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Hi Tracy! Just wanted to thank you again for noticing when Summit was not moving correctly through the weaves. I thought you might want to know about his condition in case you see it it another dog.
After radiographs, a MRI and CT Summit has been diagnosed with a congenital spine defect. He has an extra lumbar vertebra. While in some dogs this is not an issue – Summits is so malformed it is riding on the side and on top of the L7 vertebra and it is also hitting is iliac crest. His spinal cord nerve root is being crushed between the bones. They can not correct this with surgery. This has been devastating news for us. He will have a lifetime of treatments, pain management, and no agility. I truly appreciate the extra time you took to look at our videos and all your advice on how to detect the problem. You really do provide the most in depth, thorough online class experience in all of your courses. Thank You!Tracy-
THANKS SO MUCH for all your advice and care.
Its been a little over a month since Summit was injured and he is not getting much better.
I’ve been working with a local sports vet but I still don’t have a solid diagnosis.
We had a spinal radiograph and a different vet visit yesterday and are waiting for the report.
If there is not improvement by the end of this week I plan to seek another specialist.
This is so frustrating on so many levels. I finally accepted the reality and sold my spot in your seminar this Friday. SUPER BUMMED!!!!! I may have to drink heavily that morning… LOL
Enjoy your trip here – travel safe! THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP!Summit is still showing some sort of back end/leg issue.
We are still benched from agility for now. UGGGG!!!
My goal now is to get him back so we can still attend your seminar on the 21st.Summits spine was twisted and his back left hip is sore. He got adjusted and now we are going to rest it for the week. Hope to be able to start back next week. Thanks!
Thanks so much for noticing that Summit was not moving like he had in the past.
He definitely was/is having some soreness. We rested for a week while waiting to get in to the Chiro Vet. Our appointment is this afternoon. This morning I ran him though the 2 x 2 set up you recommended to see if he looked better. I feel like his legs looked a bit better but he did seem to be sore after. Let me know what you think.We seem to be having an issue at the second pole. I hadn’t closed them further an I took out a lot of motion. Got any ideas?
Update on our progress-
We’re doing 1-5 hits on the wobble on a surface that makes a loud bang.
High value toy or food – I stop the session and he wants more!
I also work with him on his station while his sister does the same 1-5 hits. When she hits Summit gets a small scatter. He seems to be less startled by the sound. He’s aroused but controlled.
He will now bang the bottom of the teeter (on grass) with about 2-3 inches of movement. He will go to his 2on position and hold it till released.
He is still very tentative going back and forth on the level non moving teeter even after doing the one hit wonder for going across once. Question- What are my next steps?
I feel like we still are a long way from him feeling confident but I’m wondering what we can move forward with.
Thanks!!!We did some training last week on the 2x2s – straight and together.
He could do it slowly but his feets were unsure and then started hopping. I didn’t get video but it wasn’t looking like it should so we switched back to the channels. In one session this what I got. What do you think?
Tracy-
THANKS SO MUCH for all your questions.
I will increase the food value. I’ll try a chicken or steak. I always train at meal time so he is hungry and is food motivated.
He is comfortable on non moving boards.
He will wobble if I ask but won’t choose it if its just in the environment.
Toys DO amp him up a lot. He loves a tug and a frisbee.
I had backed off using toys a bit because he gets so over aroused AND doesn’t easily give back. I’m open to adding them back in if it will help.Thanks SO much for your help!!!!
Tracy-
Most of the time he will slowly go almost to the middle of the level board and then stop. I’ve tried putting a trail of cookies from where he stops on the board to the end. He reluctantly may take another step or two. I’ve also tried placing small handfuls of cookies from where he stops to the end. It takes A LOT of coaxing. I may get him to the end 2-3 times in a session. This is all with no board movement. He will jump off from the middle of the board if it moves – but most of the time he stops.
I really appreciate your help with this!!!!We have been working everyday – sometimes twice a day – short sessions. Our foundations are decent at this point. Summit is gaining a wee bit of confidence on the Mountain climb – only about an inch of movement on a good day. He is still completely apprehensive working on the level (completely still) board for the downhill track. I got an inch of movement one day but that is all. He has the end position and will tolerate a very slight movement when backing up to it.
Question-
Should I keep working all of this first group of exercises until he tolerates more movement? Would I be harming the sequence of the process by trying something from the next section of exercises?
