Muscle Building in Dogs: How to Strengthen Your Dog’s Muscles

By Josh Windler
Published on 01/27/2024
Reviewed by Dr. Joseph Howard

Why is muscle building training beneficial for my dog?

A well-developed musculature brings many benefits to your dog:

It protects your dog from injuries: Your dog can better catch themselves and absorb unexpected impacts. Muscle mass also protects the internal organs from impacts.
It mitigates the progression of diseases: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be mitigated by good muscle tone. These include conditions like arthritis, disc herniation, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and others. Muscles help to alleviate the strain on the passive musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, ligaments, tendons).
It improves gait and posture: A good musculature acts preventively against age-related wear and tear on bones and joints.
It prevents and can alleviate existing postures of avoidance: Dogs adopt avoidance postures to avoid pain. However, these non-physiological postures often lead to painful tension and muscle stiffness.
It enhances stamina and coordination: Your dog has more power and enjoyment of movement. Training successes boost their self-confidence.
It supports regeneration processes: If your dog is immobile due to an injury for a while, a good starting musculature helps them quickly recover.
It keeps your dog youthful longer: A strong musculature counteracts age-related muscle loss and keeps your dog active and vital for longer—which also has positive effects on their mental fitness.
It promotes fat burning: Muscle mass increases your dog’s basal metabolic rate, thus countering obesity.

At what age should my dog start muscle building?

You should only start gentle muscle-building exercises once your dog is fully grown. The duration of your dog’s growth phases varies depending on their breed and size. While small breeds are fully grown after eight months, very large breeds may take up to three years. Even after this period, you must be careful not to overstrain your young dog.

Exercise caution, especially with large breeds: If you notice movement disorders or lameness after training, you should have them examined by a veterinarian immediately. Skeletal development disorders in large dogs typically manifest before they are fully grown. The largest growth spurt occurs between the fifth and ninth months of life. Excessive or improper physical exertion, as well as an overly rich diet, combined with a predisposition based on breed, can lead to developmental disorders in bones and joints. It’s important to perform exercises specifically tailored to heavier breeds, as the strain on joints and the organism is significantly higher.

Please note:

Between 18 and 24 months of age, the pelvic region—sacrum and hips—in dogs is fully ossified and stable enough to handle stress. Only then can they engage in “adult training” in dog sports.

What should I consider when building muscle in my dog?

It’s important to start slowly building stamina. To do this, choose a handful of simple exercises and gradually increase the repetitions, intensity, and frequency of training sessions per week. Keep the training times short at the beginning: Start with, for example, three exercises and a total exercise time of five minutes. Set a timer on your smartphone to keep track of time.

Before you begin: Don’t forget the warm-up!

The warm-up gets the cardiovascular system, breathing, circulation, as well as joints, ligaments, and muscles moving. A great side effect: The warm-up is also a kind of starting signal for your dog, letting them know that it’s about to start. If your dog has already been moving before the start of training, five minutes is sufficient, and you can skip the first two steps—massaging and leash walking. If your dog comes directly from the car or basket, aim for about 10 minutes.

Warm-up for dogs:

Massage your dog’s thigh, back, neck, and shoulder muscles gently and stroke them several times with the flat of your hand to warm them up and lightly loosen the muscles.
Walk on the leash for about three minutes. Start slowly, then a bit faster. If you can incorporate inclines or declines into your walking minutes, that’s great.
Stand behind your dog, hold a treat in front of their nose, and slowly guide their nose first to the right hip, then to the left hip. This mobilizes the spine. Repeat the exercise three times.
Stand next to your dog and guide their nose with the treat to the ground under their sternum, then lift the head as far back as possible. Repeat the exercise three times.
Sit-stand exercise: Transition your dog from sitting to standing several times.
Sit-down exercise: Transition your dog from sitting to lying down several times.
Slalom running: Have your dog run slalom around posts, tree trunks, or through your legs.
If your dog can do “bunny hops” or “give paw,” you can incorporate those exercises too.
Your dog is now warmed up and ready to go!

