No, not peanut butter… The FitPAWS Peanut is a fun and effective way to help three legged dogs develop core muscle strength and maintain strong balance techniques.
And it’s a lot of fun for you and your dog too!
This inflatable peanut-shaped stability ball is specifically designed for advanced canine core conditioning. The professional-grade heavy-duty PVC material is formulated for use with dogs, provides superior gripping and resists damage caused by dog nails.
Used for core muscle conditioning of sporting and working dogs as well as for advanced animal rehabilitation and therapy, the unique shape of the peanut limits its movement to front/back or side/side, important for dogs new to this type of training.
FitPAWS Canine Conditioning Equipment
The FitPAWS Peanut is ideal for helping our three-legged friends stay fit with:
- Core strengthening
- Increased range of motion and flexibility
- Neuromuscular facilitation and sensory/perceptual stimulation (proproioception,)
- Joint alignment, and balance control.
Whether you want to take your tripawd’s rehabilitation to the next nevel, or your dog is involved in agility, dock jumping, other dog sports or work – or if your pup is just a couch potato with healthier aspirations – core strength is a fundamental element used by your dog to control its body. Running, turning, climbing, and injury prevention are much easier with regular core muscle conditioning.
How the FitPAWS Peanut Works
Once on top of the FitPAWS conditioning equipment, your dog’s body will automatically react to the shifting movement, causing your dog to use different muscle groups simultaneously in order to remain upright.
Adding this fun strengthening activity to your dog’s exercise routine three to four times a week, has many benefits, including:
- Improved reaction and control
- Increased trunk and core strength
- Stabilization of weak areas
- Improved balance and proprioception (awareness of the body’s position in space)
- Increased range of motion in joints & elongation of the muscles
- Improved sensory & body awareness
Please Note: The FitPAWS Peanut is intended for advanced rehab work and core strength training. To get your pup started with unstable surface exercises, consider the Balance Pads and Balance Discs from FitPAWS, or build your own Buja Board.
The FitPAWS Peanut in Action
Demonstration Video: See Tripawds spokespup Wyatt Ray Dawg in action atop the FitPAWS peanut during his visit to Ball Dynamics…
Weight Bearing Exercises: Have your dog rest his front legs on the ball while slowly helping him walk forward pushing it along as he goes. This will help strengthen rear legs while developing core muscle strength.
Low Impact Obstacle Work: Allow your dog to slowly crawl over the ball and back. He will use various muscle groups to do so. Use a harness to assist your dog and keep him from jumping right over the ball.
Balance Stabilization: Help your dog up onto the ball and make him stay in a standing position. Watch muscles from his paws, hocks and core strengthen as he maintains his balance. Gently rock the ball or adjust inflation to increase difficulty.
NOTE: The Peanut is an advanced exercise tool. Please read all safety, care and use instructions and consult with a certified canine rehab therapist before using any FitPAWS Canine Conditioning Equipment.
FitPAWS Peanut Inflation Tips:
You can also adjust the balance challenge of the FitPAWS Peanut by under-inflating so the ball is not as firm.
Helpful inflation hint: Do not over-inflate! The FitPAWS Peanut is inflated by measuring to a desired height, not by air pressure (psi.) The size printed on each FitPAWS Peanut is the maximum inflation height the ball is designed for. If desired, you can use the ball less inflated so that it is easier for your dog to balance on.
FitPAWS Peanuts can be inflated with the included hand pump or your own air compressor with a cone-shaped attachment. If you want to reach the maximum height but feel like the ball cannot take more air, let it sit overnight partially inflated with the plug in the ball. The material will soften and expand a little and be easier to fill. The next day continue to inflate to desired size. When you have reached the desired height, make sure you press the plug all of the way in, until the head of the plug is flush with the ball’s surface. This will ensure a good seal.
At maximum height, the FitPAWS Peanut will feel tight and be the most challenging for your dog.
What Size Peanut is right for my dog?
For core conditioning, measure the length of your dog’s stance from the front paw(s) to the rear leg(s) while standing. For weight bearing activities (with a dog’s forelimbs supported by the ball) choose a peanut that is slightly under your dog’s withers (the highest part of the shoulders where the neck meets the back.) Please see our complete FitPAWS Sizing Guidelines for complete details.
| Dog Stance: | Peanut Size: |
| Up to 20″ Length | 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, or 80cm |
| Up to 24″ | 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, or 80cm |
| Up to 30″ | 60cm, 70cm, or 80cm |
| Up to 41″ | 70cm, or 80cm |
| Up to 46″ | 80cm |
| x | |
Good boy Wyatt!!!! I have never put Maggie back up on my eggball since being a Tripawd…I use the FitPaws balance pads and the balance disc only. Guess I’m too chicken to put her back up on the ball! I should get a peanut for her as it’s more stable than the eggball. I use the eggball with Haley and her shoulder injury right now – 2X per day for 20 minutes she’s on top of it for her workout.
Tracy, Maggie’s Mom
Haley is hard core, those Eggsercises look tough!
oh, so very cool Wyatt!!!! I’m so proud of you and your owners…. helping you with your strength! GO WYATT GO! you look Great!
From Maggie: You’re so brave Wyatt! Look at you rolling back and forth on that ball! My Mom used to put me up on top – actually when I had four legs I could jump up on it all by myself! I doubt I can do at now 🙁
Do your pawrents have Debbie Saunders dvd, “Get on The Ball“? All kinds of great exercises and tips to show you how to work us doggie’s on the ball.
And yeah, Haley is getting to be one tough little rugrat sister with her work on her eggball! Me, I just use the balance pad and balance disc…
Maggie
See the “recommended for use with” link above for Debbie’s Get On The Ball II DVD! 😉
Wondering if there used devices out there?
@jgs1066 Don’t know of any, but you can always check the Tripawds Angel Exchange.
Please can any one tell me the correct time to get my Pup fitted for a back leg as his was taken. My Kauper was found on the side of the road, His leg was mangled and he had been laying there for quite some time before he found me. I would just like the best for him and too help him get over the Trama of being thrown away like Garbage!!!! He is a BEAUTIFUL SHEPHERD/HUSKY CROSS-He is only 9 months old and he will be with me forever now!!!
Lizz, if you are referring to using a prosthetic, you really need to consult with your orthopedic surgeon and a certified orthotic specialist prior to amputation. For more information see our video interview about prosthetics for dogs in the News blog.