Very bad news

[Finkie_Mom]

Oh no! I'm so sorry, Laurelin

I understand the competitive thing. I'm the same way. I know that I wouldn't be able to continue doing stuff for fun with Kimma if she ever had an issue and couldn't compete. But I really do think that Mia can do great things in Rally/Obedience, so maybe focus a bit there until you get your next agility dog? Either way, it sucks

[Laurelin]

Originally Posted by Dekka

Trust your gut. She won't know she's not doing agility. And as you said you will do rally and other things.

ETA you can always change your mind later if she continues to do really well.

Thanks. I think I will talk to her instructor and get their opinion. I really feel unsure at this point about what is best for her.

Originally Posted by Finkie_Mom

Oh no! I'm so sorry, Laurelin

I understand the competitive thing. I'm the same way. I know that I wouldn't be able to continue doing stuff for fun with Kimma if she ever had an issue and couldn't compete. But I really do think that Mia can do great things in Rally/Obedience, so maybe focus a bit there until you get your next agility dog? Either way, it sucks

I think she can too and I'm trying to focus on that instead of the no agility. We have rally class tomorrow and I'm going to try to be excited about it. I hope it goes well. :/

[sassafras]

Keep in mind that this is all new and raw for you, really I bet you're still in sort of an emotional shock. You don't have to decide everything about your future plans right this second.Your feelings about the specifics of how comfortable you are with agility and doing for fun vs. competitive might evolve over time, or they might not. Give yourself some time and be easy on yourself, you have every reason in the world to be disappointed and unsure how you want to move forward.

[Laurelin]

Originally Posted by sassafras

Keep in mind that this is all new and raw for you, really I bet you're still in sort of an emotional shock. You don't have to decide everything about your future plans right this second.Your feelings about the specifics of how comfortable you are with agility and doing for fun vs. competitive might evolve over time, or they might not. Give yourself some time and be easy on yourself, you have every reason in the world to be disappointed and unsure how you want to move forward.

I keep trying to remind myself of this!

My plan right now is to:

1) talk to the trainer about the diagnosis and get her take on things

2) get an appointment with the sports vet

3) ask the landlord if a third dog is an option

I am honestly unsure that if I even get the go ahead for a third dog if I would even do it at this point. I'd need to think about it quite a bit. My knee jerk reaction was that I would but I need to think about the logistics of it in regards to things OTHER than training. In all other aspects, I am very happy with my current dogs. Life is very nice and comfortable and it would definitely be an adjustment for everyone. There is also the fact that the more I think on it, the more I realize that I would likely need to make some sacrifices on the breed of the next dog. I can't see myself with four dogs ever so that might push my dream dogs off a few years. At this point, that is something I am fine with though, strangely enough.

If I decide not to pursue agility with Mia and can't get a third dog, it's going to hurt but it will give me more incentive to save money and buy a house. I've run the calculations and am looking at about this time in 2014 for when I can buy. I need to remind myself it's not that long.

[OutlineACDs]

Originally Posted by Aleron

The only issue was that...no one told the dog she was supposed to be broken and unable to do things she enjoyed. She wouldn't take no for answer when it came to being on the furniture. Not just on but climbing on the back of the couch to watch out the window. Jumping into laps. Racing around outside. Jumping in and out of the wading pool. And no one told her she wasn't supposed to be able to do agility any more. She was sad when training days would come and she'd be left behind. If she went, she wanted her turn. So eventually, she started running again although never at 16". She never had another issue with her knees and she's an old dog now (an old dog who's still jumping on and off the furniture and doing whatever she pleases). Allowing her to continue doing what she loved made her a much happier dog and I think, kept her younger and certainly more fit.

Just food for thought...

I'm soooo sorry to hear Laur, and I hope everything turns out ok.

This story from Aleron, however made me feel the need to share my own.

My dog Rumor broke a toe and injured her knee at about a year old. We were just playing frisbee and she landed wrong. I sidelined her from any sports pretty much from there on out. I had my vet (who I trust) say surgery wasn't needed. The knee wasn't bad enough and until it blew out completely to just let her be a dog. I had her evaluated by a holistic/sports vet. He basically said "I'd do surgery, and I'd do it on both knees, and I'd do it now." She only has a limp on her right rear leg, and its only occasionally, when she overworks it. I was devastated. Here's my dog who loves fetching, swimming, jumping, running and here I was thinking "Oh, I'll just get a second opinion."

Needless to say, after that I did nothing. I was too upset. I watched her like a hawk and let her play ball and live her life. I couldn't keep her cooped up, because "just being a dog" isn't good enough for her.

Finally one day, I came to the realization that this dog's knee could go out at any time, but in the meantime, two years had passed and she hasn't killed herself. If she wants to do agility, we will do agility. If she wants to play frisbee I'm going to let her. I'll let her go balls to the wall all day if thats what keeps us both happy. Her knee could just as easily go out jumping off the couch, and I'd much rather it go out because she jumped off the dock, or did something silly on the springpole or whatever.