Before you start training, make sure you understand exactly how the exercises work and consider how to introduce your dog to the exercises. A practical treat pouch on your belt ensures that you always have the reward handy. Use especially small training treats and deduct the extra portion from your dog’s daily ration. Also, don’t skimp on cuddles and praise when your dog does something right.

If you’re doing exercises that train each side separately, make sure to train both sides. Keep your training routine varied to prevent boredom. However, don’t overexert your dog, and consider their individual daily form. If you’re unsure which exercises are suitable for your dog, it’s best to seek veterinary or physiotherapeutic advice. After training, your dog needs sufficient rest periods for recovery so that the muscles can grow.

Finish calmly with a cool-down

Find a quiet place for the cool-down. Here, the focus is on stretching. Hold all stretches for at least ten seconds to activate the receptors in the muscles and tendons and relax the muscle. Make sure to perform all exercises slowly and playfully so that your dog doesn’t perceive them as “overbearing.”

Cool-down for dogs:

Stand behind your dog, hold a treat in front of their nose, and slowly guide their nose first to the right shoulder, then to the left shoulder, then to the right and left hip.
Stand beside your dog and guide their nose with the treat to the ground under their sternum.
Have your dog lie on their right side. Place your hand behind their left elbow and gently extend their left front leg forward. Move the leg parallel to the ground and do not twist it on its axis. Work with gentle pressure only; your dog should appear relaxed.
Reach around and place your hand in front of the left elbow, then stretch the leg toward the hind legs. Move the leg parallel to the ground and do not twist it on its axis. Work with gentle pressure only. Now, still in a lying position, move to the left hind leg, grasp the knee, and gently extend the hind leg backward. Move the leg parallel to the ground and do not twist it on its axis.
Reach behind the left knee and stretch the left hind leg forward toward the front legs. Move the leg parallel to the ground and do not twist it on its axis. Work with gentle pressure only; your dog should appear relaxed.
Repeat all exercises lying on the left side with the right front and hind legs.
Gently massage and tap the thigh muscles of your dog while lying down or standing.
Stroke the neck, back, and front legs gently downward and backward.
Now it’s time for a break.

What equipment and aids can be used for muscle building in dogs?

There are several useful devices and aids that you can use for your muscle-building sports program. Many exercises involve an unstable surface: your dog must make many compensatory movements that train the deep muscles and improve proprioception. You may already have some items at home, such as a large exercise ball. If not, you don’t necessarily need to buy expensive equipment. Often, simple household items can be repurposed very effectively.

However, you must ensure the right size for your dog and whether the equipment is safe for your dog. Sharp edges, unsuitable materials, protruding screws, and similar items are taboo. Also, always ensure a non-slip surface when training with equipment. A yoga mat or textured play mats are ideal if you’re training at home.

Equipment for muscle building in dogs

Exercise ball:

Improves proprioception, trains deep muscles, excellent for training hind legs, back, and abdominal muscles.

Balance cushion (alt. Soft pillow or padding, multiple layers of cushion film):

Similar to the exercise ball but easier and suitable for beginners, as it’s easier to find balance. The more air in it, the more stable and easier it is for your dog. Ideal for training deep muscles.

Peanut/Donut (alt. Thick, soft sofa cushion):

Similar to the exercise ball but easier, also suitable for beginners as it’s easier to balance on. The more air in it, the easier it is for your dog. Great for training front and hind legs (raised standing).

Stepper (alt. Stairs, box, step platform):

For training front and hind legs and back muscles.

Cavaletti (alt. Branches, broom handles):

Cavaletti poles support gait training, coordination training, and leg muscle training. Your dog must consciously lift and evenly load their legs.

Slalom poles (alt. Poles, between legs, tree trunks):

For gait training and coordination. Running around slalom poles loosens and strengthens the back muscles.

Wobble board (alt. Homemade):

Similar to the exercise ball, a wobble board improves proprioception and strengthens the core muscles.

