Cavaletti training, walking or trotting over poles, has been used for equine conditioning traditionally but we now also use it with dogs. It is a fun and easy way to improve core strength, flexor muscle strength, body awareness, balance, joint flexion, stride, and overall movement in dogs. In addition to helping your dog to get in shape, cavaletti training can also burn off energy and provide exercise when a walk is not an option. It is a terrific way to warm up your dog before training, hikes, and sports. You don’t need fancy equipment—you can use objects around your own house and yard, including PVC pipes, broomsticks, sponge mops (many have removable heads), 2x4s, and even 4x4s once dogs can handle more height.