Clean Run Magazine -May 2010 - 57

but the most likely reason is because the dogs have figured out where the jumps are and are now jumping with more confidence. If the sequence changes, the dogs revert to early takeoffs again. Every dog is affected differently. Some may take only one or two jumps inappropriately during a run, others have problems with every jump; but the degree to which they are affected changes from trial to trial, based on the venue (each has different lighting, footing, backgrounds, equipment) and confidence level. Poor training can certainly result in jumping problems, but it is not the cause of ETS. Excessive or inadequate training may result in a lack of confidence, which definitely makes ETS worse, so indirectly training can affect ETS. It is very important to consult a knowledgeable professional before embarking on a jumping retraining program. If the dog has ETS, no matter what is done, the dog will not improve in the long term and working excessive jumping drills is contraindicated.

may have only one parent in common. In any one litter, not all puppies are affected. In fact, in the very same litter, there may be pups that develop ETS as adults and pups that as adults are blessed with world-class jumping talent. It is equally possible that a dog with ETS has no identifiable relatives that are similarly affected and appears to be an isolated case. So, although there definitely appears to be a hereditary component, much more investigation needs to be done before it is fully understood.

miscellaneous
A small percentage of dogs kick their hind legs abnormally high when jumping or use their rear ends inappropriately in other ways. It is possible some affected dogs have an associated proprioceptive deficit, but most dogs with ETS do not do this. Older dogs may begin to show signs similar to ETS much later in their careers. Most likely they are experiencing some variation of ETS, but the cause of the syndrome may be different in these dogs and late onset is not typical of classic ETS. I first started learning to recognize ETS back when many agility dogs had originally competed in obedience. Interestingly, the owners often reported that the bar jump was more difficult for the dog than the high jump. In older obedience training books there are references to jumping problems that most likely were ETS. I don’t believe ETS is new; the recent increase in popularity of agility and other performance sports has simply made it more apparent. It may be prevalent in many breeds, but unless the dogs are participating in performance events that require jumping, affected dogs aren’t recognized.

Hereditary Factors
Early takeoff syndrome probably occurs in all dog breeds to some degree, but some breeds have a much higher incidence than others. Jumping problems occur in Tervurens and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers, for example, and are typically attributed to structure. More likely, they are affected by some variation of ETS. Curiously, a large percentage of Norfolk Terriers are affected with ETS to some extent; however, Norwich Terriers, which are very similar in structure, do not have the same high incidence. (Obviously, some breeds experience difficulty jumping because of nonathletic structure.) Although the actual cause(s) of ETS is not known, the evidence strongly suggests that the associated factors are inherited in some way. ETS not only occurs in some breeds more than others, but it can also be associated with certain family lines within some breeds. Breeds that have athletic structure, usually thought to be talented jumping dogs that excel at agility such as Shelties, Border Collies, and Aussies, can be affected by ETS. In these breeds (and others), it is often possible to identify several dogs affected with ETS that are related. It may occur in full and half siblings, so affected pups
May 10 | Clean Run

diagnosis
The diagnosis of ETS begins with a complete history, and a physical exam by a veterinarian who specializes in sports medicine. Many dogs slow down, stutter, and hesitate in front of jumps if they have physical pain, so it is always important to check the dog’s health first when a jumping problem first appears. Assuming the physical exam is normal, which it is with ETS, the next step is a thorough eye
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Clean Run Magazine -May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine -May 2010