Blue Ridge Dog Training Club

08/29/2026

Rally-O!
May the courses be with ALL taking part in
BRDTC's AKC Rally Trials.

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

The RECOVER Initiative has just published its 2026 First Aid Guidelines for Dogs and Cats — the first evidence-based consensus guidelines on first aid in dogs and cats, specifically addressing veterinary first aid in the prehospital setting.

The guidelines address 38 treatment recommendations across 10 clinical questions, covering emergencies including:

• Heat stroke
• Hypoglycemia
• Toxin ingestion
• Burns
• Choking / airway obstruction
• Respiratory distress
• Severe extremity bleeding
• Opioid exposure
• Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest
• And more

One of the most important concepts is that first aid starts before the patient reaches the veterinary hospital.

RECOVER introduces a First Aid “Recognize and Act” (FARA) Algorithm designed to help owners, handlers, and paraprofessionals recognize emergencies and understand what actions may be appropriate while seeking veterinary care.

And there are some recommendations that may challenge familiar first-aid habits.

• 𝗖𝗣𝗥: A single rescuer should begin chest compressions within 10 seconds of recognizing unconsciousness and lack of regular breathing — without stopping first to check the airway or give breaths. The guidelines explicitly identify this compressions-first approach as a change from previous RECOVER guidance.

• 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. The evidence reviewed did not report harm or hypothermia associated with cold-water immersion or other active cooling techniques.

• 𝗧𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The guidelines recommend against routinely inducing emesis in the prehospital setting after acute non-caustic toxin ingestion. If immediate access to a veterinary facility is not available, emesis may be considered when specifically recommended by a veterinarian or animal poison control center.

• 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲: RECOVER recommends naloxone for animals with suspected opioid exposure and altered mentation or a respiratory rate below 10 breaths/min. Intranasal or intramuscular administration can be used. If an animal is unresponsive and apneic or agonal, BLS should be initiated first, followed by naloxone as soon as possible.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝘀.

It gives veterinary teams a framework for teaching owners and animal caregivers what to do — and what not to do — during the critical minutes before professional care is available.

The document is linked in the comments.

08/27/2026

Happy National Dog Day!

08/25/2026

Exciting possibilities.

For many years, decompressive surgery has been considered the treatment of choice for non-ambulatory dogs with thoracolumbar IVDD.

But is that truly the case?

A prospective cohort study from the University of Cambridge suggests that the question of conservative vs surgical management for IVDD isn't quite as straightforward as we may have thought.

Researchers followed 72 small, non-brachycephalic dogs that were managed conservatively after acute thoracolumbar disc extrusion.

Their findings are exciting:
• 96% of dogs that still had deep pain sensation regained the ability to walk within 12 weeks.
• 48% of dogs that had lost deep pain sensation also regained ambulation in 12 weeks.
• Recovery occurred even in some dogs with severe spinal cord compression, and was not dependent on complete resolution of the compression seen on MRI.

This doesn't mean surgery is no longer indicated. Surgery remains an important treatment option and may still be the best choice for many patients.

What this study does suggest is that conservative management should not automatically be viewed as a poor alternative when surgery isn't possible because of financial, geographic or medical constraints. For many dogs, it represents a realistic treatment pathway with the potential for positive outcomes.

As always, treatment decisions should be made on an individual basis, considering the dog's neurological status, imaging findings, overall health and the goals of the family.

Reference:
Khan S, Jeffery ND, Freeman P. Recovery of ambulation in small, nonbrachycephalic dogs after conservative management of acute thoracolumbar disk extrusion. J Vet Intern Med. 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2603-2611. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17149. Epub 2024 Jul 25. PMID: 39051966; PMCID: PMC11423491.

July is IVDD Awareness Month - be sure to tag us in your success stories, educational posts and more so that we can share them on!!


Paw Prosper Walkin' Pets Help Em Up Harness FitPaws

08/25/2026

❣️

Sheila was nothing more than a working sheepdog on the Northumberland hills, a collie who spent her days rounding up flocks for her owner, the shepherd John Dagg. There was no ceremony in that, no expectation of anything beyond the next storm and the next gather. That changed on 16 December 1944, when a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the US Eighth Air Force, still carrying its full bomb load after the mission was recalled, went down in the Cheviot Hills on the border between England and Scotland.

