Clean Run - January 2020 - 43

If my dog is struggling to do the dogwalk, I will not ask her to do the dogwalk
again! If a dog falls off the dogwalk, he
can really hurt himself (broken bones,
broken back, etc.).
A-frame performance: Is the dog struggling to get up and over the A-frame? Is
he launching off the contact? It is possible he does not have the strength and
balance to be able to get up the A-frame
and to stop at the bottom. If my dog
looks like she is struggling to get up
the A-frame or starts launching off the
A-frame, I will not ask her to perform an
A-frame again.
Jumping performance: Is the dog
knocking bars on a consistent basis? Is
he struggling to decide where to take
off? Personally, I always jump my dogs
as low as they possibly can. As soon as
they turn seven, they get to move to the
Veteran division and jump lower. If my
dog starts knocking bars on a regular
basis or starts to hesitate to jump, I will
stop entering classes that have jumps.
Weaving performance: Is the dog
refusing to weave, popping out on a
regular basis, or going really slowly
through the weave poles? Weaves are
very on the dog's body. You will never
go out on a hike, or even in your backyard, and see your dog say, "Hey, look!
There are three trees in a row. I am going to go weave through them." Weaving is the most unnatural thing we
ask our agility dogs to do and is very
strenuous on their bodies, so we have
to be very careful how often we weave
our dogs, especially as they age. Weavers and Tunnelers are the first classes I
retire my dogs from, as they are hard on
their bodies.
Tunnel performance: Is the dog slipping in the tunnels? Depending on
how the dog does tunnels, this obstacle can be very hard on his body. Dogs
can slip and get hurt, especially as they
get older and don't have the muscles
and balance to keep them upright.

Speed: If my dog is not making time, or
not even close to not making time, then
it is time to retire my dog. They generally run pretty fast, even as they age, so
if they are not making time, something
is going on physically or mentally.
Flexibility: I also consider how flexible
my dog is. I realize that they will lose
some flexibility as they age, but they
still need to be able to flex their neck
and back to turn. Dogs should be able
to turn their neck side to side and up
and down. They should be able to do
tight circles on the ground or around
my leg. If my dog does not have the
flexibility in her neck and spine to do
circles or move her head, then I will not
ask her to do agility.
Breathing: Additionally, I consider the
dog's breathing. If my dog is breathing heavily, panting a lot, or coughing,
then I will retire from agility. Breathing
issues can be a symptom of many underlying issues, and the dog needs to
be seen by a vet.
Of course, aging dogs are going to slow
down, take wider turns, be less flexible,
etc., but it is our job to make sure that
the dog can physically and mentally
perform and execute what we are asking them to do, and that they want to
do it. We have to remember that dogs
do not fill out entry forms; they do not

write checks; they do not know about
titles and awards. I absolutely guarantee you that dogs do not know or care
about any type of awards. It is purely a
human idea/goal. So, is it really worth
the potential harm that you can cause
your dog for just one more Q or title?
I highly recommend videotaping your
dog moving around during your training sessions and your trials. Take pictures of your dog at a sit, stand, and
down from different angles. Try to look
at your dog through objective eyes.
I know this is difficult, so ask a friend
or an expert (fitness coach, vet, chiropractor, etc.). Be prepared for the truth.
I am constantly asking my friends and
my dog's health care professional team
what they think of Synergy (and have in
the past with my other dogs).
There are many things we can do with
our dog after retiring from agility, including low-impact activities like nosework.
We can and should continue (or start to
do, it's never too late) to do mental and
physical exercises with our older dogs.
Fitness exercises targeted for senior
dogs are a great way to keep our dog
moving and exercising! Plus, the dogs
love it, and it will help with mental stimulation and human/dog bonding. D

Lisa Schmit is a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer, a Certified Pet Massage Practitioner, and a member of Bobbie Lyon's K9FITteam. She is the owner of In The Zone. She
gives agility, conditioning, and massage seminars across the continent as well as teaching online classes. Lisa is one of the most accomplished handlers in NADAC. Her
consistent, clear positive approach to dog training is evidenced by her continued success with multiple dogs. Lisa has come home from the NADAC Championships with
ten trophies with five different dogs. She has finished in overall Top 3 at the event 21 times with nine different dogs, including her Brittany and Aussie. Nine of her dogs
have over 150 NATCHs and over 35 Speed Stars. Eight of her dogs have 150 Bonus Runs (requires big distance skills).

January 20 | Clean Run

Clean Run - January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - January 2020