My bull x pup

[FightTheBan 1,147]

If shes keen on swimming and retrieving take her to a river with a MILD current. Get her to swim upstream against the current - this is the same idea as pool and saves you some dosh (I know a greyhound trainer that has one).

Although this will not solve the problem entirely, it will help to form muscle much quicker than you can doing road walk - it also takes the weight off the pups feet. Once a good level of muscle has been established you can start taking her small but often walks and monitor her process. Gaining physical fitness in dogs should always be a gradual process - dont rush the pup or you could do some damage.

 

You have long summer nights ahead of you to build on this and im sure the pup will come on leaps and bounds, the dog may never run game but only time will tell this.

 

I had to do much the same as this with my spaniel, she was laid up for nearly 6 months in a hell of a state after getting lymes disesae fae a tick. She had lost all her muscle and alot of fat. She never had a problem with her legs or anything, because she contracted it when she was about 18 months.

TBH, if it was my dog I know what I'd do, but only because I dont have time or space for the possible outcome of a pet and not a worker.

Dont let this sway what you do with the dog - I think if you put the time in you will reap the reward.

All the best with your pup, and if you require any info on dog fitness or what ive mentioned, PM me and I'll ask the greyhound bloke(i'm no expert, just giving you the advice that worked for me).

FTB

[bird 9,936]

is this pup a lost cause,i don't know the answer to that because im not experienced enough in dogs and their injurys to make a statement/judgement,can a proper dog man,if you like,give you the answers you need,i don't know,if it was mine id be devastated and maybe looking to get rid,if it aint up for the job and all that,not what you want top hear but, that's what a vast majority of people might be thinking reading this,because of our lack of knowledge,i really hope someone says,do this,do that and all will be well,best of luck to you and the dog but as we all know,be prepared

i was thinking that as well, you could put alot of time 12 months and still be no better. . Its a very hard life for working lurchers, most of mine never made old bones. running at 35mph in the dark can be fatal but at least they were 100% to start with, you need a dog to be as sound as possible in this game. i hope it will work out for you, as iknow you love all your dogs. But some times as i say it dont work out for some working dogs, and thats what they are working dogs.

[Bosun11 537]

That does sound right Gav, like I said it happened to mine the other way round, with free running, playing type stuff, Daily swimming 'could' really help i recon, with 'mild' walking and deffo don't road work.

 

 

Why not road work bosun? I would have thouht that would help tighten her up?

 

Like I said before CG, I ain't no expert, i've just seen it before but the other way round. The only logic that I always try to use is born from 20+ years in the leisure industry, never an exact science where dogs are concerned but its helped a fair bit.

 

Road work is 'forced excercise' and forced excercise in something so young 'can', have an averse effect when it is developing. The excercise is one dimentional and will only use the muscle and ligaments of 'that' particular range of movement. Where as play and free excercise produces a range in movement, much better for all round development.

 

Example, we have so many parents come in to our centres with overweight kids, many under 12 years of age, who want to sign 'em up for the gym, want to use the CV equipment, treds, bikes etc BUT whils this will drop weight in their kids, its hardly 'natural development', them kids should be doing excercise that is 'play based', running and stopping etc when they want and 'need' too! Never pushing themselves in a repetitive movement. We send 'em packing, with that advice, play based excercise, free movement and a better diet will always do the job. I've always brought pups on with that logic.

 

Now, i'm fully aware that your pup is a 'little different' but 'IF' that road work is pushing a dog and having an adverse effect, you'll be making things worse not better!

 

Give your dog plenty of excercise, lead walking every day, maybe two or three times, but keep it gentle, let it stop, sniff, turn if it wants, just a plod around and then some free play in the garden or park. The term 'road work' to me is forced marching and should be done with adult dogs and i'd seek better advice than mine before i'd subject a puppy to it.

 

All the best CG

[collie/grey 238]

Thankyou for the advice everyone, greatly apprieciated. I know a few people in my situation would 'get rid' but that's not how i work, my dogs are my life and family, they are working dogs but that's for my pleasure. If she turns out no good for running game so be it, theres a place here for her till she dies, she will still be able to catch some of the game i got her for anyway Again thankyou for the advice it has been taken on board.

