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When is it not a training issue?

07 Sep 2018

By Margaret Kraeling, PT, CCRT

As performance dog handlers we spend many hours training and perfecting our dog’s performance in whatever sport we are competing in. And as good handlers we are aware of perfecting our training techniques to not only train the dog to do what we ask of them but also in a way that avoids injury.

All goes according to plan until one day the dog is not performing according to our directions. These may be performance issues such as not getting the weave pole entrance, dropping bars on jumps, not performing a square sit or not heeling perfectly – all things that are normally done perfectly. When training, the dog may ignore the trainer or finds some distraction like sniffing. They may even offer “calming signals” such as yawning, licking or looking away. Or the dog may simply appear to have lost interest and you wonder where your happy working dog has gone.

In addition there may be some behavioral issues such as avoiding contact with other dogs in the house or at the park and may even progress to growling or snapping at another dog. They may also be unwilling to perform normal functional activities like jumping into the car or climbing stairs.

Although some of these signs may be subtle and not easily recognized we owe it to our canine partners to be aware of even the smallest signs that something may be amiss. 

In many cases the issue is a musculoskeletal injury – either soft tissue or spinal joint.  In agility dogs it has been reported that 87% of the injuries involve soft tissues – tendon, ligament or muscle sprains and strains. Since we are most often dealing with very high drive dogs it is very difficult to notice subtle signs when they are flying around the course. Even videotaping a dog running a course and reviewing it later often does not reveal a problem. However if you have the ability to convert that video to slow motion it may tell another tale.

Many injuries are caused by over training and can be described as a repetitive strain injury. Others are caused by a slip on wet grass or some other surface that doesn’t have ideal traction. Changing leads unexpectedly can be the cause of several front end injuries.

If in doubt about the cause of your dog’s less-than-stellar performance it is wise to have them checked over. Barring any medical concern which the veterinarian can rule out, the most likely cause would be a subtle injury to soft tissue or spinal joint. It is not fair to the dog to continue to work on training if there is a physical reason why they are not performing the task as you expect.

Although I have been focusing on agility dogs these same issues can occur in any working dog –obedience, fly ball, sheep herding, search and rescue or even the dog that goes hiking every weekend with their owners. Any time performance or behavior changes there is the possibility it could be injury related.

A musculoskeletal check with a canine rehab specialist (i.e. a physiotherapist with training in canine rehabilitation) can provide some insight and some treatment to get your dog back on track.  Here, at The Canine Fitness Centre, we’re happy to help you get you on top of your game again!  Just give us a call!