Dagg and his neighbour Frank Moscrop heard the crash and started up the mountainside to see if anyone could be helped. What met them was a blizzard so thick it stripped away any real chance of finding wreckage by sight alone. They had nothing to navigate by but Sheila, working the ground the way she worked sheep, patient and low and certain in conditions that had already beaten two grown men. She found four of the airmen sheltering in a crevice, half frozen and disorientated, and led the shepherds straight to them. Together they got the survivors down the mountain to the cottage, arriving as the bombs still lodged in the wreckage above finally detonated behind them.

Because of that descent, Lieutenant George Kyle, Sergeant Howard Delaney, Sergeant George Smith and Sergeant Joel Berly walked away from a crash that could easily have killed them all. Two of their crewmates did not survive the impact itself. Dagg was awarded the British Empire Medal for his part in the rescue, and Sheila was given the PDSA Dickin Medal, the first time it had ever gone to a dog with no military service behind her at all, an ordinary sheepdog recognised as the equal of any working animal in uniform.

Her legacy did not end there. One of her puppies, Tibbie, was sent across the Atlantic to the family of Sergeant Frank Turner, one of the men who died in the crash, a small living connection between a Northumberland hillside and a grieving household in America. Her story was later told on film in To the Border Bred, and decades on, her medal and Dagg's were sold together at Sotheby's in 2005 for £25,300, a quiet postscript to a story that began with nothing more than a dog doing what she knew how to do in weather that had already beaten everyone else.

08/24/2026

Did you consider?

Your dog might not like physical praise !

We humans have a natural tendency to want to stroke, cuddle, and hug our dogs. It feels good to us… but did you know not all dogs enjoy physical contact? For some, it can even feel aversive.

Dogs are always having conversations with us through their body language and behaviour. The problem is we don’t always listen because we don't 'see' what they're saying. When those conversations go unheard, dogs often end up stressed, showing displacement behaviours like:
👉 Mouthing
👉 Over-arousal
👉 Hu***ng
👉 Zoomies

These dogs are not being naughty or disobedient. These are dogs working hard to cope with something they find difficult, and sometimes the only option left is to bite.
My work with these dogs is about listening first. We find their baseline: what they like, what they tolerate, and what they really don’t. From there, we can build two-way conversations and where it’s needed begin counterconditioning so grooming, vet checks, or daily handling become safe and comfortable.

But equally important we respect who they are as sentient beings, and we don’t force unnecessary touch just because we want it.

From a social point of view, dogs can value two very different things:
1️⃣ Being close to you, hanging out, even leaning against you, wanting to lay next to you on the sofa.
2️⃣ Physical contact, touch, stroking from you

The dogs who love 1️⃣ but not 2️⃣ are the ones who often get misunderstood. They want to be with you but not necessarily be touched by you. And that’s okay.

Some dogs even change their minds mid-fuss thinking they want it until they don’t. That’s okay too.

I get it, because I’m the same I like people, but I don’t like hugs.

Here’s Huey 🤎 we’ve done lots of work so he can cope with handling and grooming. He can even enjoy a fuss now. The key was that he felt understood and listened to. Having a voice that is heard is empowering.

When people meet Huey I tell them, he might look like he wants you to fuss him, but he doesn't. I know the people that meet him might not speak his language so I speak for him. That's my role as his guardian.

08/23/2026

Curious about the sport of tracking?

🐾 Richmond Dog Obedience Club (RDOC) is offering a series of Tracking seminars throughout the fall and early winter!

📍 Seminar topics include:

• Introduction to Tracking Dog (TD)

• Tracking Dog (TD): Starts, Turns & Articles

• Introduction to Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX): Problem Solving

• Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX): Problem Solving

Our instructors are Tracking judges, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to help you and your dog prepare for tracking tests.

🐕 Both audit and working spots are available! Working spots are limited, so be sure to register early.

📅 Details: Visit www.rdoc.org → Trials & Events → Events Hosted by RDOC → select the event → Event Documents → PDF

📝 Registration: Training & Registration → Upcoming Run Thrus / Seminars

Come join us and build your tracking skills, troubleshoot challenges, and get ready for your next tracking adventure! 🌿🐾



Info borrowed from another post promoting these events. Great opportunity with knowledgable tracking judges.

RDOC provides Dog Training Services for Puppy and Adult Dogs

08/22/2026

Pacing in Dogs: Normal Gait or Something Worth Investigating?

Is pacing in a dog always a sign that something is wrong?

Not necessarily.