[matt32 44]

hope all goes well in future with youre dog it must be hard to see youre dog like that atb matt

[collie/grey 238]

hope all goes well in future with youre dog it must be hard to see youre dog like that atb matt

 

Thanks matt, it has been hard but i have dealt with worse so i can cope, for now though she is on the mend and she is still alive and kicking!

[Guest bluemink]

from reading your posts etc on this little dog, I reckon you had her running about with you pack a bit too young... its just my opoinion.

[Guest fence_hopper]

accidnts happen mate, collie/grey puts most men to shame keep upthe good work cg hope she mends well, and you get some un in the winter with her

[collie/grey 238]

from reading your posts etc on this little dog, I reckon you had her running about with you pack a bit too young... its just my opoinion.

 

 

Then you read wrong, i take pups out and about as soon as i can, she wasn't ever walked far and was doing well until she injured her leg which happened indoors while running about, then suddenly she's in a cage for 8 weeks with no excersize, that's why her legs went like they did, they are almost back to normal since starting exersize again, pups need to get out socialising and playing everyday not kept in the house and kennel til whatever age. Im not stupid i know how much exersize a puppy should have and i have never had problems before until this one damaged her leg.

 

Thankyou F/H, she is mending very well and i have no doubt she will do me proud when winter comes.

[Guest bluemink]

from reading your posts etc on this little dog, I reckon you had her running about with you pack a bit too young... its just my opoinion.

 

 

Then you read wrong, i take pups out and about as soon as i can, she wasn't ever walked far and was doing well until she injured her leg which happened indoors while running about, then suddenly she's in a cage for 8 weeks with no excersize, that's why her legs went like they did, they are almost back to normal since starting exersize again, pups need to get out socialising and playing everyday not kept in the house and kennel til whatever age. Im not stupid i know how much exersize a puppy should have and i have never had problems before until this one damaged her leg.

 

Thankyou F/H, she is mending very well and i have no doubt she will do me proud when winter comes.

fair enough, maybe I was under the wrong impression, just looked to me like she was running about with bigger dogs a bit too young...

[collie/grey 238]

from reading your posts etc on this little dog, I reckon you had her running about with you pack a bit too young... its just my opoinion.

 

 

Then you read wrong, i take pups out and about as soon as i can, she wasn't ever walked far and was doing well until she injured her leg which happened indoors while running about, then suddenly she's in a cage for 8 weeks with no excersize, that's why her legs went like they did, they are almost back to normal since starting exersize again, pups need to get out socialising and playing everyday not kept in the house and kennel til whatever age. Im not stupid i know how much exersize a puppy should have and i have never had problems before until this one damaged her leg.

 

Thankyou F/H, she is mending very well and i have no doubt she will do me proud when winter comes.

fair enough, maybe I was under the wrong impression, just looked to me like she was running about with bigger dogs a bit too young...

 

Look mate we all have different opinions on bringing pups up but i will not change how i raise mine, read the thread properly as to why her legs were like it!! Not through any fault of mine! I know how a pups legs can go if exersized to much and they bow inwards or outwards usually. I am all for learning new things but to try and say that my pup went wrong because of my own doing is takeing the piss, i may be fecking female but i know alot more about dogs in general than most folks know about thier own assholes.

[staffs riffraff 1,068]

hi c/g how is the progress with the pup really hope she gets better even if its just for a decent quality pet life atb

[collie/grey 238]

Hi staffs riffraff, she is doing quite well considering, her front legs are now totally straight and she is muscleing up nicely, she can run and when she does she is surprisingly quick BUT after a little while she starts holding back and has a slight limp, her damaged leg is also 2 inches shorter in lenghth than her normal which is why she looks like she is on a slant when standing, i am sure it must really hurt her but she doesn't show it, she is really starting to mature now to, really takeing an interest in what the other dogs are doing now, she sees a rabbit she is like a rocket and she goes into cover, i will give her a couple of months and see what she can do then but even so she enjoys life with gusto and is alot of fun, thanks for asking how she is!

[Hannah4181 260]

Just to say the herbal supplement "devils claw" is an excellent natural anti imflammatory, my help ease her if she's in discomfort, without putting her on drugs.

[collie/grey 238]

Just to say the herbal supplement "devils claw" is an excellent natural anti imflammatory, my help ease her if she's in discomfort, without putting her on drugs.

 

Cheers for that hannah, i will look that up, she is on glucosamine and chondroitin also.