Posted by agilebasenji on January 09, 2003 at 10:19:04:
In Reply to: Re: Hi all.We\'re considering taking up agility - few ?s. :-) posted by Netti on January 07, 2003 at 16:10:53:
:Gee thanks for all that! That was good info! I'm still debating myself whether to compete or not. I just want to do it because I get the vibe off her that it would be something she'd enjoy and hey, I like a challenge!
That's how I started. "Well, that looks like fun. We should try that."
:You certainly cannot feel ribs on my girl! Ha ha! She has a good covering of flesh on her but she doesn't have a bulging belly or anything!
(This without seeing your dog) I'd be inclined to take a little weight off her, especially if she had HD.
:It's good to know that if she does have hip problems that she will be able to do some agility. I will bear in mind what you have said. That is good to know.
If you are in the states, there's an organization called NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council) and they have 2 classes that even displasic dogs could do - one is "Tunnelers" and has only tunnels; the other is "Touch and Go" and has just contacts. My old lab (going on 12 and severly displastic) could even do the Tunnelers, but she physically can't do the Aframe or jumps any more. If she were our only dog, I might do the tunnelers with her, but she is Retired now. (She did achieve several AKC titles.) And right now I have my hands full with "the boys" (2 basenjis who are sleeping on my arms right now.)
I have already started her on the glucosamine, etc and I had thought I would get her X-rayed while she is in to be spayed, as at least I would know where I stand and it would save her having to go in twice.
Yes, it will save her from having to do the anesthesia twice, which is what I always worry about. It will also save you quite a bit of money as the anesthesia is often the expensive part. When I had one of my boy's xrayed, I was surprised how little the xray by itself cost. (He was going under anesthesia for another reason.) Sometimes you can find a vet who is willing to do hip xrays w/o anesthesia, but it depends on the dog and if yours is nervous with strangers, this would probably not be a good idea.
I hope I'll be sharing my stories with you all when we start classes! Oh and I am having some new pics developed as we speak so if all goes to plan I should have some posted at the end of the week. See you then!
Looking forward to it all :-)
