Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Sissy and I signed up for basic obedience class. The trainer says he's worked with tripawds before, but wasn't sure why Sissy had to walk faster now. We start class together tonight Is this type of training a waste of time? The main reason we're joining is her stubborness on walks. NOTE: I had the same problem (pulling, refusing to walk) before her amputation.
Thanks for joining and welcome to Tripawds!
Point your trainer to our video interviews with California Animal Rehab for a professional opinion about how a dog's gait changes with one less leg. Dr. Waldman specifically addresses the limited shoulder/hip extension of tripawds at the beginning of this video about strecthes and exercises for three legged dogs.
Basically, the dog must throw the one remaining limb forward and let the other two catch up, and repeat. Without full extension this is much easier to do at a quick pace, than it is slowly. Tell the trainer to see for himself by trying to hop slowly on one leg... OK, that doesn't quite illustrate the same physical challenge of a quadruped losing one leg, but hopefully he'll get the point.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My dog does Rally obedience and heels along very nicely...but she is a rear amp...not sure if it's harder for a front amp? Also, I walk along briskly as it's easier for Maggie to move at a faster pace. Maggie does very well in Rally obedience and heels very nicely 
Check out her blog - there are many video's of her doing Rally obedience and Wag It Games where some of those classes are also working in heel.
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Isabelle, too is a rear leg amputee, but had the same issue initially. It was much easier for her to walk fast, but of course, she got tired after a short walk.This corrected itself after she was forced to walk at a slower pace in the underwater treadmill. Once her remaining rear leg's medial muscle mass increased, she adjusted on her own. I tried her to vary her pace on walks, but had an advantage, because she always had the desire to match my pace. I also was not that consistent because I wanted her to have fun. The treadmill made the difference.
Any trainer should be willing to work with you to accommodate special needs. Isabelle used to do demo's for a local trainer, until her arthritis made all the repetitive activities difficult. She still goes to classes sometimes, when the weather is bad & she's bored. You just have to make adjustments as you go along.
it is very tempting to throw all previous training & expectations out once your dog has an amputation (especially with a cancer diagnosis) .While Isabelle is indulged in many ways, she is a happier dog when she goes about as she always did...with appropriate behavior on & off a leash.
I don't think training is ever a waste of time & can be a terrific way for the two of you to spend time together. If you can improve Sissy's leash behavior it will make your walks so much more enjoyable & less stressful.
Several months ago, I was working with a friends dog, teaching him to "finish". Isabelle wasn't able to pivot quickly at that time, but plowed right in to show him how it was done. She was so excited, even though she wiped out almost every time! I decided to start working on all of her tricks again. With some adjustments, she is able to do them all again (& can even roll over). It's a great way to alleviate boredom, particularly during the winter here, since she can't always do everything she used to.
Several months ago, I was working with a friends dog, teaching him to "finish". Isabelle wasn't able to pivot quickly at that time, but plowed right in to show him how it was done. She was so excited, even though she wiped out almost every time! I decided to start working on all of her tricks again. With some adjustments, she is able to do them all again (& can even roll over). It's a great way to alleviate boredom, particularly during the winter here, since she can't always do everything she used to.
==============================================
Here! Here! Isabelle's Mom! I wholeheartedly agree 
I just got done with my girls nightly sessions - a little bit of formal retrieve training for Maggie and some Rally-O/Wag It Games maneuvers... now, she's konked out on her futon..my girls love their sessions - whether it's PT work or Rally/Wag It Games work! I can say enough about a little mental stimulation! Especially here in Maine too where it's winter(although it was 55 degrees here today!)
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
55 degrees!!! I'm so envious! 7 here. Even Isabelle won't stay out in that!!
Hope it's not heading your way.
Today was NOT normal 
20's-30's is the norm! Weird weather! I saw your area was cold and blustery on the news tonight! I'm sure it's headed this way...as is all weather patterns usually... Supposed to snow in a day or so..so we'll be back to WHITE 
that brings up another subject...when it's cold out and your pup's paws are stinging and they try to lift one up...MAN is it ever sad to see Maggie try that...last week, she laid down, she just couldn't balance on TWO legs!! Poor girl..hurry Mags, do your business and let's get back in the warm house!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Isbelle either wears Power Paws, sprayed w/waterproofed or PAWS boots. I don't like the PAWS as much now though, because they have to come off before she gets in the house or she slips…found that out the hard way! The Power Paws work fine.
Yes, I too, found out the hard way that the PAWS are slippery when wet!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Chuy went thru the basic obedience class at PetSmart with flying colors. He then started the Intermediate obedience class but we dropped out due to him having FHO surgery on his left rear leg. We never did go back and finish up even though PetSmart offered us a new class at no charge. I do some training here at home with him on my own.
He seems to do fine with the basic training, still pulls on his lead occasionally, but other than that, he's fine!
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
1 Guest(s)
