20/06/2022
Be fair to your dog! Injury prevention is key to long-term success.๐
"Being able to participate in any sport with our dogs is a gift. Our dogs are not robots - they experience discomfort and pain, just like we do. The difference is that if we twist our knee on course, we have the ability to stop right away without consulting our canine partners. A true relationship isnโt proven through titles or awards, itโs shown in how you care for your partner."
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ .
As much as we call dog sports a partnership, we need to acknowledge that it is our dogs doing the majority of the physical work. They run, jump, heel, change positions - all because weโve created a drive in them to do so that often overrides any feelings of discomfort. Our dogs take on the physical demands of these team sports, and in return, if it truly is a partnership, we need to take on the responsibility of looking out for their health and welfare, and be willing to happily cut a course (or even a trial) short if that is in the best interest of our partner.
Asking our dogs to continue to compete when they are showing signs of discomfort can result in a more serious injury occurring, either due to aggravation of the initial injury or due to the manner in which the dog compensates for injury. More importantly though, if an owner knowingly runs a dog who is injured, itโs a betrayal of the ideals of relationship and sportsmanship. Our dogs donโt care about ribbons or titles or the money spent on entry fees - they do what they do because of their relationship with us. Itโs our responsibility to honour that relationship by making choices that look out for their best interests.
So what should you do if your dog suddenly shows an indication of discomfort in the middle of a run/trial? Iโve divided this article into three sections - how to be proactive, what to do in the moment, and next steps. Hopefully this helps provide guidance for people who want to do whatโs best for their dog, but are struggling with what they should do.
๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ
There is so much that can be done to prevent injuries in the first place.
#1. ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ด๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ. If a rehab vet is close to you, itโs well worth getting regular assessments. If you have access to complementary care providers, make judicious use of them as well. If possible, have a gait analysis completed so that you a) can address any concerns in advance, and b) have documentation of what your dogโs โnormalโ gait looks like so you can compare if necessary.
#2. ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ . The science is clear - including an active range of motion workout before activity can improve performance and reduce the risk of injury (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZaA9wZ4wHxYQUa0l16vX3oeePf2yn67v54Erbgu-3ew/edit?usp=sharing)
#3. ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ, especially if you are a coach because you are in a position of authority and leadership. Talk to your clients and peers about warning signs and normalize not training if your dog isnโt 100%. Set the standard with your own dogs - donโt just talk about successful runs, talk about the runs where youโve had to pull your dog, or warning signs youโve paid attention to and how making hard decisions has benefitted your dog in the long run.
๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
#๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ.
In an agility run, the handler is tracking the dogโs lines, the next obstacle, where they are in the course, worrying about any specific challenges their dog is facing, and trying desperately not to run into that jump that is right in the middle of their ideal path...itโs a lot, and so itโs easy to miss a gait anomaly in a dog.
If my dog isnโt moving well, I want to know, and I want to know RIGHT AWAY. I donโt care if Iโm in the middle of the course. I donโt care if Iโm one obstacle away from a spectacular run. I donโt care if thereโs a title on the line, I donโt care if Iโve spent hundreds of dollars between travelling, hotel, and entry expenses. Iโve been in all of those positions before, and as soon as I have a concern Iโve stopped the run. There is absolutely nothing more important to me than the health and well-being of my dog.
If the owner is angry to find out you are concerned about their dog, thatโs on them, not on you.
#๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ .
It doesnโt matter if your dog was fine in the run before. It doesnโt matter if you didnโt see what caused the injury. It doesnโt matter if you are pretty sure s/he just landed wrong and will be fine in a few minutes. None of this matters, because right now, in this moment, your dog is uncomfortable and you are responsible for your dogโs health.
#๐. ๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ.
In many cases handlerโs have spent years building obstacle drive and obedience in their dogs. Iโve seen dogs try to take agility jumps on three legs after an acute CCL injury, Iโve seen senior dogs with a limited range of motion pull themselves through a course that asks more of them then they should have to give, and Iโve seen dogs with a torn off nail going over an A-frame before their owner could stop them. Your dog is not โfineโ just because itโs willing and able to perform - dogs can and will continue to train and compete, even when theyโre extremely uncomfortable. Be aware of your power, and be kind to your dog.
#๐. ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ.
Your dog and the relationship you share with your dog is more valuable than the last obstacle, the final run, the Q, or the money you spent on travel expenses. Using that power in your relationship to run your dog when s/he is in pain isnโt right, and itโs not fair to your dog.
๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ
#๐. ๐๐ก๐๐๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
If you go over your dog with a fine toothed comb, are you finding any spots that are sensitive, bloody (ie. a broken nail), or warmer to the touch than they should be? Is your dog stiffening or vocalizing when you touch certain areas? Is your dog comfortable sitting, standing, going to the washroom, jumping onto their place spot, etc? Does your dog have a full range of motion, and can they still comfortable complete all AROM exercises?
#๐. ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐๐จ
Take 5 minutes and complete a full gait analysis video, capturing video at both full speed and in slow mo. If you arenโt sure how to analyze gait, try to find a friend or coach who is capable of doing a thorough analysis. Your dog may have just landed wrong, and their gait may return to normal quickly, or it may be a longer term issue - but taking video immediately after can either reassure you that all is now good in your dogโs world or it can provide valuable documentation for a longer term injury.
#๐. ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐, ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ.
Having a neutral, knowledgeable professional put their hands on your dogs is invaluable. Iโve always found the reassurance to be well worth the money.
#๐. ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ค.
If the gait video is clear, you donโt spot any red flags, and the professional clears your dog so you decide to run your dog again, have someone video (or a few people from different angles) to make sure that nothing was missed - after all, dog sports demand much more of our dogs than a typical gait analysis video does. Be aware of your dog and look for any red flags - a slower pace, knocked bars, avoidance, difficulting maintaining a heel, slow to switch positions, etc. Donโt be afraid of cutting the run short if your instincts are telling you something is still wrong.
#5. ๐
๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ.
Reflection is always an important part of the learning process. Is there anything you can do to be more proactive in your dogโs care? Did your handling adequately support your dogโs lines so they werenโt trying to make adjustments on the fly? Is it time to lower your dogโs bar height? Have you implemented a conditioning routine that reflects the demands of the sport? Did you make the time to warm up? How can you do better for your partner?
Being able to participate in any sport with our dogs is a gift. Our dogs are not robots - they experience discomfort and pain, just like we do. The difference is that if we twist our knee on course, we have the ability to stop right away without consulting our canine partners. A true relationship isnโt proven through titles or awards, itโs shown in how you care for your partner.
