How your dog moves is often taken for granted. As with any athlete, your dog's complicated musculoskeletal system requires careful preparation and maintenance for the Canine Athlete to perform without constraints or risk of injury.

The focused athlete will often continue to perform due to drive and adrenaline, despite being in pain. Appropriate conditioning and training is of upmost importance. Each discipline—be it agility, sled racing, obedience, showing or trialling—requires your dog's body to work in different ways.

In training the Canine Athlete, sports therapy increases suppleness and mobility to support joints, maintain muscle mass, and improve muscle tone, strengthen abdominals and core stability—improving balance and helping with flexibility and co-ordination, builds stamina and addresses strains, tension and micro-tears in soft tissue.