The Hound's Handbook by Paragon Pups

Before the sprint, the leap, the battle — there is the ritual. And when the dust has settled and the paws are still, the body must be restored. Warm ups and cool downs are often overlooked by novice and experienced handlers, but they protect the agile, calm the chaotic, and preserve the strength of your canine companion. Whether you're preparing your pup for sport, play, or structured training, these routines act as magical wards against injury and discomfort. In this guide, you’ll learn how to awaken your dog’s body before activity and soothe it after — through movement, mindfulness, and mastery. Why do we do it? Warming up your dog before any activity helps improve sport performance and reduces injury. Joint spaces have more fluid and less friction. Muscle contractions become more efficient. Nerve impulses are faster. Soft tissues are more flexible. This means your dog moves faster with less effort, takes longer to fatigue, and their reflexes are better. It also means your dog...

M ovement is magic . Canine fitness isn’t just for elite sport dogs — it’s a path to health, happiness, and longevity for every companion. From sharper minds to sturdier joints, stronger cores to calmer moods, these benefits will enhance your dog’s daily life and prepare them for adventures big and small. In the world of sport dogs, training and competing are exciting, but one important part often gets missed: keeping our dogs fit and strong! Just like human athletes work out to stay in top shape and avoid injuries, our dogs need a fitness plan too. In the sport dog community, we spend a lot of time practicing specific moves, like jumping or heeling. Doing these actions over and over without building up strength, balance, and flexibility can lead to injuries. Many sport dog trainers just don’t know how important fitness is for keeping dogs safe. These dogs are  athletes, and we should treat them that way! But fitness isn’t just for sport dogs. Pet dogs, rescue dogs—really, any ...