Mason_Gibbs Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 For me if my 7 month old pup can ever be happy and just run like a normal dog i will be happy. Not sure he will be able to do jumps in open obedience or run in retrieving trials but if he is happy and sound im happy to give those a miss :) he is very drivey tho so its a big loss bur just one of those things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hi Sam, as others have said, the first thing is to get an accurate diagnosis and a plan for rehabilitation.The 2nd is to stick to that plan if you are told he can make 100% recovery. I think making decisions about retirement or running an injured dog is a very personal thing. Some people run lame dogs, some people run dogs knowing they will be lame afterwards, some people give painkillers to their dogs before they run and some simply make the choice to stop. People are always weighing up the pain vs enjoyment factor from the dogs perspective. Although i have opinions, I try not to judge others for their choices and hope they will not judge me for mine. I am facing this with Shine at the moment. If her injury continues to recur and/or doing agility accelerates any arthritis she may get from it, my choice will be permanent retirement. If she can make a full recovery with no recurrence (this seems unlikely right now), she will continue agility. In any case, it is my choice to make for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hope all your dogs pull up OK I haven't properly had to make this decision yet - as I wasn't able to get Zoe or Diesel to a point where they could compete. I guess there is always the option of changing them to a sport that is not so physically demanding that they would still enjoy? We so need to get that nosework sport up and running here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Sorry, no real advice to offer, other than I guess I've never equated training and trialling as always going hand-in-hand. I train my girl in agility and we do about 5 mins a day. She loves it but she'll never compete (she is very fearful, a puppy farm rescue and I don't think she'd cope with a strange judge in the ring, she'd be fine with crowds etc). It has never occurred to me not to train her though, as she loves it and it helps us bond. If you don't trial him (which I'd imagine means lots of training, more strain on his body) is there any chance of him getting a few runs a week in the backyard, just for the sheer joy of it? As Vickie pointed out, titles don't mean much to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agility Dogs Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 If her injury continues to recur and/or doing agility accelerates any arthritis she may get from it, my choice will be permanent retirement. If she can make a full recovery with no recurrence (this seems unlikely right now), she will continue agility. In any case, it is my choice to make for her. This is where Xena and I are at too. I am being guided by a very good rehab vet and will take her advice as to whether or not we continue once things are healed. We have retired Xena from Frisbee regardless - this is her first and greatest love, but it is just not worth the risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 The decision was an easy one for me. If you get to the stage where continuing agility will have a negative health or soundness impact on your dog, then its time to give it away. I also had this, I have been seeing the same Vet as Ptolomy with Toby and he has been sound for the last 11 months (aside from recently where he ripped his feet up from allergies, but that was not a proper unsound, he just had awful sores on his pads). The vet has given me the all clear to start him again in agility, she recommends I do the same jumping program with Toby and Zora, so starting with Susan Salo's puppy jumping and working up from there. We will keep monitoring his soundness and if there is any relapse he will stop jumping. There are other things you can train with a dog to keep their mind active, Toby has been enjoying working in Rally O and will be able to trial in that coming up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 @ RV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J... Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Fingers crossed from some good news for Den, Smisch :) I'm kind of struggling with the sentiment in this thread about dogs competing. My dogs are pets/part of my family first and foremost - they just happen to do agility as well. Big picture, while they both love agility they probably wouldn't give a stuff if they didn't do it again because we do so much other stuff that they enjoy. Swims at the lake, big runs on the beach; Zee starts yodelling the moment we turn out of my street when we're heading to the lake, you can't say she doesn't love it! More than anything they are happiest when they are with me. Agility doesn't define what my dogs do or who they are, and in reality they spend maybe 15 mins a week doing actual agility. I'd still do what I'm doing now even if dog forbid one of my dogs was permanently retired - because fitness and strength and balance and shaping tricks is good for any dog, agility or not, and it's fun as well. :D Yes I'd be disappointed, because I love running my dogs and seeing what we can achieve together as a team, but my dog's lives are not revolved around competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smisch Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Well he's booked in for Thursday night :) only a consult but got the vet report from the original incident and getting the original X-rays eventually.. Fingers crossed for a good outcome lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smisch Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Gremlins lol gotta love phones Edited February 21, 2012 by smisch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Fingers are crossed for you :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tailwag Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Firstly good luck with the appointment Smisch, I too would advise seeking out a good performance vet they are worth their weight in gold. I agree with Vickie as to when to retire a dog, it is a personal choice for all that do any form of performance based activity with their dogs. I was faced with the possibility of retirement with Dash when she was 4 (she turns 10 this year). Long story short she had damaged her back hind leg when she was young that in turn caused other unforseen damage due to overuse. I undertook a very detailed rehab program with her and was told at the time she wouldnt compete beyond 5 if she kept going the way she was. We did the rehab program and wow you know at the age of 10 she is running better than ever :). If i had to retire her i would, but that would have been my choice. I am lucky and she is one hell of a tough dog. Injuries can be a pain in the backside especially when they are niggly ones that reoccur and we have no idea why. I really hope you find the source of the issue with Den :). Edited February 21, 2012 by Tailwag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agility Dogs Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Jess' post got me thinking a lot about this question and I've come to the conclusion that it is about getting the dog as fit as you can regardless of whether they are a performance dog or not. (By fit I mean physically sound, not necessarily strength or endurance fitness.) Then, once you are at the end of that road you need to make a decision about what you can and can't do with your dog. eg: Maybe a pet dog can or can't walk up stairs, is or isn't allowed to swim or performance dog can or can't compete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smisch Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Well we have good news :) Dens toe has fully healed and the vet is satisfied that there's nothing causing issue in his feet.. His hips are solid at this stage the only issue is there appears to be the start of arthritis in both of his back knees which could be flaring with intensity so to help him he's on medication to give him a boost he also had a chiro session which his spine was out so he's feeling better in that sense and we also has some laser accupuncture which was interesting lol.. We head back in 2 weeks so we can see how he progresses.. But I'm a happy camper that he's not finding anything obvious! If the lameness returns we will reassess :) but still over the moon!! Yay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agility Dogs Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Well we have good news :) Dens toe has fully healed and the vet is satisfied that there's nothing causing issue in his feet.. His hips are solid at this stage the only issue is there appears to be the start of arthritis in both of his back knees which could be flaring with intensity so to help him he's on medication to give him a boost he also had a chiro session which his spine was out so he's feeling better in that sense and we also has some laser accupuncture which was interesting lol.. We head back in 2 weeks so we can see how he progresses.. But I'm a happy camper that he's not finding anything obvious! If the lameness returns we will reassess :) but still over the moon!! Yay Great news!!! PM me if you'd like a quick run down on the exercises that X has to strengthen the muscles that are around the knee. (Still not ideal since there aren't many, but better than nothing!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smisch Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Awesome will drop you a MSG on Facebook.. Anything would work we also need to loose about 3kg Dens almost 17kg o.O which is about 4 kg heavier then he was at gp. Vet said he was ok and has a nice shape but I think the extra off will help :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 LOL about the upcoming diet - but overall, that's very encouraging. Kirra's off for her chiro checkup on Tuesday - the day after her 10th birthday - Rory will get 'done' as well. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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