Need some good eyes - video eval

I am not sure I would hit the Chiro just yet especially if funds are tight, he doesn't look that bad, I would think if his back was off he wouldn't go through the weaves as well as he did, but I would certainly start doing some streching routines and maybe some balance work on an exercise ball or a bosu if you have one. the exercise ball is really helping Storm with her groin pull & balance a LOT I am actually pretty amazed at how little work is bringing her along, maybe 15 minutes 2 times a day and we are seeing big improvements. I agree with ClantyreSheltie, I would be looking more towards the front end and try some shoulder massage and mild streching out front.

Maybe that's why he jumping off the side of the teter because he would feel the impact more on the front end then the back, just a thought.
 
Looking at the video again I agree it could be his front end. If you've been over-doing contact practice with lots of 2o2o there may be some repetitive stress there.
If the dog isnt collecting efficiently at the end of the plank (e.g. shifting weight to the rear) then the forces on the front assembly multiply the faster the dog is going. So if you notice him not even trying to stop for a 2o2o when going faster than normal on the dw he knows he doesn't want to take that pain.

Rather than put in lots more practice because he missed that dw, I'd give him the time to rest.
If his front structure is straighter than ideal you might consider retraining to a running contact to avoid these stresses. Over time he will bear the cost of the cumulative effect of all those 2o2o's.
If you want to stick with 2o2o work on him shifting weight to his rear.
 
Do you guys think it'd be worth it to have a great agility instructor evaluate him, even if it means paying for a private session? I haven't worked on DW except in training, but that's not say it isn't bothering his front end. Sheesh, this kinda suck. Poor Koji.

Thanks.

Also, I think I will get him one of those exercise strengthener ball thingys. I have the small ones for rear-end awareness, but need one for strengthening.
 
k9kreationz said:
Agility in general is hard on their bodies (DW, A-frame, Teeter, Weaves, Jumps). Why do it at all then?
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This is the difference in impact between a hurdle jumper and a gymnast trying to stick a landing. The hurdle jumper is not being asked to be accurate AND stop forward motion at the same time. Track runners tend to last longer than gymnasts, who are generally done at 18, with a multitude of joint and muscle issues.

Stopping forward motion in a precise and accurate manner over and over and over is much higher impact than jumping. I won't do that to my dogs.
 
k9kreationz said:
Agility in general is hard on their bodies (DW, A-frame, Teeter, Weaves, Jumps). Why do it at all then?
Click to expand...

I don't think that Agility is any harder on there bodys then hard play such as chasing ball or frisbee, I mean Storm never got injured doing agility, it was playing in the back yard with a ball, Cosmos shoulder problem wasn't from agility either but from a deeply embeded tick that took me a long time to find
because he's such a furrball. Any Human athlete doing any sport will eventually have an injury doing almost any sport eventually that's just the way it is, and I don't think that our agility dogs are any different, the only problem is thier inability to tell us and thier inherant desire to please us, that why it is up to us as there team partners and handlers to be especially vidulent for anything that might show up out of the ordinary, and take the necessary measures to correct it if possible when it does happen. Stuff happens wether we do agility or not, I had one BC chase a quirrel in the back yard once clear a 6 foot fence run out on the road and get hit by a car on a nice sunny saturday afternoon while out in the back yard barbaqueing, She broke her shoulder and amost died on the way to emergency with a cut artery, but luckily she survived and healed and lived to the ripe old age of 14 years, Funny she never did chase a Squirrel again :wink2:.

I guess what I trying to say is stuff happens, I don't think agility is any harder on a dog then anything else that they do, however if you can make them strong and fit then the possibility for injury is much reduced. That why as a multi sport athlete I do regular strength training even though it really doesn't help train me for any paticular aspect of my Sports, it helps me reduce my incidence of injury greatly. the Dogs are no different. I mean My 2 love doing agility if they didn't Then I wouldn't bother I enjoy it as well but my main reason for doing it is because they like it so much.
 
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Thanks everyone. I had an agility person evaluate him in his videos, got a lot of great feedback regarding his stupid contacts. And a better chiro recommendation. She said to have someone look at his structure too, would a chiro know what a Sheltie should look like?

Anyhow, trying to find some people asap so I can pull out of my trial and seminar if needed. I refuse to do more damage if he is in fact injured.

As for ALL the contacts, she told me he looks up at me. On the teeter, before it goes down, so that's why he's falling off (esp since they're not rubberized). Ditto with the DW. He gets into position, even has his head down, but he looks up at me right after and falls off. He jumps his a-frame contact because he's looking up. Dangit Koji! Keep your eyes on the ground.

At least I know what the issue is there. Sigh.

Tonight I have practice, so before we start I'm going to tell my trainer to watch Koji closely and tell me what she thinks too. I wish I had someone who could just evaluate him and tell me if he's injured or not, or what.
 
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