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EL880: Core Concepts for Canines and Handlers

  • Overview
  • Syllabus
  • Prerequisites & Supplies
  • Sample Lecture
  • Testimonials & Reviews
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      Apply for a scholarship

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EL880: Core Concepts for Canines and Handlers

Course Details

Core strength is essential for absolutely everything that we, and our Canine teammates, do. From sitting, or standing still, lifting and moving limbs, to more complex whole body movements. The core musculature controls it all. This means that the core strength and mobility of both you, and your Canine teammate, can have a huge impact on functionality in life, and ease and success in sports and dog training related activities. 

Whilst core fitness is one part of the fitness puzzle, it’s the part that can have the biggest impact. Join this class for a focus on handler, and canine core strength, and see measurable improvements over just six weeks. 

This class will cover a variety of theory, and practical components for both handler and canine core strength. This will include a large amount of specific exercises and variations for a wide variety of fitness levels. Kelly and Liz will be able to give specific feedback for working students to ensure exercises are performed in great form, and meet both the handlers and dogs specific needs.

Teaching Approach

Kelly and Liz will release lectures for the week all together at the start of the week. This will allow students to pick and choose the most important things to work on over the week. 

Lectures will include combined concepts in lectures, and separate Canine, and Handler specific lectures. Lectures will include written and video based information. 

Both Liz and Kelly often provide feedback for Gold and Silver students via video analysis using Loom, which is a link students click on to watch, and listen to, their specific feedback.

Liz JoyceInstructor: Liz Joyce

Liz Joyce has been at the forefront of the fitness industry since 2006, with a specialized focus on the unique needs of dog handlers ...((Click here for full bio and to view Liz's upcoming courses))

Kelly DanielInstructor: Kelly Daniel

Kelly Daniel (She/her) is a learning and dog training addict. She has been training and competing with her dogs (of various shapes and forms) for around 15 years ...

Syllabus

View Full Syllabus

Week 1

  • The importance of posture
  • Warm up
  • Handler assessment for core strength and posture 
  • Canine core strength assessment
  • Postural base exercises for dogs 
  • Handler posture essentials: breathing, standing, and correct muscle engagement
  • Canine postural essentials: breathing and stillness
  • Canine and handler examples of the importance of posture

Week 2

  • Isometric core 
  • Isometric muscle contraction
  • Handler isometric workouts, with progressions
  • Canine isometric exercise, with progressions
  • Canine and handler examples of the importance of isometric muscle strength

Week 3

  • Rotational/Moving core strength
  • Canine isometric exercise, with progressions
  • Handler isometric workouts, with progressions
  • Canine and handler examples of the importance of isometric muscle strength

Week 4

  • Anti-rotational core strength
  • Canine isometric exercise, with progressions
  • Handler isometric workouts, with progressions
  • Canine and handler examples of the importance of isometric muscle strength

Week 5

  • Reactive core stability
  • Canine isometric exercise, with progressions
  • Handler isometric workouts, with progressions
  • Canine and handler examples of the importance of isometric muscle strength

Week 6

  • Re-assessment to look at progress
  • Looking big picture: how the core is part of the puzzle
  • A ‘big picture’ handler workout
  • A ‘big picture’ canine handout
  • Wrap up and thanks!

Prerequisites and Equipment

Canine Fitness equipment essentials include: 

  • One long aerobic step platform
  • Two smaller stable platforms
  • 8-12 cavaletti poles
  • Two larger cones

Additional equipment that might be useful or required for more challenge: 

  • Textured silicone target mats
  • Inflatable equipment like TwinDiscs, foot pods, or wobble cushions for dogs who need more challenge

Here’s some videos to explain equipment in more detail: 

 

Human fitness equipment

  • Mini bands
  • Yoga mat

Sample Lecture

More

1.3 Handler assessment of core strength

 

We're going to establish a benchmark for your core strength through timed front and both side plank holds. Super fun, I know! ;)

 

Because accessibility is everything, let’s talk about the benchmark if planking from your feet and elbows isn’t achievable quite yet. If this is you, you’re going to time how long you can hold a plank, both sides and front, from your elbows and knees. Make note about your contact points (elbows and knees).

It’s fair, in a lot of cases, to anticipate moving to your elbows and toes throughout the course. GOALS!!

 

Front plank instructions:

 

Side plank instructions:

 

Record your time below, and note if you were on your toes or knees, to track your progress.

Date

Front plank

R Side plank

L Side plank

Oct 1

     

Oct 8

     

Oct 15

     

Oct 22

     

Oct 29

     

Nov 5

     

 

Testimonials & Reviews

Read All Testimonials

New class for the October 2022 session.

Registration

Next session starts: December 1, 2025
Registration starts: November 22, 2025
Registration ends: December 15, 2025

Registration opens at 10:00am Pacific Time.

EL880 Subscriptions


Gold

Silver

Bronze
Tuition $ 260.00 $ 130.00 $ 65.00
Enrollment Limits 12 25 Unlimited
Access all course lectures and materials ✔ ✔ ✔
Access to discussion and homework forums ✔ ✔ ✔
Read all posted questions and answers ✔ ✔ ✔
Watch all posted videos ✔ ✔ ✔
Post general questions to Discussion forum ✔ ✔ ✖
Submit written assignments ✔ ✖ ✖
Post dog specific questions ✔ With video only ✖
Post videos ✔ Up to 2 ✖
Receive instructor feedback on
  • Questions
  • All videos
  • Questions
  • All videos
✖

Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.

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