| Typist: Bethany Just look around your yard, house or neighborhood and there is something your dog can use as a jump. Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley know the words "jump" and "over" not only for their many dog sports but also so we can navigate difficult terrain or weather while hiking. Plus, leaping over puddles, logs or curbs is very good exercise for all fit dogs!* |  Wilhelm jumps through the tire in agility. |
There are a lot of resources on how to make your own agility, obedience and flyball jumps but I have never seen the need to spend money to make a jump when a jump can be made out of just about anything. Yesterday afternoon, our do-it-yourself jump was a bamboo pole on top of the dogs outdoor toy bin and a planter. Wilhelm, Brychwyn** and Huxley had a blast leaping the stick. Then they had fun tugging and chewing the bamboo.
'R' Blood on the Tracks Boys are ready to jump!
 Brywchwyn jumps up... |  ...and down! |
Huxley's graceful jump.
 Wilhelm prepares to jump... |  ...really high! |
After jumping tug.
To practice the "over" command, I can make a low jump out of a variety of objects. Yesterdays do-it-yourself flat jump was simply the lid of a large container placed on the ground. I have used my backpack or a blanket as an "over" jump as well. "Over" is a leap I like the dogs to practice frequently because it comes in very useful when we encounter Cascadian puddles on our walks.
 Brychwyn jumps "over." |  "Over" is even fun for long-legged dogs like Huxley. |
Jumps for your dog certainly don't need to be made by you. Cities have plenty of jumps to offer like curbs, walls, planters and breaks in the sidewalk. But nature offers the most available variety of jumps in the forms of roots, logs, limbs, shrubs, streams, rocks and, as mentioned before, our personal favorite, puddles. Jumps will increase your dogs heart rate* as well as add strength training and mental stimulation to any of your fit dog time. It is so easy to get in some extra fit dog time in your yard or while out on a walk with so many jumping options everywhere. Dogs can jump anytime, anywhere and they'll be joyfully fit too.
 Wilhelm leaps the stream. |  Brychwyn jumps over the pond's stream in our yard. |
*Always consult with your veterinarian before beginning a new exercise routine with your dog or changing your dogs exercise routine. We recommend consulting with a professional dog trainer to make sure that a jump is the appropriate height and width for your dogs size, age and fitness level. For the dogs safety, frequent jumping and jump training should be done on soft surfaces like wood chips, saw dust, rubber mats, grass, sand, dirt, etc.
**I am very careful about the height of Brychwyn's jumps and how many he does so as not to aggravate his limp.
**I am very careful about the height of Brychwyn's jumps and how many he does so as not to aggravate his limp.
You can learn about using target training to teach your dog to go over jumps here.
Besides leaping onto people or the furniture, does your dog jump?
A to Z Challenge: Yesterday was I for Individuals: Tailor Training To Each Dogs Unique Personality, tomorrow is K for Kit: Updating Our Perfectly Complete Do-It-Yourself Pet First Aid Kit.
Thank you to SlimDoggy, Peggy’s Pet Place and To Dog With Love for hosting the FitDog Friday blog hop. Every week, you are guaranteed to learn about dog health and fitness as well as get inspired to get out and exercise with your four legged best friend! Just click around on the blogs below:
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