Pacing can be a normal symmetrical gait pattern in which the forelimb and hindlimb on the same side of the body move together. This differs from the trot, where the limbs move in diagonal pairs.

Pacing is sometimes perceived, particularly in some show and working-dog circles and by those assessing canine movement, as an inefficient gait or a possible sign of compensation. However, the evidence is more nuanced than this.

Pacing can occur as part of normal locomotion and may be seen when a dog is moving at a speed between a walk and a trot. It can also be influenced by breed, conformation, individual movement pattern, surface, speed and whether the dog is being led.

So, while pacing can sometimes be associated with an underlying problem, the presence of pacing alone does not mean that a dog is painful or compensating.

Is pacing normal in some dogs?

Yes.

Some dogs naturally use pacing or ambling as part of their normal movement repertoire.

Two breeds in which pacing is particularly well recognised are:

• Old English Sheepdog
• Neapolitan Mastiff

The Old English Sheepdog has a characteristic ambling movement, while pacing is recognised within the movement description of the Neapolitan Mastiff.

Historically, pacing has also been discussed in relation to long-legged breeds such as the Great Dane and Saluki. However, this should not be interpreted as meaning that these breeds are genetically programmed to pace.

The evidence is better understood as a relationship between body conformation, limb proportions, speed and gait selection.

Although an older study with a small cohort; there is also evidence that pacing can occur in clinically healthy dogs.

A 2016 study of 39 dogs examined whether pacing could be used as an indicator of musculoskeletal pathology. Pacing occurred in both musculoskeletally normal and abnormal dogs. Interestingly, the healthy dogs in this study paced more frequently than the dogs with musculoskeletal abnormalities during lead-controlled movement.

The authors also found that pacing was particularly associated with speeds between walking and trotting.

This is an important finding.

It means that we should be cautious about interpreting pacing on its own as evidence of pain or pathology.

When should pacing make us look more closely?

The change in gait and the context in which it occurs are often more informative than the pace itself.

I would pay closer attention if a dog:

• Has suddenly started pacing
• Paces whenever asked to increase speed
• Shows stiffness or a shortened stride
• Has difficulty transitioning from walk to trot
• Shows a change in performance or exercise tolerance
• Develops asymmetry
• Shows signs of discomfort through the back, pelvis or limbs
• Has a known orthopaedic or neurological condition

In these circumstances, pacing may be a compensatory strategy, and further assessment may be appropriate.

Possible contributing factors can include:

• Joint pain or restriction
• Muscle weakness or imbalance
• Reduced range of motion
• Altered proprioception or neuromuscular control
• Instability or altered loading
• Previous injury
• Ongoing discomfort

But the important point is:

Pacing is not a diagnosis. It is information.

Rather than simply asking:

“Is my dog pacing?”

We should ask:

“Why is this particular dog choosing to pace, at this particular speed, in this particular situation?”

Consider the whole picture:

Breed
Conformation
Speed
Surface
Lead handling
Symmetry
Previous gait pattern
Performance
Exercise tolerance
And, most importantly, the individual dog.

At East Midlands Clinical Canine Massage & Rehab

Gait assessment is an important part of understanding how a dog is moving and whether further investigation or rehabilitation may be appropriate.

Don’t diagnose the pace — interpret the context.

A pacing dog is not automatically a painful dog.

Equally, a change in gait should never simply be dismissed.

If a dog’s movement has changed, it is worth asking WHY.

References

Hildebrand, M. (1965). Symmetrical gaits of dogs in relation to body build. Journal of Morphology, 117(3), 271–300.

Wendland, T. M., Martin, K. W., Duncan, C. G., Marolf, A. J. & Duerr, F. M. (2016). Evaluation of pacing as an indicator of musculoskeletal pathology in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, 8(12), 207–213. DOI: 10.5897/JVMAH2016.0512. Academic Journals.

Fischer, M. S. & Lilje, K. E. (2011). Locomotion in Quadrupeds: Structure, Function, and Evolution. Springer.

Alexander, R. M. (2003). Principles of Animal Locomotion. Princeton University Press.

08/22/2026

The White Post Village Association (WPVA) will continue being able to host dog runs. A special-use permit approved by the Clarke County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will enable the association to operate a noncommercial outdoor recreational facility largely for that purpose. The approval ends months of deliberation among county planning officials and residents of the unincorporated village just off U.S. 340 (Lord Fairfax Highway) south of Boyce.