Feet Targets for Canine Fitness
Feet targets are valuable tools for building body awareness and encouraging precise foot placement during canine fitness exercises.
When introducing target training, I like to begin with targets that have generous surface area and minimal height, which increases the dog’s chances of success. As the dog’s body awareness improves, the targets can gradually become smaller and slightly taller, helping build precision in foot placement.
Eventually, dogs can progress to individual foot targets to develop awareness and control of each limb.
Contents:
1. Two Large Feet Targets
Building Body Awareness Skills
When first beginning target training, use targets with minimal height and plenty of length and width. This gives the dog the greatest chance of success while learning the concept of feet targeting.
At this stage, we are simply reinforcing the dog for placing their feet on the targets. This establishes the foundation for target training and begins building awareness of where the dog’s feet go.
Recommended Height:
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Small Dogs: ~1/2″ to 1″
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Medium Dogs: ~1″ to 1.5″
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Large Dogs: ~1.5-2″
Recommended Width & Length:
Large feet targets should be square or rectangular, with a width of approximately 1.5–2× the dog’s shoulder width.
A simple way to measure this is by placing your dog in a square stand or sit position, and then measuring from the outside of one front paw to the outside of the other front paw.
Use this measurement to determine both the width and length of the targets.
Large Feet Target Ideas:
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Thick yoga mat cut to size
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Wooden board covered in yoga mat or non-slip liner
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Plywood or scrap wood with traction surface
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Rubber door mat
- Rubber gym mat
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Silicone dish drying mat
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Foam puzzle pieces
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Bath mat
Use:
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One target for both front feet
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One target for both rear feet
Exercise Example: Back Up to Rear Feet Target
2. Two Standard Feet Targets
Refining Alignment
Once the dog demonstrates fluency with large targets, the next stage of training is to decrease target size and slightly increase height.
Standard feet targets use the same height and width as the Platforms, with a length of 1/2 to 3/4 of the determined width of the platforms.
These targets work extremely well for communicating to the dog where we would like their feet to go, and sets the dog up for good alignment with a variety of canine fitness exercises. They also pair very well with the dog’s platform, and can be used to alter canine conditioning exercises.
Recommended Height:
A height of 1″ or less is recommended for all sized dogs
Measuring Width:
With the dog in a square down, I take 2 measurements:
- Measurement 1 is from the dog’s left stifle to right stifle
- Measurement 2 is from the dog’s left point of hock to right point of hock
If there is a discrepancy between these two measurements, add them together and divide by two to determine the average width.
Measuring Length:
Feet target length should be 1/2 to 3/4 of the determined width.
Standard Feet Target General Sizing
It is always ideal to size platforms and feet targets to the individual dog’s proportions, but if that is not possible, the following guidelines have worked well for many of our clients.
XS Dog:
- Height = 0.5″ – 1.5″
- Width = 6″
- Length = 3″ – 4.5″
Small Dog:
- Height = 0.5″ – 1.5″
- Width = 8″
- Length = 4″ – 6″
Medium Dog:
- Height = 1.5″ – 2″
- Width = 10″
- Length = 5″ – 7.5″
Large Dog:
- Height = 1.5″ – 3″
- Width = 12″
- Length = 6″ – 9″
XL Dog:
- Height = 2″ – 3″
- Width = 14″
- Length = 7″ – 10.5″
Standard Feet Target Ideas:
- I personally like to use the same wood for these feet targets as used with the platforms. You will want to add a comfortable, non slip coating to the tops and bottoms of your equipment. This could include gym flooring, rubber grip tape, “anti-slip tape comfortable on bare feet” or yoga mats.
- Foam Chip Yoga Blocks are another good alternative for standard feet targets. I recommend this brand, as they have less height than traditional yoga blocks (which have the tendency to tip and therefore are not recommended).
Use:
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One target for both front feet
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One target for both rear feet
Exercise Example: Elongated Sit Posture
3. Four Individual Foot Targets
Refining Individual Limb Awareness Skills
Individual foot targets represent the most precise stage of target training, building on the body awareness skills developed with large and standard feet targets.
They help dogs develop individual limb awareness and control and are a prerequisite for advanced targeting skills, including paw pod exercises and individual limb lifts.
These targets should be slightly larger than the dog’s paw.
Recommended Height:
- Small Dogs: ~1/2″ to 1″
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Medium Dogs: ~1″ to 1.5″
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Large Dogs: ~1.5-2″
Recommended Width & Length:
**photo courtesy of Wiggle Butts Design Labs
One way to size individual foot targets is by tracing the outline of your dog’s paw and measuring the widest points of the tracing.
Another method is to place your dog in a square stand or sit position, measure from the outside of one front paw to the outside of the other, and then use 1/4 to 1/2 of this measurement, squared.
Example:
If a dog’s width is 10″, individual foot targets would be approximately 2.5–5″ squares or circles.
Individual Foot Target Ideas:
- Cork Coasters
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Small hot pot stands
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Flower pot plates covered in yoga mat or gator grip
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Silicone drying dish mat cut slightly larger than the dog’s paw
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Foam puzzle pieces cut to size
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Small square pavers
Use:
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4 individual foot targets – 1 for each paw!
Individual Foot Target Tips:
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Add Velcro to the bottom of the targets and attach them to a rug to prevent sliding
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Use a mirror to monitor rear foot placement – this can help with marking and rewarding the precise moment your dog’s feet are on the targets.
Exercise Example: Front Foot Sidesteps
Want to learn how to incorporate paw targeting skills in your canine fitness training?
Check out our Find 4 Feet and Paw Pod Precision Courses!