Raising a working puppy isn’t just about teaching commands -  it’s about building a strong, confident, injury-resistant young athlete. In this blog, we share a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re developing Kilo, an active Malinois puppy, through a carefully designed strengthening program combined with obedience work.

Here's an explanation of why strengthening matters. For a personalised plan for your own puppy, contact Second Stride Veterinary Physiotherapy.

Why Structured Strengthening Matters for Working Puppies

Puppies’ joints, muscles, and growth plates are still developing. Overdoing exercise can cause injury, but under-conditioning can lead to poor posture and weak muscles later.

A tailored program:

• Builds core stability and balance safely.

• Improves body awareness and coordination.

• Prevents injury by teaching correct movement patterns early.

• Creates a foundation for later high-intensity work.

Every puppy is different - we always adapt exercises to age, breed, and development stage.

How We Work With Kilo

Kilo trains a minimum of three times a week in short sessions. Each session starts with a gentle warm-up, then moves into carefully selected strengthening and coordination exercises, and finishes with active cool-down movements.

We’ve designed his program to:

• Build core stability and hind-end awareness.

• Improve posture and movement control.

• Integrate simple obedience cues to engage his mind while strengthening his body.

Examples of What’s in Kilo’s Program

Rather than giving away every detail, here’s a glimpse of the types of activities Kilo does:

• Warm-up & Mobility: Short loose-lead walking, basic sit/stand/down transitions, gentle weaves to loosen shoulders and spine.

• Foundation Strengthening: Low-impact exercises that improve balance, core strength, and hind-end awareness (using pads, poles, and handler guidance).

• Progressive Challenges: As Kilo masters the basics, we gradually increase difficulty - tighter weaves, stepping over low obstacles, unstable surfaces.

• Active Cool-Down: Slow walking, gentle curves, and controlled head turns to bring his heart rate down while keeping muscles supple.

Because every puppy is unique, the number of reps, the height of poles, the type of surface and the speed all change depending on age and growth stage.

Strengthening Tips from a Veterinary Physiotherapist

• Short, quality sessions beat long, repetitive drills.

• Surface choice matters - avoid slippery floors.

• Watch posture: encourage straight, controlled movement.

• Make it fun and rewarding with treats and praise.

• Always consult a qualified professional before starting a new program.

For a personalised program tailored to your puppy’s age and job, book an assessment with Second Stride Veterinary Physiotherapy.

Courtney’s Feedback – Training & Obedience With Kilo

Kilo has been my first opportunity and example of a working breed raised while prioritising proper strengthening and conditioning, and at 6 months old, I can already see and feel the difference. 

Developing good Proprioception was an important goal in our program, and I can see how this has improved his obedience in that his hind-end awareness is far greater than my adult Malinois, who never had this form of training as a puppy.

He moves into position far more easily and cleanly, and confidently. So through the conditioning exercises we had been doing (which still count as obedience training in a way, as it's still a form of working with your dog), we have seen improvement in other areas. He is still a wild, crazy puppy and, like most Malinois, was born without self-preservation skills. So I do still take precautions to protect him (not let him leap out of my car), but I do have more peace of mind knowing that if something wild does happen, his body will be more protected than other dogs who have not had the opportunity to properly strengthen their muscles like Kilo.

I believe his body has been developing well and that we shouldn't see too many imbalances as an adult due to our program. I believe the training provides great mental stimulation,  as it might look easy, but for the dog, it really requires thinking and can provide a great mental challenge, combined with the fact that the exercise is tiring in itself- these are all fantastic things for a growing working puppy as he needs a proper outlet for all that bottled-up energy. 

No, I don't only do the conditioning exercises,  but also do other forms of training and enrichment/exercise to make sure his cup is full across the board. 

Overall, I am sad that I haven't raised all of my working breeds in this way, as I believe the difference is monumental, and my female recently diagnosed with some health issues could have probably greatly benefited from such an upbringing. I'm very excited to see how Kilo continues to develop, should I continue to put in good work and what his future holds as a potential patrol dog. 

Building a Strong Future Working Dog

Kilo’s journey shows how a structured, professional approach can safely build a working puppy’s strength, coordination, and obedience while protecting their growing joints.

If you’d like to know exactly which exercises are safe and effective for your puppy, book a consultation with Second Stride Veterinary Physiotherapy for a personalised plan rather than trying to copy Kilo’s routine.

This guide was created in collaboration between Courtney Cuthbert (DipCABT, DH5 Sasseta, PSIRA, Diploma in Canine Behaviour and Training – Petsense College 2022, Echotrack K9 Training Solution) and Léa Bestel (BSc Veterinary Physiotherapy – Equine Librium College 2024, Second Stride Veterinary Physiotherapy).

Together, we bring expertise in canine behaviour and veterinary physiotherapy to help dogs live happier, healthier lives.