Now that *I* am ok with what we may face later, I can let her live her life now, and thats all dogs want to do. They want to live in the moment, and enjoy it.

[Laurelin]

Originally Posted by OutlineACDs

I'm soooo sorry to hear Laur, and I hope everything turns out ok.

This story from Aleron, however made me feel the need to share my own.

My dog Rumor broke a toe and injured her knee at about a year old. We were just playing frisbee and she landed wrong. I sidelined her from any sports pretty much from there on out. I had my vet (who I trust) say surgery wasn't needed. The knee wasn't bad enough and until it blew out completely to just let her be a dog. I had her evaluated by a holistic/sports vet. He basically said "I'd do surgery, and I'd do it on both knees, and I'd do it now." She only has a limp on her right rear leg, and its only occasionally, when she overworks it. I was devastated. Here's my dog who loves fetching, swimming, jumping, running and here I was thinking "Oh, I'll just get a second opinion."

Needless to say, after that I did nothing. I was too upset. I watched her like a hawk and let her play ball and live her life. I couldn't keep her cooped up, because "just being a dog" isn't good enough for her.

Finally one day, I came to the realization that this dog's knee could go out at any time, but in the meantime, two years had passed and she hasn't killed herself. If she wants to do agility, we will do agility. If she wants to play frisbee I'm going to let her. I'll let her go balls to the wall all day if thats what keeps us both happy. Her knee could just as easily go out jumping off the couch, and I'd much rather it go out because she jumped off the dock, or did something silly on the springpole or whatever.

Now that *I* am ok with what we may face later, I can let her live her life now, and thats all dogs want to do. They want to live in the moment, and enjoy it.

I really really appreciate hearing your story. It really helps to see that we're not the only ones facing issues and tough decisions like that.

I can't keep Mia down. It's not going to happen and she'd be miserable. That is one thing that has me hesitating on the decision to pull her from agility. She is just as active day to day as she would be in agility. She runs and jumps and does all of that stuff on her own. So would agility really be that bad for her? Would it really change anything? I'm not sure. On the other hand, I want her to stay as sound as possible.

But you really can't keep her cooped up. That would be unfair.


DSC_0954 by Summer_Papillon, on Flickr

[SarahHound]

I'm really sorry to hear about Mia. I know the feeling you mean about every little movement she does worries you. It's not quite the same, but after Maddy dying the way she did, I constantly worry about the girls running, and every time they leap, it takes my breath away because I am so upset.

Hopefully a sports vet can help Mia.

[adojrts]

Laur, I haven't read the entire thread, so I have missed some stuff but.........
First I second the second opinion with a sports vet.

Second, what you are going through happened to a friend of mine, amazing young dog that she had put a lot of training into.....bang problem (patella) and vet said no agility. My friend was inconsolable at first, which is understandable and the point where you are now. She finally took a big breath and consulted with a sports vet, and put her dog on a very careful training/conditioning routine.
Her goals to start competing in agility were sidelined for the time being, but with careful conditioning after the rest period, they started back at agility training.

Jump forward 2 yrs, dog is a rockstar in agility, competing, Q'ing/Titling and is a fast, talented dog. She is also not a small breed like yours is.............

Is her patella perfect? No. Can she run agility and not be lame? Yes. Does the dog know or care? No. Is she happy to be doing agility? Yes

Had a very nice lesson today with that dog, that 2 years ago was told she couldn't do agility...........yeah tell her that

And btw, anytime she has had problem with the patella was from rough housing with other dogs, never on the agility field.

Good luck.

[Laurelin]

Originally Posted by adojrts

Laur, I haven't read the entire thread, so I have missed some stuff but.........
First I second the second opinion with a sports vet.

Second, what you are going through happened to a friend of mine, amazing young dog that she had put a lot of training into.....bang problem (patella) and vet said no agility. My friend was inconsolable at first, which is understandable and the point where you are now. She finally took a big breath and consulted with a sports vet, and put her dog on a very careful training/conditioning routine.
Her goals to start competing in agility were sidelined for the time being, but with careful conditioning after the rest period, they started back at agility training.

Jump forward 2 yrs, dog is a rockstar in agility, competing, Q'ing/Titling and is a fast, talented dog. She is also not a small breed like yours is.............

Is her patella perfect? No. Can she run agility and not be lame? Yes. Does the dog know or care? No. Is she happy to be doing agility? Yes

Had a very nice lesson today with that dog, that 2 years ago was told she couldn't do agility...........yeah tell her that

And btw, anytime she has had problem with the patella was from rough housing with other dogs, never on the agility field.

Good luck.

Thanks for that. I am so glad I decided to post this. I'm feeling a little better about all this and where I want to go from here. I'm still not sure what my final decision will be on this, though.

[Moth]

(((Hugs)))

How sad for you...good though that Mia is not experiencing much in the way of symptoms though.