When your dog has stiff joints, targeted exercises can help support their mobility alongside a quality joint supplement. This guide to home physical therapy exercises for dogs was developed with Kathryn Hall, a qualified veterinary physiotherapist with a degree in Animal Science and a post-graduate diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy.
Important: Do not attempt these exercises without first receiving guidance from a qualified veterinary physiotherapist. Each case is unique, and not all exercises are suitable for all dogs. Performing these exercises incorrectly can cause harm. The exercises described below are examples of what a veterinary physiotherapist may recommend for your dog.
What Is Veterinary Physiotherapy?
A physiotherapy session for a dog typically includes a full static and dynamic assessment, including range of motion evaluation and palpation. Treatment may involve a combination of electrotherapies, massage, stretches, and remedial exercises tailored to the dog's specific condition. For dogs with stiff joints, physiotherapy can help increase range of motion and flexibility, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve overall comfort and mood.
While physiotherapy itself should always be performed by a qualified, insured physiotherapist, there are remedial exercises that your physiotherapist may prescribe for you to perform at home between sessions. Done correctly, home exercises can have an extremely positive effect. Done incorrectly — with the wrong technique, too many repetitions, or at the wrong intensity — they will not help and may cause harm.
1. Slow Lead Walking
Slow walking on a lead is one of the most commonly recommended exercises for dogs with stiff joints. When dogs trot, they have a shorter stance phase — the time each paw spends in contact with the ground. Some dogs trot to compensate and reduce time bearing weight on a stiff or uncomfortable leg. By walking your dog slowly on the lead, you increase the stance phase, meaning the dog puts more weight on each leg, which in turn builds muscle strength.
For dogs with stiff joints, multiple short walks are better than one long walk. For example, three 15-minute walks are preferable to one 45-minute walk. Frequent movement helps prevent extended periods of inactivity, supports circulation, and promotes hyaluronic acid production within the joint.
Although slow lead walking is a simple exercise, consult your veterinary physiotherapist on the appropriate duration and frequency for your dog's specific condition.
2. Passive Range of Motion (PROM)
Passive range of motion exercises involve moving a dog's joints without any muscle contraction from the dog, using an external force such as your hands. The dog lies on one side while you gently flex and extend the limb within its natural range of motion.
PROM exercises help maintain and increase joint flexibility, promote synovial fluid production that cushions and lubricates the joint, and reduce muscle atrophy in dogs that are less active than they once were — all without requiring the dog to expend energy.
It is vital to receive instruction from a veterinary physiotherapist before attempting PROM exercises. Moving the limb too fast, holding it at the wrong angle, or extending beyond the joint's natural range can cause pain or injury.
3. Static Weight Shifts
Dogs with stiff joints often compensate by shifting weight away from the affected area. For example, a dog with stiff hind legs will front-load, putting more weight on the front legs and placing those joints under greater strain. Static weight shifts are a simple exercise that encourages more even weight distribution and balanced muscle development.
This exercise works best with two people. With the dog standing square, one person supports the dog at the front by the shoulders while the other person places one hand on each hip joint. The person at the hips then very gently moves the dog to one side, back to center, and then to the other side. The movement should be subtle — it should not cause the dog to step or shift their feet, but simply cause them to bear more weight on one side and then the other.
Your veterinary physiotherapist will advise which specific weight shifts to perform, the correct direction and intensity, and the appropriate number of repetitions. If the movements are too quick, they will not produce the slow, controlled load that builds muscle strength.
4. Sit to Stand
The sit-to-stand exercise is the canine equivalent of a squat. The goal is to build the muscles around the hip and knee joints in a slow, controlled way within the dog's comfortable range of motion — rather than the full flexion and extension that occurs during activities like chasing a ball or jumping.
The exercise is straightforward: ask your dog to sit, then to stand. However, the dog needs to stand up straight in what is called the sagittal plane, meaning they rise without leaning or bending to one side. Dogs with stiff hips or knees may tend to shift to one side to compensate. If your dog consistently sits or lies favoring one side, this could be a sign that the opposite leg is uncomfortable.
Ask your veterinary physiotherapist whether sit-to-stand exercises are suitable for your dog and, if so, the correct number of repetitions.
5. Cavaletti Poles
Dogs with stiff joints often have a reduced stride length. A simple way to check this is to watch whether your dog's hind paw lands in the spot that the front paw just left — if it does not reach that far, this may indicate stiffness limiting their range of motion.
Cavaletti pole exercises address this by requiring the dog to flex and extend their legs to step over poles placed on the ground. Lifting their legs higher strengthens the flexor and extensor muscles and increases range of motion over time.
Your veterinary physiotherapist can advise on the correct spacing between poles based on your dog's size and condition. Incorrect spacing can cause the dog to step on the poles and slip. If your dog has a very low flight arc and is unable to lift their legs over the poles, ground pole exercises may not be appropriate.
6. Weaving, Circles, and Figures of Eight
These exercises can be done indoors or outdoors and involve walking your dog in circles, figures of eight, or between weaving poles. When a dog walks in a circle, the inside legs bear more weight, which helps build muscle strength, while the outside legs stretch further than normal, increasing flexibility and range of motion.
When doing circle work, it is important to change direction regularly so that both sides of the dog's body are targeted equally. For dogs with very stiff joints, walking in tight circles is not recommended, as this could put additional pressure on already compromised joints.
As with all exercises, consult your veterinary physiotherapist for the appropriate size of circles, number of repetitions, and whether these exercises are suitable for your dog's condition.
Finding a Veterinary Physiotherapist
To find a qualified veterinary physiotherapist, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation or check with reputable veterinary organizations in your state or region. Once you find someone who is qualified and recommended by your veterinarian, schedule an initial meeting to see how you and your dog get along with them before beginning a treatment program.
In the meantime, supporting your dog's joint health with a quality supplement can complement their exercise program. For dogs with severe or chronic stiffness, YuMOVE Advanced Vet Strength Chews provide the most concentrated joint support. For general joint maintenance, YuMOVE Tasty Health Bites are a preventive daily option. Browse the full YuMOVE hip and joint collection to find the right fit for your dog.
