Ouch.....That hurts!!
As I age with beauty and strength no longer do I wake up Saturday mornings and head to a triathlon hoping for another age group ribbon. My Chicago Marathon PR is something I’ll celebrate for eternity, but my fitness plan has changed. My body is aging though I will never refer to myself as “old”. My diet continues to be a top priority as is the reality that I get stiff, sore, and sometimes grumpy as a result. Yoga, cycling, swimming are my new passions. I will always be grateful for the intuitive sense and awareness when my body softly tells me to take time to “heel”. It’s a lot more encouraging than when it screams at me.
So what about our canine friends? Do we recognize when they are moving a bit slower, look a little more tired, seem to be a bit stiff in the back end and “out of now where” stop jumping on and off the couch? And even worse, when they are 8 months old and just came from the dog park where they were “just fine” “playing” with their friends. We seem to be pretty consistent with yearly vaccinations, heart worm tests and dental cleanings, but why do we only see those scales in the vet’s office as taking up space when they could make room for another chair? If I sit on the couch night after night eating cookies and watching “Below Deck” I am solely responsible for my actions and choices. But our dogs are another story. They rely upon us. If we are to be their benevolent leaders and compassionate owners, it must be all encompassing. Surely training is important but certainly by no means not in the absence of overall health, fitness, and dietary needs. I have studied canine and equine movement for over thirty years so it’s second nature for me to pick up on a dog’s discomfort. This discomfort not only impacts behavior but directly corelates in their ability to be their best self. Remember I admitted to being a bit grumpy when my own body hurts. I’m thinking our dogs are no different.
For years I have observed dog parks both in person and while viewing hundreds of video footage of canine behavior and dog park “play” (thank you Sure Sternberg). The greatest impact and take away has been observing the repetitive body slamming, rolling, pinning and chasing as the most commons behaviors we see when dogs are “playing”. They get up, shake it off, and move along as though nothing has happened. Believe me, that hurts even if it doesn’t seem so. Fight or flight is a natural response to threat in all animals, so if a dog is getting mobbed by 5 other dogs, you’d better believe he is going to start running to escape the terror and fear – and that’s the start of chase. When a dog gets slammed in the shoulder, rolled and pinned on his back or had his back legs grabbed from behind he is going to run to escape, and the chase continues. I don’t write this to be a naysayer of the value of dog parks. We need them, people rely on them to exercise their dogs and there can be quite the comradery and friendships that evolve between dog owners. I get that! So Jeannie, what’s you point?
I think it’s our responsibility as a pet owner to learn all the aspects of health for our canine friends. Watch how your dog moves - you do not need to have any experience to learn how to do this. Avail yourself of the numerous resources on canine nutrition and how to read a dog food label. Be mindful of the 8 mile hike at 8,000 feet that you enjoy on the weekends with your beloved fury friend, question why all of a sudden your dog becomes “grumpy” when awakened from a deep sleep, or is expected to play with the adolescent family member whether they are two legged or four legged. Take an online or in person class on canine fitness - there are so many to choose from. You do not need to be a dog trainer to gain knowledge and insight about how our dog moves and feels in his body. Use your own to experience this firsthand. In fact, you can make a commitment to your dog that you are both going to get off the couch and endeavor to take the journey together. Your bodies will thank you as you age with beaty and strength together.
For more information visit:
www.dogfoodadvisor.com Dog food reviews
www.wizzardofpaws.net Debbie Gross Torraca DPT
https://seattlettouch.com/training-and-services/ Lori Stevens, CPDT-KA, CCFT