Galen Natural Progression – established 2007 by Elisabeth Pope and Julia Robertson.
Dog displaying weak hind quarters
Elisabeth & Julia have over 50 years of combined experience and knowledge, making this method of applying exercise totally unique.
Galen Natural Progression (GNP) Canine Exercise Physiology is our method of creating a balanced and fit dog that can fulfil their natural, optimum, biomechanical function* for maximum health, longevity and mobility.
Through the use of the distinctive GNP© exercises encourage the development of the dog’s integral muscular strength, that positively affects movement, balance, strength, flexibility and health.
The exercises are beneficial for dogs needing corrective treatment, i.e. lameness or mobility issues.
Equally they help to maintain core balance and enhance muscle strength and condition keeping your dog fit, active, healthy and happy.
Dog displaying strong hind quarters
Only trained licensed GNP Canine Exercise Physiologist’s® are permitted to use these exercises.
Licensed practitioners have been trained through an link:accredited course to a level 3 OCN standard.
By encouraging the dog to use its core and stability muscles, in other words the muscle that support the dogs frame and joints, balance and movement can be improved.
This improvement helps your dog cope with the everyday activities and rough and tumble of life.
These two dogs are displaying strength, balance, co-ordination and enhanced spatial awareness. They both were give canine exercise physiology as puppies.
Picture taken from the GNP DVD “From Tongue to Tail – the Integrated Movement of the Dog“
The below pictures demonstrate the difference between dog A that lacks integral balance, strength and has poor muscle condition. Whereas dog B displays a balanced and comfortable stance showing good integral balance, strength and muscle condition.
Dog A
Dog B
- A balanced stance in dog B compared to dog A
- Even weight bearing over all feet in dog B
- Comfortable head position in dog B
- Dog A, stiff neck, no apparent tension in the neck of dog B
- Dog A tucked up over pelvic region
- General appearance – dog B looks healthier
- Dog A hind leg muscles over-working to maintain position (under developed hip extensors, over developed hip flexors)
- Tension through front legs of dog A (elbows loose)
- Overall tension in dog A
- Dog A tension in face and expression
- Dog B a younger dog than dog A
Galen Natural Progression Canine Exercise Physiology can equally help both these dogs by using different specific exercises that will help to maximise mobility and strength to the dogs own intrinsic capability. This will enhance other therapeutic treatments or work on a stand alone basis.
Lack of stability and poor muscular condition will have detrimental effects on your dog throughout its life.
Why is it important?
- The puppy – gently develop joint stability through appropriate muscular development (from a backdrop of understanding puppy development).
- The athlete – to enhance length of stride, core strength, enhance stamina and help prevent accidents.
- The companion dog – develop good skeletal strength to help reduce the incidence of repetitive stress issues that can prematurely ‘age’ your companion.
- The veteran dog – gently encouraging exercises that will promote good exercise aiding mobility and help to reduce the effects of such degenerative conditions as DJD (degenerative joint disease) or osteo-arthritis, spondylitis and old injures.
Elisabeth and Julia have written a book entitled ‘Puppy Exercise and Gentle and Natural Approach’ (2011)
I have just bought home my new puppy and have been looking at books to help me. This is a fabulous book, great pictures easy to read and understand text. I really like the fact that it follows the same dogs from birth to adults and I will keep this book on my coffee table as a reference book. The authors don’t TELL you what to do with your puppy but EXPLAIN how different actions could affect your puppy which really makes you feel they care. I hope by the time my pup grows up there will be a follow up book.
They have also written and produced a DVD Tongue to Tail – the Integrated Movement of the Dog
I was friends with Mrs Rachel Page Elliott who’s “Dog Steps A New Look” is considered the textbook on movement and am thrilled that there are people carrying on her pioneering work in dog locomotion and gait analysis.
Chris Miele – Golden Retriever Club of America‘Helping you to help your dog’ to create fit and balanced dogs
Where do I find a Galen Natural Progression – Canine Exercise Physiologist Practitioner®?
The above have completed and passed the intensive Galen Natural Progression accredited course and are now practicing and supported under the protected title and treatment protocols of Galen Natural Progression.
‘Helping you to help your dog’ to create fit and balanced dogs
Courses for you and your dog:
- Puppies
- Puppy Classes
- Adults
- Strengthening and conditioning classes
- One to one specific
- Classes
- Workshops
- Corrective classes
*Biomechancial function is the synchronisation of the muscular system that will enable correct phasing of muscles to provide the stability of structure globally through the dog to facilitate the appropriate foundation to help sound and robust movement.
All Galen Natural Progression exercises © 2006 and can only be reproduced under licence.