Trampoline (alt. Soft mattress):

On the trampoline, you can perform weight shifts by standing with legs apart over your dog and shifting your weight to your right or left leg. Also suitable for sit-stand or sit-lie exercises or playing “hare” on the trampoline.

Treadmill (alt. Walking on a leash):

For conditioning, muscle building, weight reduction, and strengthening the cardiovascular system. Must be practiced slowly, and your dog should never train unsupervised!

Underwater treadmill (alt. Walking in water):

In veterinary or animal physiotherapy practices: Muscle building is enhanced by water resistance, and training is particularly joint-friendly due to buoyancy in the water. Also suitable for rehab, senior dogs, or overweight dogs.

Swimming (alt. Safe, open waters):

Excellent full-body workout, but not suitable for dogs with elbow or cervical spine problems. Your dog should never swim unsupervised!

Textured mat (alt. Walking on various surfaces (sand, stones, etc.):

Promotes tactile perception of the paws – also suitable for puppies and seniors.

You can also create a course with the equipment for your dog to train on once they know and master each piece. However, always ensure their safety and avoid overloading them. Accompany them through the course and provide assistance where needed.

Of course, you can also build muscle with your dog without equipment: Jogging, cycling, or cross-country skiing with your dog builds a lot of stamina. Stand-up paddleboarding promotes your dog’s deep muscles and balance through numerous micro-movements. However, these sports are not suitable for all dogs: Small or short-legged dogs do not have the physical requirements to run alongside a bicycle or jog with you. Also, brachycephalic breeds (short-nosed dogs like French Bulldogs, Boxers, Pugs, Pekingese, Chihuahuas) must never be overloaded. The same applies to particularly heavy breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs, Leonbergers, or Rhodesian Ridgebacks. If in doubt, always seek veterinary advice before starting a sport with your dog. This way, you’ll be on the safe side.

Exercises to Build Muscle in Your Dog’s Hindquarters

While the front limbs serve as a support system for your dog, the hindquarters act as the engine. The propulsion for forward movement comes from the hindquarters, and they also enable your dog to rise and elegantly leap over obstacles. Strong muscles in the hind legs promote agility and keep your dog fit into old age. This is particularly important as the hips are often affected by age-related wear and tear. Strong muscles help prevent age-related weakness in the hindquarters.

For all exercises, it’s important to have your veterinarian confirm whether your dog can perform them. Build up stamina gradually, starting with few repetitions and slowly increasing intensity and repetitions. Always prioritize your dog’s safety during exercises! Your dog should participate willingly and joyfully in training.

How to Train Your Dog’s Hindquarters

Raised Standing: Have your dog stand with their front paws on a stepper, stair step, or bench. A tree stump during walks might also serve this purpose. Maintain the position for a few seconds before having them descend from the elevation.
Progression of Raised Standing: Have your dog sit, then step onto the elevation, and sit again.
Variation of Raised Standing: Have your dog stand with their front paws on a balance cushion, wobble board, or exercise ball. The unstable surface simultaneously trains their deep muscles and body awareness.
Sit-Stand-Sit: Transition your dog from sitting to standing and then back to sitting. This exercise is like squats for your dog and reinforces basic obedience. It’s not suitable for dogs with knee problems, such as those recovering from a cruciate ligament tear or suffering from patellar luxation.
Progression of Sit-Stand-Sit: Perform the sit-stand-sit exercise with slightly elevated front paws, using a stepper or a book, depending on your dog’s size.
Variation of Sit-Stand-Sit: Perform the sit-stand-sit exercise on a trampoline or wobble board to simultaneously train the deep muscles.
Narrow Cavaletti: Arrange cavaletti poles in a line at a distance of one step length for your dog. The narrow spacing requires your dog to place their legs precisely and lift them cleanly. Lead your dog at a slow walking pace over the cavaletti poles, which should be positioned at the height of their wrist joint (carpus).
Progression of Narrow Cavaletti: Later, you can reduce the distance between the poles and raise them slightly.
Water Treading: Training on an underwater treadmill or slow walking in safe, waist-high natural water is also suitable for senior dogs or those with musculoskeletal conditions (but only under supervision).

