Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on retraining a dog to walk well. Jack has many Basenji traits- stubbornness, most prominently- and has very specific ideas about how she wants things to happen. She's also very attached to routine.
Walking has become a bit of a trial since her amputation because of the combination of these traits. She remembers the routes we used to walk and wants to go where we used to go, but she gets tired easily and walks more slowly than she used to, so those loops aren't an option. Whenever we start turning back toward my apartment, she knows the walk is coming to an end before she thinks it should. So, she lays down on the grass and refuses to walk. I end up bribing her with treats step-by-step back to the apartment or carrying her several blocks.
I'm starting to get frustrated - does anyone have ideas? She's food motivated, but won't continue walking unless there's an immediate reward (or we turn the direction she wants to go, and then she'll start sprinting).
Iknow this isn't funny...but it is a little bit! You just can't help chuckling over Jack being so determined and stubborn...and "training" you to give him treats! Smart boy!
It's just so darn hard not to spoil a tripawd!
Could he go his usual route with "forced breaks"...sitting down or rolling in the grass for tummy rubs ...or just enjoying a five minute "picnic of trrats" every so often?
You know you jave tomppst a video of this! HAVE TO!!! Please!
Glad Jack is doing so well!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hmmm. I know that oftentimes we see all walking routines go out the window when a dog loses a leg, there's just so much adaptation that needs to happen over time. Tripawds walk faster, so there goes heeling!
Generally when a dog sits down on a walk it's not so much stubbornness, it's that they are in some kind of pain and too tired to go on. Anytime that happens it's a signal that the walks are too long and cutting back is essential to avoid injury. How long are your walks? In general, a Tripawd shouldn't walk more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time. Rehab vets tell us that multiple, short walks throughout the day instead of one or two long ones are more beneficial and safer.
Instead of long walks, have you considered conditioning and strengthening games? These are great ways to spend time together and build up strength, as well as physically and more importantly, mentally challenge any dog but especially a Tripawd. Our Gear Blog has lots of great ideas about how to get started.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks, Jerry! Exercises are a great idea - I'll give some a try and let you know how it goes. She loves games and learning new commands.
When she sits on walks, it's definitely hard-headedness. These are short walks (15-20 minutes total) and she's communicating that she wants to go a different direction from the one I have in mind. When she gets tired, she has a different behavior - she'll flop down and smell the grass for a while and get up again when she's ready to go.
I'll try to get a video for Sally. I find it less entertaining than I used to, but it is funny. When she was a puppy, she used to do the same thing. I read Patricia McConnell's book The Other End of the Leash around that time. In the book, she mentions that it's a huge treat for a dog to choose where to go on walks. So, one evening, I let Jack lead the way through DC, thinking that she would eventually turn back toward the apartment when she was tired. But no - we ended up 30 blocks away and had to take a cab back!
Oh Jack, Jack, Jack!! Yoh are one strong willed little girl!!!
I love the story of Jack being allowed to go where he wants to go....and thirty blocks later you're taking a cab back!!!
Keep us posted on how she is doing. The video will be great!
Hugs to you both!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
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