Joined
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18 Posts
When Droopy was two we discovered that he had grade 1 luxating patellas and mild/moderate hip displasia. His agility career ended then when he was just about ready to trial. Whenever he would jump too much, he would get a little extra bounce in his rear end. It didn't really slow him down, but I wanted to prevent any injuries, so I decided to quit agility. He had x-rays done and the vet told me to keep working him just don't have him do too much, so we turned all of our focus to obedience. He did fine for a couple of years, then the little bounce came back when we started training hard for open. It also coincided with a move that took us away from our training facility. He had about a year off from formal training at that point.
I found a new facility and started to really get him ready for open. His hitch in his back end came back. We had him x-rayed again and there was no change in his patellas or hips, so that was positive. We put him on Adequan injections along with his glucosamine supplements. The problem is the broad jump. He has a terrible time getting over it, so I don't train it very much. However, it is his weakest event and he needs the most work on it. The high jump doesn't seem to bother him too much, but we still don't jump it very often. He is only jumping 8 and 16, but I try to usually do 4 and 8 during training. We also don't drill constantly on open exercises. I always try to break up exercises and we also practice utility exercises, tricks, and rally whenever we train.
He has 1 open leg and I would love for him to get his CDX, but I don't want to hurt him in the process. We haven't trialed that much, but when we NQ, it is on the broad jump. He LOVES to work and gets so upset when I work with another dog at class. He howls and moans and has a terrible time waiting. When he is at home he runs around like a crazy dog and will run and jump around. He also has no problem balancing on his back end to look on the counter or in the trash can.
I am pregnant and my original goal was to get his CDX before the baby was born. Well, he started limping and I started to feel like dirt, so that isn't going to happen. I also know that I won't be able to do much training for at least 6 or 8 months. Droopy will be 7 in February.
I do plan to get his RE title. He could literally do that with his eyes closed. I have been focusing so much on obedience that rally got pushed to the side. I have also been playing a little with K-9 Nose Work. He really enjoys that. Not as much as rabbit hunting, but he does LOVE to use his nose.
For those of you that compete, would you keep working him in obedience or just retire him and do something else?
I found a new facility and started to really get him ready for open. His hitch in his back end came back. We had him x-rayed again and there was no change in his patellas or hips, so that was positive. We put him on Adequan injections along with his glucosamine supplements. The problem is the broad jump. He has a terrible time getting over it, so I don't train it very much. However, it is his weakest event and he needs the most work on it. The high jump doesn't seem to bother him too much, but we still don't jump it very often. He is only jumping 8 and 16, but I try to usually do 4 and 8 during training. We also don't drill constantly on open exercises. I always try to break up exercises and we also practice utility exercises, tricks, and rally whenever we train.
He has 1 open leg and I would love for him to get his CDX, but I don't want to hurt him in the process. We haven't trialed that much, but when we NQ, it is on the broad jump. He LOVES to work and gets so upset when I work with another dog at class. He howls and moans and has a terrible time waiting. When he is at home he runs around like a crazy dog and will run and jump around. He also has no problem balancing on his back end to look on the counter or in the trash can.
I am pregnant and my original goal was to get his CDX before the baby was born. Well, he started limping and I started to feel like dirt, so that isn't going to happen. I also know that I won't be able to do much training for at least 6 or 8 months. Droopy will be 7 in February.
I do plan to get his RE title. He could literally do that with his eyes closed. I have been focusing so much on obedience that rally got pushed to the side. I have also been playing a little with K-9 Nose Work. He really enjoys that. Not as much as rabbit hunting, but he does LOVE to use his nose.
For those of you that compete, would you keep working him in obedience or just retire him and do something else?