Yeah, this stuff really gets very old very fast. (the older I get, the older it gets).
The irony of this stuff is that it usually doesn't happen when bending down to lift; it happens after that when the joints try to go back into column and hit a nerve on the way or a disk gets squished even slightly. So a sneeze at the wrong moment really is enough to set it off!
Time and the obvious loving care from your pooch (and perhaps the missus) will set it right, and then, yes, you have to do all those damned exercises to help strengthen the stabilizing muscles.
I'm told that for this purpose, low intensity, many reps (like 60 or so) are the way to go to build endurance.
Take care, sir, and feel better.