How Do I Strengthen My Dog’s Back Muscles?

It’s also important to simultaneously train your dog’s back and abdominal muscles because the abdominal muscles are essentially the antagonist to the back muscles. The exercises below strengthen the entire core musculature. Additionally, the elevated standing described earlier to strengthen the hindquarters also trains the core muscles.

How to Train Your Dog’s Back Muscles:

Slalom Running: Place the slalom poles at a distance of about two body lengths of your dog into the ground and lead him around the poles at a walking pace. This training strengthens and mobilizes his spine.
Progression of Slalom Running: Reduce the distances between the slalom poles.
Variation of Slalom Running: Lead your dog backward around the slalom poles.
Weight Shifts: Stand on the trampoline or wobble board with your legs apart over your dog and slowly shift your weight from one leg to the other. Your dog must engage his back and abdominal muscles to maintain balance.
Isometric Exercises: Stand beside your dog and place your flat right hand on his right shoulder blade and your flat left hand on his left hip. Slowly and gently apply very little pressure from both sides. Your dog will engage his core muscles to counterbalance the pressure. Now switch sides and place your left hand on his left shoulder blade and your right hand on his right hip. Slowly apply gentle pressure with your palms.
Balance Exercises: When your dog stands on unstable surfaces, he must use his deep and core muscles to maintain balance. You can achieve this effect, for example, while boating together, stand-up paddling, or even on a balance cushion or standing on a slightly inflated air mattress. With a life vest, your furry friend can also swim alongside you and get a great workout.

What to Consider When Building Muscle in Elderly Dogs

Good muscle tone and a healthy amount of exercise are especially important for senior dogs: Muscle tone relieves the passive musculoskeletal system, and movement ensures that the joints are adequately lubricated. Thus, exercise can even prevent age-related wear and tear such as arthritis. However, it is particularly important for older dogs to have their health condition assessed by a veterinarian before starting training. After all, the goal of the sport is to strengthen, not burden, your senior dog.

Consult your trusted veterinarian to determine which exercises and activities are suitable for your dog and how long you can train. A veterinary physiotherapist can also create an exercise plan tailored to your senior dog. If there are no health restrictions, the following types of training for muscle building are particularly suitable for senior dogs.

Muscle Building for Senior Dogs:

Joint-friendly muscle-building training in the underwater treadmill
Isometric exercises
Walking on various surfaces, for example, on the structured mat
Proprioception training on the wobble board
Elevated standing with fore and hind legs on the balance cushion
Slow cavaletti training where the dog must lift the paws cleanly

How can I strengthen my dog’s muscles after surgery?

After a surgical procedure, your dog may lose muscle either in the surgical area – such as the operated limb – and/or due to overall immobility. To rebuild physiological movement patterns and avoid adopting protective postures, it’s important for your dog to receive good postoperative care. Discuss muscle-building measures and when to start with the veterinary professionals. Seek physiotherapeutic support, have the exercises demonstrated, and create an individual therapy and training plan. After surgery, you should never start on your own – even if your dog was very athletic before.

What supplements are available for muscle building in dogs?

A protein-rich diet is important for muscle building in dogs. Proteins support both muscle building and regeneration. Whether the proteins come from plant or animal sources is somewhat secondary. However, animal proteins – for example, from insects or eggs – are particularly easily digestible by dogs due to their high biological value. A healthy dog does not need additional supplements for muscle building. However, if you wish, you can strengthen the immune system and provide an extra energy boost with high-quality fats such as salmon, borage, hemp, or flaxseed oil. Brewer’s yeast provides your dog with valuable amino acids, trace elements, and vitamins. Additionally, rice bran oil with its high content of gamma-oryzanol is believed to promote muscle building.

With proper care and training, your beloved companion will remain fit and agile well into old age.