transitions help develop rear end awareness, coordination, balance, and strength while encouraging dogs to move with precision instead of collapsing into positions.

Foundational exercises like these can benefit sport dogs, active companions, seniors, and dogs working through conditioning or rehabilitation programs.

Did you know? Cynthia is a human Physiotherapist, and is currently accepting new clients! For more information about the human side of physio, send her an email to [email protected]